Even a decade ago the concept of mobile computing seemed a distant dream for many companies. Even large enterprises often pursued an email only approach to mobile and flexible working. In the last few years, computing has been turned on its head by several key developments, such as cloud computing.
The State of Play
Truly mobile computing is becoming the rule, not the exception. Even a few years ago that statement would have been seen as being overly bold. In today's iPhone obsessed world the situation is radically different. Now companies are less focused on the question of ‘why should I go mobile?' than they are on the question ‘how best should I go mobile?'
Three trends have enabled this step change in IT: The commoditisation of memory and computing power, the growth of interoperability between software and hardware and the rise of virtualisation (allowing a piece of hardware to run multiple operating system images at the same time). These trends have converged to revolutionise the world of computing, and as a consequence the world of business.
IT today is going through a genuine transformation thanks to a concept known as ‘cloud computing'. It is a much debated term within IT circles - what it means depends on who you speak to. Broadly speaking it could be defined as the provision of computing services over the Internet. Using ‘the cloud' many companies can, theoretically, source all of their IT needs from the web. This allows businesses to flexibly and cost effectively deploy IT in the best manner for their requirements, rather than being constrained by traditional on premise models.
Projecting Business Power through IT
The growing flexibility of computing power means that we are now in a position where power can come from anywhere - server, CPU or Internet. This has been the case for a while, but users are relying more and more on the Internet than on their company server. Virtualisation has made data much more malleable. This increasing abstraction of data means that the reach of IT is ever greater.
Computing power has become readily available to all types of business. Affordable Mobile devices, whether they be notebooks, netbooks or smartphones are now capable of running business applications which would have been inconceivable for many small business even ten years ago. Ultimately, we are moving towards a business environment which is more concerned with results than means - rising interoperability allows us to focus on business requirements rather than technical challenges. There are still important business choices to be made however - one size does not necessarily fit all.
The Changing Shape of Software
Software in particular is going through a transformation at present. Deciding how to deliver software is a key focus for any purchaser. There are currently three models to consider:
Traditional desktop software is still the most commonly used and is loaded onto a desktop or company server. It's reliable but needs infrastructure on which to run requiring investment from the end user's company.
Software as a Service (SaaS) is where a product is delivered over the Internet. This delivery method has brought some excellent services and solutions to SMEs. However it's totally dependent on the Internet. If you have problems accessing the net you have no software.
The latest model is called Software + Services (S+S), a powerful hybrid model which leverages the strengths of SaaS delivery but has the stability and computing horsepower of a traditional desktop solution. This ensures that the application remains operational even in the event of Internet issues. It's the equivalent of the iTunes model, but for business. S+S will likely be on many company's shopping list over the coming years.
Always Keep Information Accessible
Be careful if you do decide to adopt a SaaS model wholesale. Whilst storing all data ‘in the cloud' is financially and logistically appealing (and very cost effective for small businesses) it can also leave companies exposed when Internet connectivity disappears. Retaining data on the device has security implications, should the device be lost, but it guarantees continuity of usage. On the other hand, Software+Services solutions allow users to determine whether users want information to be sourced from the Internet or retained on their device - putting users in the driving seat.
From a device management and governance perspective, it's ultimately a decision for the company's executive board and IT Department. Any mobile usage policy should be supported by an educational program and strong departmental policy guidelines to ensure that employees are responsible with both devices and data. Even passive devices such as USB keys can be a security risk. Before making a final decision on purchase or usage - consider all the pros and cons carefully.
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