Putting a mobile cloud strategy in place is a straightforward affair, according to Coughlan, but it’s important to fully plan through the process and set clear objectives. “First, identify your most important applications as this will define the most appropriate form factor, such as should you be looking to use mobile devices that use pens and/or keyboard input etc. Then move on to define the mechanism through which you will manage and deploy the applications. Connectivity, bandwidth and security are also important considerations,” he said.
To ensure success, though, Microsoft recommends that customers pilot the use of devices with specific applications and user types to see how well they work. This way they can test bandwidth and connectivity whilst ensuring quality of service. “Authentication is also an important consideration and in some cases multi-factor checks may be required, depending on the trust level in place or the data being accessed. It is also necessary to be fully aware of all potential device/platform/user and data combinations before the appropriate security measures can really be decided upon,” said Coughlan.
“We’ve collaborated [with Apple] to produce beautiful, elegant, smart apps, which also have the chops for serious business,” Paul Davey IBM
Enterprise apps
When IBM and Apple announced the launch of a suite of enterprise apps for iOS in December, it represented perhaps one of the most interesting collaborations in the mobile cloud space, delivering a clear signal that Apple intends to embed its mobile devices more deeply within the enterprise. “We combined Apple’s expertise in user-centric design with IBM’s deep knowledge of business, data analytics, cloud and enterprise-scale software. Together we committed to create the same kind of empowering and delightful mobile experiences for people at work that they enjoy elsewhere,” said Paul Davey, mobility leader for IBM Ireland.
The first 10 apps to launch under the MobileFirst brand name include Plan Flight and Passenger+ for the travel industry; Advise & Grow and Trusted Advice for the banking and financial industries; Retention for the insurance sector; Case Advice and Incident Aware for government; Sales Assist and Pick & Pack for retail; and Expert Tech for telecommunications industries. According to Davey, more are in development and all apps are delivered in a secure environment, embedded with analytics and linked to core enterprise processes. They can be customised and easily deployed, managed and upgraded via cloud services from IBM specifically for iOS devices, with security across the data, app and device. “We’ve collaborated to produce beautiful, elegant, smart apps, which also have the chops for serious business. These apps – or more accurately, these solutions – address high-priority opportunities within industries and make professionals more proficient at what they do,” he said. “The apps make work faster and simpler, and I don’t mind saying it – more fun – at the same time they place the power of Big Data analytics at our fingertips. These apps don’t just translate already-existing applications from a desktop to a mobile device. By taking advantage of the distinct characteristics of iOS, with IBM business analytics, they enable us and our clients to re-imagine existing work flows.”
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers