Mobile Device Managem nt
The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
by David Beck of SNR Denton
Tablets and smartphones have been on the market for quite a while. They are NOW one of the hottest topics
in the IT department. Why? Something has changed in the past few years: These devices have gone mainstream — first in our homes and now in business. They have become part of our daily routines, integrated with enterprise systems and used to play games between conference calls. Smartphone and tablet use has increased dramatically in the last three years, bringing a new set of opportunities and challenges. Many of these challenges have been obstacles to widespread mobile device adoption in law firms. Mobile device management (MDM) software manages and
secures these devices. It's the missing piece of the puzzle that many organizations have been waiting for.
Devices Lay the Groundwork for
Issues Long ago, security architecture and risk management focused on the fortress approach. This approach used thick walls and put gunmen at the perimeters of our networks to hold attackers at bay. Internal barriers and controls put layers of protection between the Internet and our crown jewel — systems and data. Today, this approach to protecting data might still work, but
only if you prohibit mobile devices. In order for the workforce to be effective, they need to be mobile. With this mobility, your data — even the crown jewels — are on the move in the pockets of your partners, your managers, and sometimes in the backseat of a cab or in a restaurant. Data are on smartphones and tablets, which are
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