Bring your own device business models, or BYOD business models, are becoming more popular every day. About 65 million Americans today own a smart phone, meaning the devices are nearly ubiquitous. Today, companies see BYOD as a cost saving device. Half of the companies that have BYOD require their employees to bring their own devices. Indeed, school districts love it because it saves on technology, and lets students use their own devices.
Of course, one of the biggest challenges of mobile device management software is security. That is where patch management software comes in. Mobile device management software helps secure mobile devices from security threats. Theft, loss, damage, and other disasters will not compromise data with the right patch management software, nor will mobile device management software let an external threat damage an enterprise system. What are some examples of patch management software? Perhaps the most prolific is the Apple Configurator. Used for iPad and iphone management, the Configurator can configure up to 30 Apple devices at once. This allows for efficient patch management distribution, and contributes to iPad and iPhone security.
Another form of mobile management exists in the Blackberry system. Blackberrys that share the same network have enterprise data sent to them that are encrypted, and are very hard for unauthorized users to decrypt. These bits of segregated data are not only encrypted, but can actually be erased as soon as the phone is reported damaged, lost or stolen. BYOD models have still a ways to go before they ensure total device security. As enterprise systems get ever more sophisticated, so must patch management software.
More than a third of employees who use a mobile device for work purposes report that their company’s data is not secure or encoded. And with more than 70 percent of smartphone users checking email, using company programs and more outside of the office, the need for mobile device management software systems policy and BlackBerry Enterprises Server (BES security policy) has never been greater. Some examples of BES security policies and BlackBerry mobile device management include permitted use of passwords for authentication on BlackBerry devices, encryption strength that BlackBerry devices use to protect data, virus blocking data, Bluetooth control for BlackBerry and application installation control for BlackBerry.
BES security policy and management works to protect private information by requiring a durable, strong password on the BlackBerry device. It also works to extend encryption of data in transit from sender to recipient of an email or message. BES security policy also calls for the requirement of the BlackBerry device to generate and use the content protection key to encrypt user data while the mobile device is locked.
That said, patch management software is ready to evolve. Many service providers stand ready to offer the latest in patch management software, and improve on their original designs. As a result, corporate data will not just be more secure. Rather, corporate data with BYOD models can make an organization more productive.