A new study by Good Technology, a multiplatform enterprise mobility provider, and independent research firm, Vanson Bourne has revealed that IT departments are finally succumbing to increased employee demand for the support of personal devices in the workplace, otherwise known as consumerisation.
However, the study said that despite the number of businesses supporting all personal devices in the workplace doubling in the first six months of the year, IT managers in large enterprises continue to list security concerns and lack of control over the devices as the main factors holding back further adoption.
The consumerisation of IT trend is being driven by employees refusing to carry two devices with them, one for work and another for personal use, found the study.
As a result, 65% of IT managers are now being asked to supply work email and access to corporate intranets to employee-owned iOS or Android devices.
The biggest change noted by Good Technology’s study was that smartphones overtook laptops to become the mobile device of choice for the enterprise in the half of 2011.
Security remains a key issue for IT managers as the enterprise mobility model shifts towards more consumer-driven phones and tablets.
According Good Technology’s research, security concerns are now the single biggest fear of more than two in five IT managers (43% vs. 36% in 2010).
However, the company said that the security worries appear to be well-placed, as the number of organisations that have experienced a security breach, as a result of the introduction of unauthorised devices increased from 27% in 2010 to 42% in 2011.
Good Technology VP and GM for EMEA Andrew Jacques said the mobile landscape shifted up another gear at the start of 2011.
Jacques added, "We saw many new devices launched to great fanfare and our research shows the extent of which these new devices are entering the workplace. They have even ousted once-loved devices like the laptop and traditional mobile phone from the top spot."
"Such changes mean that IT managers are under pressure to familiarize themselves with new devices, constantly changing data plans, new platforms and apps, and the security issues associated with them."
