New Research Shows that Securing Mobile Application Data is Priority #1

According to a new report from the research firm Heavy Reading, the primary reason for enterprise spending on mobile application management is securing mobile application data. Other top reason include, application stores and mobile application usage tracking.

According to Denise Culver, Research Analyst at Heavy Reading, the new research entitled “Mobile App Management Adds Better Control for Enterprise” “examines the mobile application management market, analyzing the most lucrative features of solutions, while also discussing drivers and challenges in the industry. It includes a comparative analysis of solutions available, examines the geographic landscape of the market and details trends that will likely occur in the industry over the next 18-24 months.”

In the executive summary, Culver sees the mobile application management (MAM) market facing “perfect storm” of opportunity based on the rapid evolution of mobility in the enterprise. “Much of the ingredients for this perfect storm can largely be blamed on the influx of mobile devices that now are commonplace in corporations” states Culver, “Whereas five years ago, most enterprises only had to secure corporate-owned BlackBerrys, today’s enterprises are inundated with feature phones, smartphones, tablets, personal computers, readers and other mobile-capable devices.”

“MAM ensures there are policies in place to monitor and control access, without which, the apps could create a massive corporate data security risk. MAM also provides options for dealing with different threats. For instance, if a mobile device is lost or stolen, or if an employee leaves an organization, MAM provides options. Instead of wiping the information stored on an entire device, MAM enables the enterprise to remotely remove their enterprise apps, leaving personal apps and data unaffected.”

Here at Solutions Review we have seen the struggle that companies face when deciding to implement a Bring Your Own Device – BYOD Policy. As Culver puts it, “The battle over device and application ownership is a significant one for enterprises. Employees don’t want employers to have control over their personal apps and devices. However, enterprises must protect the integrity of their networks and corporate data. MAM provides employees the protection and privacy of their personal apps and information, while applying a logical approach to app and data security.”

In the summary, Heavy Reading sees solution consolidation as the most likely outcome, “While the MAM space still struggles to find clear definition independent of the MDM space, there is little question that the coming months will find MAM vendors seeking partnerships and acquisition deals that enable them to better position their services in markets that have desperate need.”