Dell KACE Research Shows Consumerization of IT Opportunity

If there was any doubt left that consumerization of IT is changing the face of SMBs, enterprises and, subsequently, the data center, a recent survey from Dell KACE just might do the trick. Among the results, the survey found 90 percent of employees are using personal devices for their daily work routine. How can the channel gear up for the BYO device world? It’s all here, just read on …

The Dell KACE survey highlights some interesting findings. Of the 750 IT professionals who took part in the survey, 62 percent believe the company they work for is not adequately geared up to deal with the consumerization of IT trend, and a whopping 87 percent of respondents said their company allows employees to use personal devices to do they work. Those devices were revealed to be anything from a personal laptop to a smartphone and, yes, tablets. But here’s the snag: That very same 87 percent said their company doesn’t have a real way meet data compliance and protection requirements on those devices.

That’s hardly good news, especially as there’s no sign the BYO device trend is a passing fad. An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents said it’s “important” to support consumer devices. So, Naturally, Dell KACE has the remedy with its Dell KACE Systems Management K1000 appliance, which can automatically detect unsecured endpoints and enforce compliance policies across Mac OS X, Linux and Windows devices. KACE also can provide visibility into Android and iPhone device assets and licensing keys for network access.

But VARs, don’t forget, Dell KACE isn’t the only player in the game. Aruba Network’s MOVE provides mobile device encryption that has satisfied governmental needs, and Sophos-Astaro has technology to secure mobile devices in the workplace. A quick Google search will turn up tons of mobile security experts, with Symantec and McAfee also taking a strong interest in mobile security.

The bottom line for the channel here is to not overlook all the opportunities and potential for growth even with existing customers. Even though corporate purses may close amid a stalled economic recovery, companies may find the need to invest in infrastructure resources to support their employees’ productivity, especially if the employees are the ones investing in their own tools.