As we mentioned last week, there’s a security problem in enterprise mobility.
But the problem isn’t that it’s impossible to have truly secure apps, or that stakeholders don’t value security. Neither of those statements is true.
The problem is that many enterprises today are approaching security in the wrong way. They’re using outdated methods like MDM, which do indeed secure the device—but they do so without addressing the nuances of the way people purchase and use devices today.
So: what’s the answer? That’s something we didn’t resolve last week.
It’s simple: a mobile app management, or MAM, solution is what today’s enterprises need. If MDM is the digital equivalent of a 10,000-pound anvil, MAM is a precise, efficient piece of machinery that does the job without causing any “collateral damage.”
MDM often operates under the expectation that all devices are owned by the business; MAM recognizes that employees can and will use their own devices, and does so while keeping data secure. MDM locks down the whole device even if one or two apps are all that need to be secured; MAM is laser-focused and separates only the data and applications that need to be separated. MDM may depend on all devices operating on the same platform; MAM can be deployed in different ways across any number of mobile platforms.
It’s no wonder that companies that have deployed MDM solutions are having trouble tackling security. Companies in that situation would be well-suited to deploy an MAM solution. MAM can help address security concerns while at the same time giving end users an easy-to-navigate experience, as well as the freedom to continue to use outside applications as they please.
Is MAM the security silver bullet for enterprise mobility? Maybe not. But executed correctly, it’s a whole lot better than the way most enterprises are addressing security concerns today.
