Beyond the Hype: Containerization Makes BYOD A Reality for Enterprises

Featured article by Troy Fulton, Director Product Marketing, Tangoe, Inc.

Your employees want to use their own mobile devices and you are OK with that, but how do you ensure your company’s data is secure? When an employee has access to enterprise data, there is no way to know who else will too – think kids, spouse, or a stranger if the device is lost or stolen. Completely locking down the device isn’t an option because most employees worry this infringes upon their personal privacy. Some companies require their employees to have one device for personal use and one device for business use, but if the consumerization of IT has taught us anything, the line between “work” and “personal” use is blurred and employees are in the driver seat when it comes to communicating and accessing the information anywhere, anytime—on their own devices.

Enter containerization, a simple solution that allows employees to use one device for both personal and professional reasons, offering peace of mind for the employee that their personal applications and content remain personal, and for the company, as it doesn’t put corporate data at risk. Mobile device containerization addresses usage, device and network access, and data and application security. It enables IT to manage critical enterprise issues across the entire communications lifecycle, including; security and policy compliance, end user self-activation, application management, content management, and real-time cost management.

For companies considering Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments, containerization adds increased levels of support by securing and managing devices and applications entering enterprise networks. Its capabilities protect corporate workspaces by placing corporate data and software in secure, FIPS-validated “containers” on network mobile devices, allowing enterprises to manage their data and software without endangering employees’ personal contacts, photos, data, and applications. Containerization is basically turning one mobile device into two, giving the IT department control of corporate data without offering visibility into the employee’s personal information.

Tangoe helps organizations create and execute their mobility lifecycle strategies to incorporate BYOD via device containerization, which addresses several demands of enterprise networks. For example, the solution allows enterprises to prevent the download of unauthorized device applications and enforces the installation of required and recommended applications by end users. In addition, enterprise applications and data are protected within a 256-bit encryption secure device container. This means no unauthorized applications have access to any company data. IT managers have the ability to allow all corporate data to remain encrypted as well as prevent the deletion or sending of data by end-users.

The consumerization of IT has driven organizations to think differently about their mobility strategies as they have come to realize that, whether proper policies and procedures are strategically enforced or not, BYOD is here to stay. Thanks to containerization, organizations can be empowered to move past their reservations and welcome BYOD into their mobility strategies with open arms.

Troy Fulton is Director of Product Marketing at Tangoe, a global provider of Communications Lifecycle Management (CLM) software and related services to a wide range of global enterprises. He is responsible for guiding product concepts and leading the strategy and execution efforts to deliver seamless mobile solutions to enterprise customers. Fulton has more than 25 years of experience in the enterprise technology industry and nearly 10 years of experience in senior management positions with mobile companies, such as Nokia and Motorola Mobility. Troy has launched enterprise solutions on a global level and led the creation of user experiences and product requirements for apps, user interfaces, security, video and hardware/software on tablets and smartphones.

Troy has been invited to speak on leadership and mobility to MBA students at Mason School of Business at William and Mary and has also been a guest instructor for MBA classes at William and Mary. A Boston College graduate, Troy also holds a MBA from The College of William and Mary and a certificate in computer networks from Northeastern University.