With the recent release of the much anticipated iPhone5, the business world has found itself weighing the pros and cons of integrating it into their company’s MDM (Mobile Device Management) and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) lineup.
The potential downside of the iPhone5 and its implications in the MDM world have only begun to surface as people speculate. The main concern amongst business owners is the increase in content sharing via the iPhone5’s ability to connect to 4G LTE networks which can increase security risks, increase the corporate phone bill, or, as one company pointed out, when their employees share more, some of their unannounced products tend to “leak” out somehow. The increased risks have some companies wondering if the iPhone5 is a good fit.
On the other end of the spectrum, the iPhone5’s advocates swear by its improved real-time capability and increased productivity for their workers. Apple’s new iPhone5 contains the latest extensive security updates to its iOS, decreasing the potential risk that some companies fear. PepsiCo, ERGO and other big names from the Fortune 500 are opting for Apple’s smartphone as standard issue for employees. The mass adoption of the iPhone5 by these large companies shows that some believe in its superiority over other devices.
From a business owner’s standpoint, a MDM/BYOD policy is how you answer these questions for your company; what do we need, what can we do, what risks can we ameliorate, and how? With the massive success of the iPhone5, companies with existing BYOD policies must make decisions about implementing the device. For companies who are on the fence about creating a MDM policy, the iPhone5 is a contender that is only going to increase the pressure from employees to Bring Their Own Device.