Posted on Wed, Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:41 AM
Bon Jovi closed out the week's events at VMworld 2012 in San Francisco.
Last week, I along with several MCPc executives, members of the virtualization team and some of our customers were among the more than 20,000 attendees of VMworld 2012 in San Francisco. The themes that dominated the week in Moscone Center were the usual suspects. Cloud, BYOD and, in the phrasing of VMware, the “software-defined data center” were among the major topics of the keynotes and the breakouts. Below is my recap of some of the week’s highlights:
Paul Maritz out, Pat Gelsinger in. In his keynote presentation last Monday, VMware CEO Paul Maritz passed the torch to incoming CEO Pat Gelsinger, who was president and chief operating officer of EMC and a long-time veteran of Intel. It was clearly a bittersweet moment for Maritz after assuming leadership in 2008 and presiding over a period of significant change and growth for VMware. He noted in his address that 25% of the world’s Intel-based applications were running as virtual machines in 2008 -- that number now stands at 60%. He also talked about the surge in skilled professionals -- there are now 125,000 VMware certified professionals compared to 25,000 in ’08. He also touted what I think is one of his biggest accomplishments, which was his guiding the discussion on virtualization and the sea change in how we talk about the cloud -- from “what the hell is it?” to “what do we do about it?” For his part, Gelsinger signaled that he would maintain much of the direction established by Maritz, promising only to “accelerate, refine and deliver” on that vision.
vRAM killed. Perhaps the biggest applause line of Gelsinger’s keynote was the announcement that vRAM, the much maligned RAM-based pricing model, was being eliminated in a favor of a simpler model -- per CPU, per socket.
New product rollouts. Of course a big part of VMware’s messaging throughout the week was around its new offerings, including the vCloud Suite 5.1, a comprehensive platform for private cloud management which includes the new vSphere 5.1 and Cloud Ops, its educational and advisory services for a cloud-powered organization.
VMware also demonstrated an alpha version of Horizon, its platform for managing a mobile, multi-device work environment.
Virtual work phone. In an exciting developing for BYODers and IT managers, VMware announced that it can now run a virtual instance of a work phone on an employee’s personal smartphone -- both iOS and Android.
Dell’s VDI Meets the Cloud – Tales from the Real World Session. On Tuesday, the head of Dell Cloud Client Computing Tarkan Maner led a panel discussion on the intersection of VDI and cloud. I had the opportunity to participate on behalf of MCPc -- the only solution integrator represented on the panel. Listening to IT leaders from companies like Dell, Metro Health, State Street, Mubadala, Arizona University, Cloudseed, Sisters of Charity Health and VMware discuss their experiences with VDI and cloud, I was struck by the impact that their initiatives had on their respective companies -- and not just economic impact. Many on the panel touted the benefits of adapting to the changing workforce, allowing for mobility, and focusing on IT as a Service as being the key takeaways. For my part, I talked about many of the exciting projects MCPc has underway to provide both physical and virtual desktops as a service for our customers and how our clients have asked us to engineer and manage both on-premise and cloud based VDI solutions as part of our anyplace workspace initiative.
And then, of course, there was Bon Jovi.
Did you go to VMworld 2012? Feel free to share what you thought were the highlights at this year’s show in the comments section.
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Geoff Green is Director, Virtualization & Cloud at MCPc and is responsible for helping our clients build, secure and support next generation infrastructure. Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn.
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image credit: Scott Sauer via VMware blog
Posted on Fri, Aug 03, 2012 @ 01:57 PM
In case you missed them, here is the some of the top IT news from the past week, courtesy of the MCPc blogging team.
Windows PC sales hit a low as tablet sales soar in Q2, Canalys says (ComputerWorld)
As a result of their rapidly increasing popularity, the tablet market has exploded, increasing 75% since Q2 last year. The future certainly looks bright for tablets, but it’s looking a little dimmer for PCs. Although still on top of the market by a long shot, their shipment totals are at an all-time low, and the new ultrabooks aren’t exactly wowing consumers. In the upcoming quarters, companies hope to fix that by releasing ultrabooks with tablet features and other tablet/laptop hybrids, in attempt to ride some of the tablet market’s popularity.
Google’s Nexus 7 Tablet Review Rundown (Forbes)
In case you hadn’t gotten around to reading reviews of the Nexus 7 yet, Forbes has provided a nice collection of different opinions from around the internet. The tablet is certainly winning over critics, and if the reviews won you over too, you will be pleased to know that Google has just recently restocked its 16gb Nexus 7s, which sold out a week after launch.
Small and Mid-Size Businesses See Productivity in the Cloud: Surveys (Forbes)
The cloud is definitely growing. The article has a ton of statistics you’ll want to check out to see how the cloud is coming along, thanks to two comprehensive surveys. Here are a few we found interesting:
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62% of businesses are using the cloud in some capacity. This is up from 48% at the beginning of the year, and 28% a year ago.
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52% of businesses are using cloud-based file sharing in some capacity
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40% of executives recognize cloud computing as one of the top three technology investments to make in 2012
Google Fiber: Pros and Cons (PCWorld)
As Google unrolls its Fiber network, PCWorld takes a look at some of its pros and cons. Despite some weaknesses, both the TV and Internet-Only services are undeniably spectacular. The fact that it’s cheap, it’s lightning fast, and it offers a lot of storage should be enough to look past some of the downsides when it reaches your city.
12 Effective Habits of Indispensable IT Pros (ITWorld)
ITWorld offers 12 great habits to develop that will help you get ahead of your competition and hopefully put you on track for a rewarding IT career. Some of the advice may come across as basic, but one tip that seemed really useful, given its evolution in the workplace, is to learn all about cloud computing and cloud services. "The cloud puts greater demands on both your technical and your business-of-IT skills. If you're CIO, it's an opportunity to take your capabilities up to the next level,” says Deloitte Consulting’s Mark White in the article.
How Microsoft Surface Stacks Up Against Its Tablet Competition (PCWorld)
Microsoft’s new tablet Surface hopes to make an impact on the market. The tablet has some features that set it apart, but is it going to be better than the iPad and the Android tablets? Check out PCWorld’s in-depth look at all of Surface’s specs in comparison not only to those other tablets, but also to ultrabooks, something it hopes to compete against as well.
This post is an MCPc blogging team collaboration.
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Posted on Fri, Jul 27, 2012 @ 02:13 PM
In case you missed them, here is the some of the top IT news from the past week, courtesy of the MCPc blogging team.
Why IT Matters More Than Ever (PCWorld)
PCWorld takes a look at four reasons why IT has become extremely important as we head into the future. Its role may have changed a little from how it was defined early in its existence, but with things like the cloud and other new technology rampantly taking over the industry, IT is more relevant than ever to the business goals of an organization.
A Clearer View of Cloud Computing Security Now That the Haze is Gone (CIO)
Now that the buzz has settled down, companies are realizing the cloud is more than just a cost management tool. Here are eight tips on how to get the most out of the cloud.
The 5 Hottest IT Jobs Right Now (CIO)
These five jobs have seen significant growth in the last year. iPhone developers have seen the greatest job market growth, and jobs involving cloud computing have really skyrocketed as well. The IT job market is showing no signs of slowing down.
IT’s Olympic challenge: Live streaming employees (ComputerWorld)
As the Olympics approach and prepare to take over the media, the biggest problem facing IT is employees who stream the events live. One company stated that this could increase mobile charges by 5 to 10%. This articles outlines the data problems the Olympics might cause, and how those problems can be combated.
The Evoluton of IT: BYOD and Consumerization (TechNewsWorld)
BYOD has become a reality and is rapidly sweeping IT departments everywhere. If properly managed, BYOD can make workplace productivity increase while lowering IT burdens. This article outlines some management ideas that can fix some of the problems that might come with BYOD’s benefits.
Google's Lightning-fast Fiber Network Now Live in Kansas City (PCWorld)
Google rolled out its impressive Fiber internet and TV services in Kansas City this week. Capable of transferring a blistering 1gb per second while remaining relatively cost-friendly, it is undeniable that Google Fiber will completely change the way we share data.
This post is an MCPc blogging team collaboration.
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Posted on Tue, Jul 10, 2012 @ 10:52 AM
When the iPad first came out two years ago, 300,000 were sold in the first three days. When the iPad 3 came out earlier in the year, over 3,000,000 were sold in the first three days. If that trend continues, we should expect that when the iPad 6 comes out it will be purchased by 100% of the world’s population during the first three days of release. Ok, that’s a long shot, but the point is a lot of iPads are being sold. And a lot of iPhones. And a lot of Androids. And the laptop market is still strong. What is the common theme here? They are all Wi-Fi devices and they all want a piece of your wireless network.
The MCPc anyplace workspace is a concept that says whatever your device, wherever you are, we’re going to make sure you have accessibility to your data. For an increasing number of enterprises, supporting mobile access has become synonymous with supporting the iPad. It's a refrain I am hearing again and again when I talk to our customers:
Can my WLAN support the iPad and other mobile devices?
To begin to determine if you are ready to support this influx of wireless clients, we need to look at the nature of the wireless devices requiring connectivity. Most wireless end clients manufactured in the last 24 months, including iPads, are shipped with an internal 802.11n radio. 802.11n works in both the 2.4 and the 5 GHz range. Remember that even smartphones will, if able, attach to your wireless network and run their data across it rather than the cellular carrier’s 3G or 4G networks. So what does that mean? That means that you are likely being forced to provide IP addresses to a whole lot of devices that were grabbing addresses from the cellular network just a couple years ago.
Most 802.11n clients including iPads and newer laptops will first try to connect in the 5 GHz range. The 5GHz spectrum tends to have less interference than 2.4 GHz because many devices, including cordless phones, microwave ovens and even Bluetooth devices, operate in 2.4GHz frequency.
Since there are very few standards surrounding the implementation of Wi-Fi radios in mobile devices, a common expectation is that the wireless experience on an iPad will be similar to that of a laptop. Unfortunately the power of the wireless radio in the iPad and laptops differ dramatically. Laptops typically have a transmit power of 30 mW to 50 mW (15 dBm to 17 dBm). iPads have an average transmit power of 10 milliwatts (mW, 10 decibels per mW [dBm]). Given the difference in transmit power, it is unrealistic to expect iPads and laptops to consistently connect to your WLAN at similar levels. Either the range or the performance expectations of the iPad are going to have to change.
iPads have roughly 60% of the transmit power of most newer laptops set at equal distance from an access point. A recent Gartner report noted that “if the IT organization is asked to provide the same performance as a typical laptop throughout the coverage area at 5GHz, the IT organization will need 300% more access points. Remember that there is a 6 dB difference between the transmit power of the iPad, which has an average transmit power of 10 dB, and the laptop, which has an average transmit power of 15 dB to 17 dB. Radio frequency (RF) basics tell us that the distance required to maintain the same throughput doubles for each 3 dB, but the coverage required grows exponentially, which will require 300% more access points.” In an office environment where typical WLAN designs called for designs of about 3000 sq. ft. for each cell, Gartner is suggesting that each cell will cover only 750 sq. ft. -- an area about 27’ by 27’. In a hospital where cell sizes often top out at 2000 sq. ft., that would translate to 500 sq. ft. per cell.
The 802.11ac Factor
When designing WLANs we now also need to be cognizant of the upcoming 802.11ac standard that is pending ratification. This standard is designed to operate only in the 5GHz range and to provide throughput upwards of 1 gigabit. Manufacturers like Cisco are already building access points with available draft 802.11ac modules. Cisco’s latest 802.11n access point, the 3600, features both a 4x4 MIMO antenna configuration as well as an expansion slot which will allow for the addition of an 802.11ac module. Devices like the 3600 allow for customers to embrace the 802.11n standard while also providing investment protection once the 802.11ac standard is ratified.
Knowing that iPads have always adhered to the latest IEEE wireless standards, it’s reasonable to assume that all iPads released after the formal ratification of 802.11ac will embrace this new standard. In the next generation iPad design it’s logical to assume that Apple will boost their radios to a higher transmit power to take advantage of the increased throughput.
Mobile Devices are Here to Stay and Will Grow in Numbers
While attending Cisco Live earlier this month I heard the resounding message from Cisco and third party software developers alike: The age of the wireless revolution is here!
By 2015 wireless devices are expected to outnumber wired by a staggering 5 to1! While many organizations have been planning for this migration for some time, in most cases there is still an awful lot of planning left to do. The smaller 802.11ac cell sizes will require an engineering redesign of legacy data/voice 802.11a/g environments. For organizations that want to bring the anyplace worskpace to its employees, this redesign will be critical to the successful deployment and maintenance of a WLAN capable of supporting it.
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Kevin Cannon is an MCPc Solution Architect with a focus on Cisco advanced technologies, and has over 8 years of experience in developing and deploying WiFi, VoIP, video and RTLS solutions for mid-sized and enterprise-level organizations. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.
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image credit: FutUndBeidl and ys
Posted on Thu, Jun 21, 2012 @ 12:34 PM
MCPc's anyplace workspace at Cisco Live
I had the opportunity to attend Cisco Live last week in San Diego, and what an amazing week it was!
On Monday June 11, the week-long event kicked into full swing with 17,000 physical participants and 125,000 virtual participants. The day included several special sessions focused on Borderless Networks and Mobile Device Proliferation, Data Center and Cloud, Collaboration and Video, and Security. Additionally, Monday was the opening day for the World of Solutions, where MCPc was a silver sponsor.
The highlight of Tuesday was the keynote delivered by Cisco CEO John Chambers. The presentation was riveting and thoughtful, as John discussed the fact that Cisco continues to make progress towards getting back to the basics that made Cisco the technology juggernaut that it is. Specifically, focusing on innovating in the route, switch and enterprise voice/collaboration markets, where Cisco sits as the market leader. John also talked to us about the fact that the new normal is performing at a level that is above average. In other words, average is dead, and in 5 years, above average will be dead. Market transitions wait for no one. The speed of change is accelerating in our networked and hyper-connected world. Another highlight of the keynote was the demo section, where LISP (Locator/ID Separation Protocol) was shown in practice. The demo was very cool! In short, you can think about LISP the same as mobile number portability, except for IP addresses.
On Wednesday, Cisco CTO Padmasree Warrior took center stage. She shared insights on Cisco’s newly announced Open Network Environment (ONE), a comprehensive framework that provides the industry’s broadest approach to network programmability, supporting use cases across public sector, cloud, service providers and enterprises. For those of you who have read about emerging trends around software defined networking (SDN), this is part of Cisco’s vision for SDN. Cisco’s ONE is a programmable framework that consists of three alternative programmability models for both enterprises and service providers:
- Controllers and agents
- Programmatic interfaces
- Virtual network overlays
ONE is designed to allow organizations to create applications to harvest network intelligence and extract greater business value from the underlying network.
Thursday’s keynote included Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of the popular show Mythbusters. Adam and Jamie talked about innovation and helped the audience shake up some of our long-held assumptions on a number of topics -- a point hammered home by a video demonstrating Adam’s talent for igniting his flatulence! To say that this session brought the crowd to their knees is an understatement!
A few other key takeaways that I had from the week:
- The network will continue to be king, as we find ways to leverage the amazing intelligence we have from the network, and using that information to our advantage from a mobility, security, and BYOD perspective.
- BYOD is driving so much of what is happening in the industry, as it affects every layer of IT infrastructure.
- Video is at a tipping point and is becoming an ever larger share of network traffic, as well as a primary source to share information and unleash innovation.
- Cisco announced the UCS E-Series Server modules -- very cool in my opinion. The E-Series provides high-performance blade servers deployed in Integrated Services Routers generation 2. The servers provide up to 16 gigabytes of RAM and 2 terabytes of local storage -- all in a router! Very awesome! Combine this with LISP, and now you can treat an application as just another object in the datacenter and move the application from the datacenter out to the branch router!
- The Cloud Connected Solution was announced and discussed as a new platform for optimizing the cloud experience, preserving cloud security and simplifying cloud-based operations. It's designed to facilitate a world of many clouds with both enterprise and service customers leveraging public, private and hybrid models. Again, very powerful messaging around where the market is headed and what IT leaders need to be prepared for.
- The BYOD movement fueled by Apple and the iPad has led Cisco to develop an internal group that focuses exclusively on how the two organizations can leverage each other’s strengths and work and innovate together more closely.
It was definitely an amazing week of learning, networking and sharing ideas at Cisco Live. More than anything, the week cemented in my mind the power that MCPc is bringing to the market with anyplace workspace. It's exciting to be part of an organization that strives to push the boundaries, help clients innovate and stay ahead of technology trends.
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Darin Haines, Chief Technology Officer, leads MCPc's technology consulting practice and spends much of his time speaking to business and IT leaders about effectively using collaboration and other advanced technologies. Connect with Darin on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Thu, May 31, 2012 @ 07:45 AM
This month Cisco announced the findings of its Cisco IBSG Horizons Study: BYOD and Virtualization. The study’s main finding: mobility and BYOD are pervasive, driving forces within the enterprise—and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
95% of respondents surveyed say their organizations permit employee-owned devices in the workplace. And, by 2014, the study predicts the average employee will work from 3.3 devices, which is an 18% jump from the average 2.8 devices today.
The survey polled more than 600 IT and business leaders at U.S. enterprises (with at least 1,000 employees) from 18 industries. Read on for more IT insights from the Cisco study, and tips about how to support BYOD within your organization.
Key BYOD Findings
The survey finds that overall, mobility and the use of mobile devices is on the rise—not only in terms of employee usage, but also in company-wide mobility initiatives, which are predicted to consume 20% of IT budgets in 2014.
Other key findings on the use and support of mobile devices within the enterprise include:
- 78% of employees have a mobile device for work.
- 44% of knowledge workers (such as engineers, architects, scientists, lawyers and so on) telecommute at least once each week.
- 62% of enterprises pay for employee devices and voice/data plans.
- 41% of enterprises say that most smartphones connected to corporate networks are currently employee-owned.
For more details on highlights of the BYOD and virtualization report, read Cisco’s press release on its findings.
Opportunities & Challenges of the More Mobile Workforce
76% of IT leaders consider the consumerization of IT to be positive for their organizations. As we see with MCPc clients every day, the move to more mobile workforces that accommodate BYOD often results in improved employee productivity and greater overall job satisfaction.
On the other hand, BYOD presents challenges that must be met by IT leadership, including:
- Secure and private corporate networks and data.
- IT support for multiple mobile devices and platforms.
- Mobile device management, including employee use policies.
Learn more about IT responsibilities and technology considerations in regard to BYOD.
"As the number of devices being brought into work increases, organizations need a comprehensive mobility strategy. By leveraging the intelligent network, organizations can now provide their employees with the benefits of working anywhere, anytime: in other words, ‘work your way.’”
— Padmasree Warrior, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Cisco
Support BYOD in Your Anyplace Workspace
What Cisco calls “work your way,” MCPc calls the anyplace workspace™. It’s our answer to the business need for a comprehensive mobile strategy that enables employees to work anywhere and on any device, while IT maintains centralized and secure management and control.
Is your organization and its leadership supporting BYOD? Are you prepared for 2014’s BYO3? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Ira Grossman, VP, Personal Systems Group, has more than 15 years of technology project management experience and is an expert in lifecycle management and mobile device management for the enterprise. Connect with Ira on LinkedIn.
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image credit: designmark
Posted on Fri, May 18, 2012 @ 01:18 PM
Last week, San Francisco was abuzz for Citrix Synergy 2012. The agenda was packed, as 6,500+ in attendance—including your MCPc team—were ready for the announcements, keynotes, breakout sessions, game-changers and more.
There were certainly more conference announcements than I could list within this blog post (my personal notes are more than 10 pages), but I’ll do my best to focus on the highlights and include links and resources to the details.
The Mobile Workforce & Cloud Services
From one product to an entire suite of innovative business technology, Citrix has grown its diverse portfolio aimed at two areas of focus:
“Citrix is one of the few independent software vendors that offers competitive products
in cloud computing, mobility, virtualization, networking and security, and social collaboration.”
- Gartner, from a Citrix presentation at Synergy
Trends highlighted by Al Monserrat, Citrix’s SVP of Sales and Services, as the driving force behind the company’s focus include:
- Consumerization, forcing more IT changes in the next 10 years than any other trend
- Workforce demand for BYOD
- Transition from the PC era to the cloud era
(Sorry about the quality -- this is from my iPhone. From Group VP and GM, Cloud Platforms Group at Citrix Systems, Sameer Dholakia's keynote. So what IS cloud? For us, of course, it's anyplace workspace.)
Achieving Mobile IT
There’s a “life splice” happening, and it’s the reinvention of work-life balance. We’ve seen it first-hand with MCPc customers, as the mobile workforce is the driving force behind our new anyplace workspace™ mentality.
Executives and employees continue to demand the ability to work from any place, on any device, with full access to needed data and applications—while IT managers require the management and control to facilitate a mobile workforce securely.
New Citrix technologies highlighted at the conference that make this possible include the following:
- GoToMeeting with HDFaces is now available as a free iPad application.
- GoToAssist is now free for iPad and Android for remote support and IT management.
- Podio acquisition—the workflow management system for collaboration, including tasks, discussions, activities, data, social, apps, and more.
- ShareFile StorageZones that allow executives to choose where data is store (in the cloud or on premise) for optimized performance and compliance.
Many more were introduced or mentioned at the show. What others are you looking forward to using, or have you tried and already have feedback? We’re interested to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
From the PC Era to the Cloud Era
Just as organizations and executives expect to connect wirelessly over any device, mobility also requires the cloud and virtualized IT infrastructure, processes and data. A few Citrix announcements on the cloud front include:
- Project Avalon connects XenApp and XenDesktop. Wired (@wired) reports that Project Avalon “enables enterprises to transform some of their most important workloads, Windows desktop and Windows applications, to run on cloud infrastructure.”
- CloudGateway 2—the updated version enables enterprise mobility with attention to application management.
- Citrix Cloud Platform—the first commercially supported cloud orchestration system based on Apache CloudStack.
For more on how your business can grow, innovate and improve with the cloud, check out Citrix’s 2012 Innovation Award Finalists (VIDEO). It includes the stories of three different organizations (insurance, technology and education) that have each changed their businesses with Citrix cloud services and technology.
Your Thoughts?
What are the highlights from Citrix Synergy that you found to be of most value, and how are these technologies delivering your anyplace workspace?
Please share your comments or any questions from the conference in the comments below.
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Jed Ayres, Senior Vice President, Partner Management & Marketing, is responsible for driving MCPc's relationships with industry partners as well as the overall go-to-market strategy of the organization. He has more than 17 years of IT industry experience. Connect with Jed on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, Mar 09, 2012 @ 07:15 AM
Proliferation: a rapid and often excessive spread or increase. -- Dictionary.com
A Growing IT Movement
Cisco predicts that by 2020, we’ll see more than 50 billion network devices, at about seven devices per person, with many of these infiltrating corporate environments. This mobile device proliferation, if paired with a sound IT infrastructure and management strategy, is simultaneously one of the most disruptive and promising IT movements we’ve seen in some time.
In its Worldwide Survey of Corporate Employees, taken in February 2011, Citrix Systems found the following answer to: “How many computing devices do you use on a daily basis?”
The majority of respondents are already using three devices daily.
In short: device proliferation is already invading the workplace, with no signs of slowing down. Therefore, CIOs and IT managers must not only work to enable efficient use of employee devices alongside corporate ones, but also ensure the security of all devices and the corporate network.
The future of computing is one in which the desktop may not be in the starring role, and because of this IT pros need to find a new way to approach solution delivery.
At a recent MCPc event, Citrix’ Fernando Campo shared with us his company’s vision of a “utility-based delivery model for IT.” From a technical standpoint, this approach makes sense.
However, taking a step back, we understand that IT’s responsibilities are largely no longer driven by technology, but rather by end-user and corporate needs.
Thus, our vision now and for the future is of a business-driven IT delivery model, which bases IT infrastructure, deployments and solutions on how organizations can leverage technology to:
- Increase business agility
- Differentiate from competitors
- Produce and innovate faster
- Enhance employee recruitment and retention
- And more…
Based on these drivers, we combine the needs of employees with best-of-breed technology to deliver what we call the anyplace workspaceTM. The anyplace workspace delivers the mobility and flexibility that users demand, while maintaining device and data security and management. As you may expect, mobile devices play a key role in its success.
Make Device Proliferation Work For You, Not Against You
There are three foundational pieces needed to make both company- and employee-owned mobile devices a business asset, rather than a liability:
1. Stable, Secure Virtual Network
A virtualized, or cloud-based, infrastructure will ensure that your datacenter is set up to support virtual desktops, and to give you the tools to monitor and manage end-user access from multiple endpoints and locations.
"The explosion in the use of mobile devices and the growth of the whole disconnected mobile workforce are forcing companies to consider the cloud… That entire trend is much better dealt with by a cloud service because then everyone dials into the cloud, and they are protected." —Mobile Workers, Fast Threats Spur Demand For Cloud Security Services
2. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
VDI gives IT the structure it needs to maintain the necessary balance between user flexibility and access, and IT management and control. Using solutions like Citrix XenDesktop, create an environment that will:
- Enable you to manage network access from all devices
- Deliver a comfortable, familiar experience to end users
- Provide apps and desktops as a service to any enabled device, and view usage and access data
- Maintain centralized control despite a distributed workforce
- Provide support remotely
3. Mobile Device Management Strategy
With the systems in place for users to connect to company apps, assets and data, it’s time to take a look at the policies and management surrounding the devices themselves.
We strongly encourage our clients to develop mobile use policies and management strategies address considerations such as:
- How to activate and enroll devices
- End-user segmentation and device configuration
- White- and black-listed applications
- Cost control
- Data access, ownership and security, and related legalities
Final Thoughts
Embracing device proliferation is a perfect example of how business leaders and IT can work together to create an environment that provides end users the information and experiences they desire no matter the time, place or device.
How have you managed devices accessing your corporate network, and what larger IT or business changes do you see as a result?
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Ira Grossman, VP, Personal Systems Group, has more than 15 years of technology project management experience and is an expert in lifecycle management and mobile device management for the enterprise. Connect with Ira on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Mon, Mar 05, 2012 @ 08:27 AM
Our blog team shares a collection of their favorite articles each month—particularly those that best showcase what’s happening in the ever-evolving world of IT. Our February articles look at bring your own device (BYOD), cloud computing, data storage, IT in education and top industry headlines. Enjoy!
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Mobile phones are not immune to viruses and malware, a serious consideration in BYOD environments. As Brian Madden (@brianmadden) points out in Dang, Now Mobile Phones have Viruses and Malware, Too:
- It’s possible to configure a mobile device to download apps, outside verified app stores, opening phones up to unknown dangerous.
- Users can easily be tricked to visit phishing websites or download malware through the use of QR codes. In this case, users don’t always know the quality of the site they will visit before snapping a photo of the code.
- Mobile phones lack sophisticated antivirus software due to special rules within their operating systems.
- Devices contain a lot of personal data, waiting to be exposed.
For these reasons, Madden believes that “real software that can separate the user environment from the work environment” is needed to protect users and corporations from potential mobile threats.
Learn more about Mobile Use Policies and how Mobile Device Management can protect your users, and your organization, from threats.
Cloud Business Strategy
Trying to build a business case for the cloud? InfoWorld’s David Linthicum (@DavidLinthicum) offers the following three secrets for success:
- Know the cost of inefficiencies and lost productivity in your current IT environment.
- Identify the unique business problems the cloud can solve for your organization. Don’t rely on industry buzzwords.
- Tie your case to an overall plan that outlines the current state, how you’re going to fix it and the advantages of your recommended approach.
Keep in mind that the cloud offers much more opportunity than just cost savings; it has the potential to change the game and drive business innovation. Forbes’ Joe McKendrick (@joemckendrick) provides 6 Shining Examples of Cloud Computing in Action, highlighting companies like Etsy, Netflix and Xerox, and how they used the cloud to disrupt their markets.
Bonus: As you consider and plan the move the cloud, be sure to watch out for the pitfalls of a multitenant environment.
Data Storage
According to a TechTarget Survey, 38% of IT executives cite disaster recovery/business continuity (DR/BC) as a top priority in 2012—stressing the importance of data protection. Other key priorities include:
- Virtual server backup (35%)—With an increase in the number of virtual machines (VMs) and a decrease in data storage growth, virtual server backup remains a challenge for IT management.
- Storage virtualization (31%)—Storage virtualization has become the preferred method to complement server virtualization, and create a more nimble and flexible environment.
- Data de-duplication (29%)—While de-dupe technology has been around for some time, 70% of companies have yet to deploy it, explaining the interest this year.
- Data reduction (20%)—While demand exists, storage vendors do not currently have the data reduction technologies available to readily meet IT executives’ expectations in this area.
- Cloud storage/cloud backup (14%)—It’s estimated that 29% of storage will be in the cloud by year's end.
Education IT and Mobility
Tablet use in educational institutions is growing, as organizations experiment with ways to improve the learning environment through mobility and a tactile experience. As explained by MCPc’s Ira Grossman in Lenovo Preps Education Partners for Mobile Shift: "More tablets are entering the education space and we are seeing a rise in both shared devices and one-on-one learning.”
Because content consumption is the main focus for students in K-12, tablets offer a prime opportunity in this market, as they are specifically suited to share information. In addition, adoption is growing on college and university campuses. However, tablets are mostly used as a secondary device to notebooks in higher education, since content creation—not consumption—is emphasized at that level.
Though Darin Haines, our in-house “iPad-only executive,” would argue that iPads are more than consumption devices.
February’s IT Industry Headlines
What articles did you enjoy last month? Please share your thoughts and additional resources in the comments below.
This post is an MCPc blogging team collaboration.
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Posted on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 01:44 PM
On a flight to Denver recently, I was thinking about the world we live in; the world that I consult in. It is a world that is inherently more mobile, social and visual than the world of only a few years past.
I believe that Charles Darwin foreshadowed this more than 150 years ago in his well-known description of natural selection: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives; nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
When I think of our current business world, I think about adapting to change much like the species Darwin so meticulously studied. Today’s business models are adapting at an unheard-of rate of change, with social and mobile technologies leading the charge. A few stats to ponder:
Times, They Are A’Changin’
If you don't believe that we are living in the post-PC world, you’re wrong. If you believe that tablets, social media, and video are fads, you’re wrong. If you don't begin to embrace these technologies, learn to be nimble, and be willing to adapt to change, chances are your company won't be around (or at least won’t be growing) by the time I write my next blog post.
As business leaders, we are constantly under pressure to learn new concepts and adapt to change.
As a member of Generation X, my career has constantly been in flux. I have been an accountant, actuarian, consultant, IT director, e-strategist, researcher, CIO, CFO, small business owner, president of a business unit, and now the CTO here at MCPc. I have worked for a big company, a non-profit, a global organization, privately held companies, my own company, and consulted in the energy, technology, manufacturing and airline industries.
And guess what? Those changes were not over the course of a 40-year career; they occurred over a period of 16 years. Why the volatility? Because I, like many of my peers, have an insatiable appetite to learn and grow, and experience all I can in this world.
And here’s the scary part: the generations coming behind mine are even more unsettled and less tolerant of the status quo of a static, 40-year career.
They want to embrace an experience, feel it out, and move on to the next opportunity that invigorates them. They yearn to use mobile and social technologies. They value connectivity over traditional benefits and higher salaries.
My 5-year-old daughter already deems a restaurant or hotel as sub-standard if there is no wireless network for her to connect her iPad to! How are we going to support her generation? One that, even in kindergarten, understands: email, texting, being constantly connected, how to communicate via video, Facebook, and new content delivery methods such as Netflix.
What Are You Doing About It?
So, with this tsunami of change, how is your company embracing mobile, social, and video technologies? I would love to hear your thoughts on these, and how your organization is adapting to change. Please share your comments below.
If you’re interested, we can also discuss how MCPc Collaborative Consulting Services can help you navigate these treacherous waters.
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Darin Haines is Group President of MCPc's Advanced Technology Group, focusing on solution delivery, and has over 16 years of experience in leading the technology function in mid-sized and enterprise-level organizations. Connect with Darin on LinkedIn.
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image credit: erix!