With the increased use of mobile devices in the workplace on the back of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) revolution businesses are now faced with the challenge of regulating the use of mobile apps and are finding that an Enterprise App Store can provide users with a consumer-oriented feel while ensuring secure app deployment and complete control over policy for company issued devices and BYOD.
So What Is An Enterprise App Store? Often also referred to as an EAS, it is an online app store that allows companies to supervise and control the security, licensing, distribution and management of mobile apps for its employees.
An EAS can be accessed by the latest mobile devices across multiple platforms and can help a company to ensure that security policies are followed at all times while providing a good user experience, often having a positive effect on an employee’s respect for BYOD security policies.
By deploying apps via a secure company app store, the IT department can regulate availability and use while also having a level of control over mobile, web and cloud software.
The enterprise security team can monitor and review all app downloads to ensure adherence to licences and user rights while having full control over the type of apps that employees can download and use in the workplace. The store could contain a combination of both externally licensed apps along with those developed specifically for the company.
Enterprise App Store vendors are starting to appear with each catering to the different requirements of companies.
Some of the leading vendors at the moment are:
Cisco – Offering both external and internally licensed apps to users.
McAfee – Already well established in the anti-virus and internet security fields, they have now added basic features to their general framework.
Apperian – Have recently included an enterprise app store module for mobile.
iTunes App Store – Although this is not a true enterprise app store, Apple have started to add to their corporate purchasing capabilities by offering app licences in bulk for deployment to employees.
As more employees begin to use mobile devices in the workplace it is critical for companies to maximise the potential productivity increases that BYOD can bring while ensuring that security isn’t compromised.
Whether you have an in-house mobile development team or use a variety of outsourced app developers an enterprise app store can provide the required level of control over all aspects of the process ensuring better compliance and confidence that security policies are being enforced.
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25 Comments
John
This EAS BYOS concept makes perfect sense. The only unfortunate thing for some employees is that they may encounter some disappointment when they visit the online app store and don't find any of the fun games you can buy on public app stores. Even the most dedicated, hard working employee likes to play Words With Friends or Angry Birds. Those best selling games are popular for a reason.
Ismael
Enterprise app stores are an emerging trend following on the heels of the BYOD movement. But there seems to be a method to the madness. The environment is certainly ripe for it. Over the past two years, there has been a proliferation of employees using smartphones and tablets to do work and more enterprises are implementing BYOD programs that allow employees to use personal iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones to access business apps.
Ruth
With the exploding success of the Apple and Android consumer app stores (Apple is poised to reach 1 million apps by year-end), it is no wonder that pundits are asking if the same success can be achieved with public business-to-business app stores. I'd say there are some unique challenges that public enterprise app stores, like an iTunes, would face, including: The high cost of enterprise apps (versus the "99 cent" apps common on consumer sites).
Heidi
John, I agree that they will be disappointed but this is just for these devices while they are at work because the company knows that people like to play games as well but they don't want them doing it on company time. They still can get these on their personal devices so it isn't all bad news. Thank you for posting this, great job.
Donald
I had just assumed that there were only two levels of enterprise app stores. A high end store (such as itunes) and a low end store - like the kind you will find on amateur blogs. But even the high end app stores have their share of frivolous, useless, gimmicky apps that serve no real purpose other than to amuse consumers and help them squander productivity and waste company time.
Jan
I think this is a great idea and it is something that is going to have to be implemented in all companies as soon as they can but my question is how to you limit the app store to the only thing they can log in to? Shouldn't they technically be able to log in to any outside app store as well? This is a hurdle that has to be crossed because of security issues.
Gussie
I never thought about a company having an internal app store for the employees that use their own devices, this is an interesting idea and I think it would work because you could shut down accessibility to anything else while inside the company correct? And what about if they simply go out to the parking lot could you control it that far?
Dean
John I agree with you I love to play Words with friends but I guess the whole idea is to keep them from playing games at work right. This is kind of a tough love thing you have to take it away and force the issue so the work gets done. I am actually surprised that the companies would do this though. Making an app store must cost a pretty penny.
Dale
I understand them wanting to do this but what would the company offer the employees in this app store that they would control? I can't imagine that the employees would visit it very much because what they are looking for on the other app stores are games and music and things like that. This is a great post and you did a great job I hope you can explain it more.
Columbus
From what I can see, this widespread adoption of BYOD has led to an influx of third party apps being used to support business functions (e-mail, calendar, Office docs, document storage, stuff like that). Instead of blacklisting these apps, enterprises are embracing, securing, and deploying third party apps through the enterprise app store. The problem is finding a scalable solution to deploy enterprise apps without placing additional burdens on IT departments.
Torrie
I understand this concept but I just don't understand what would be in that app store. Is this just something that would allow them to use apps but takes all the game ones out of the store while they are using that particular store? This is some really high tech stuff when you think about it but I also think it is something that is needed.
Dexter
Torrie I get where you are coming from on this I think it makes sense to control what your employees are doing because even as professional adults we still need those guidelines but I just don't get what they are going to be offering them? Maybe it would be easier to shut certain things off then to create something like this.
Anita
I think this is a great idea I have worked in a factory before where the internet use and things was completely out of control and the employees were bringing their own device to work to use the internet in the most inappropriate way to work. So I think by regulating something that would put a stop to some of that anyway.
William
I think that some of the commenter's may be confused as to what this is going to do and what it is for. I know I was so could you possible make it a little more clear in another post what the enterprise app store will do and what it will prevent? This was very informative just a little confusing for us simple minded folks. Keep up the good work.
Bob
This creates a lot of work for the IT department doesn't it to monitor all the activity and use on the app store and make sure that the licenses and things are all in place and security measures are followed? I am not saying it isn't a good thing because it is something that is needed but it will cost more in overhead won't it to keep it running smoothly?
Ulysses
This was a very interesting blog I was not sure how this was going to work but now that I have read your post at least twice I kind of get it now. You have done a great job on this and I am grateful that I read it because this is something that I think the company that I work for is going to implement. Keep up the good work.
Kimberly
I started to look into this enterprise app store concept and was surprised by how many companies are now offering various types of related services. One company offers a completely customizable enterprise app store that you can fill with public or private mobile apps to make everyone more efficient and effective. The let you sign up today for a FREE trial. They claim you can create your own app store in minutes, and that's just the start:
Dexter
This was a very interesting post I for one am very confused at how this would work but after reading your post I understand it a little bit better now. I still am confused how they would get it to work but that is why I am not an It person. You have great ideas here and I am sure they will work perfectly when it is set up and in place.
Columbus
They are saying that by 2017, 25 percent of enterprises will have an enterprise app store for managing corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices. That is only 4 years from now and yet, when you imagine this type of world, it somehow looks futuristic, at least to me. That means anytime you get a new job in the IT field and perhaps beyond, you'll start and then be shown a list of apps you can buy for your device so you can get to work.
Frankie
They are saying that by 2017, 25 percent of enterprises will have an enterprise app store for managing corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices. That is only 4 years from now and yet, when you imagine this type of world, it somehow looks futuristic, at least to me. That means anytime you get a new job in the IT field and perhaps beyond, you'll start and then be shown a list of apps you can buy for your device so you can get to work.
Ken
I think that companies have spent the last several years learning that the consumerization of IT is an unstoppable market force that ensures that employees will bring their favorite mobile devices and applications to work, no matter the draconian policies that are put in place to try to stop them. Rather than waging a futile battle against the bring-your-own-device trend, some savvy companies are clearly making efforts to accommodate employees' desires to use their favorite mobile devices at work.
Miguel
As a result of smart phones and laptops becoming commonplace, many companies have appeased their employees' wishes by allowing them to use their favorite devices at work for company business. While employees bringing their own devices to work or BYOD has become popular, it's clear that companies' data and intellectual property is at higher risk of being compromised on personal devices than secured network connections or company computers.
Gloria
This is a very clever idea and I hope for some companies it will work but it is unrealistic to think that it will work for all of them. If you have a company the size of Spirit Aerospace this is not necessarily going to work for them but something like Dillon's it might work. Keep up the articles because this is very interesting, I'll be curious to see how this plays out.
Samuel
A well-architected app store can replace the antiquated service catalogs of the past. It could provision the best apps available, monitor their usage, manage fees, and help IT executives predict further app requirements. Some people see enterprise app stores as the appropriate response to the bring your own device (BYOD) trend. It provides CIOs a way to gain control over the tech explosion.
Dale
I think this is a great idea especially if it is like Kimberly stated in her comment how companies are offering a completely customizable app store with public or private apps. That would be the best of both worlds wouldn't it? Thank you for posting this article and thank you Kimberly for your comment because I had no idea what this was all about.