Insights For Success

Strategy, Innovation, Leadership and Security

Mobile Device Management

Google buys Divide and moves Android into the enterprise

technologyEdward Kiledjian

Up until now, Android really didn't play nice in the enterprise space because it was difficult to manage through an MDM. Manufacturers (like Knox from Samsung) had to build their own enterprise security and management features. Google is set to change that with its acquisition of Divide.

Divide was an Mobile Device Management service provided from the cloud (MDM as a service) and allowed organizations of all sizes to manage the mobile devices of their employees to ensure corporate security rules are followed. What kind of polices? Think lock screen rules, app restrictions, ability to locate and wipe a missing device, etc.

Divide's solution supports both Android and IOS.

This can only mean a more enterprise oriented Android is on the way.

Blackberry launches cloud based Mobile Device Management

technologyEdward Kiledjian
BES_10.png

Unless you work in IT for a medium to large sized company, this article really won't interest you.  

Even my grandmother knows that Blackberry is doomed as a device manufacturer. As it attempts to recreate itself as a services company, we are seeing some interested moves (the failed BBM for Android and IOS) and now they enter the cloud based Mobile Device Management field trying to convince companies with BYOD policies to give them a chance.

Blackberry calls its service Enterprise Mobility Management which is a cloud hosted (and rebranded) Blackberry Enterprise Server. 

Like its Fusion device management server, it supports Blackberry 10, Android and IOS devices.

 I think the idea of offering BES in the cloud is sound as it simplifies device management for overwhelmed and overworked IT support personnel. Cloud means no need for local license management, no need for on premise servers, no backup concerns and no worries about disaster recovery. All of these headaches are solved through a stable and predictable monthly fee. So far so good. 

Looking at the performance issued they experiences with BBM for Android (which forced them to pull the plug), you have to wonder how reliable the service will be. Once you commit to this service through Blackberry, you success or fail based on their performance and uptime.

You can read their full press release here.