By Amritesh Anand, Vice President & MD – Technology Services Group at In2IT Technologies

The enterprise mobility landscape in South Africa is changing rapidly, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices in the workplace and the need for businesses to adapt to this new paradigm. As more employees use personal devices for work, enterprise mobility management (EMM) has become critical for managing hardware, software, and networks worldwide.

The Rise of BYOD and Security Challenges

With 88 million unique mobile subscriptions in South Africa, businesses are concerned about protecting their intellectual property as employees bring their own devices to work, putting the business at risk. Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and choose-your-own-device (CYOD) policies allow employees to use devices not controlled by the company for enterprise work, presenting challenges for enterprise security.

To mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorised access, businesses must safeguard sensitive company data and networks. Stringent security procedures and clearly communicated policies are essential to protect data without compromising mobility. A unified endpoint management programme can address these challenges by deploying appropriate controls on personal devices to safeguard sensitive company data while allowing employees to perform their functions.

The Impact of 5G and Remote Work

Cloud adoption is on the rise in South Africa, and to support these new challenges in the workspace, IT must be able to use a single management platform to inventory and manage every kind of device, including laptops, desktops, and mobile ones. This can be achieved through a unified endpoint management solution.

With 5G delivering increased network speed, optimised battery usage, and improved performance in dense office spaces, enterprise mobility solutions and tools such as video conferencing, cloud storage, and web collaboration tools are becoming the norm. Even in situations where employees aren't physically connected to the enterprise business network, 5G makes it possible for remote work to be completed more effectively.

Nonetheless, organisational mobility management faces difficulties when it comes to remote work. IT departments can put enterprise-approved and managed apps on the devices of employees under the BYOD model, but the cost savings could be outweighed by the higher costs associated with IT oversight. Alternatives like the Employer-Provided Device (EPD) and the Corporate Owned Personally Enabled (COPE) models allow companies to monitor workers more closely through management apps to monitor data use and tools to record work hours remotely.

The Role of Third-Party IT Companies

As businesses adapt to the changing enterprise mobility landscape, third-party IT companies can play a significant role in providing solutions and support. According to a 2022 survey, 51% of South African businesses outsourced their IT services, with the top reasons being cost savings, access to specialised skills, and improved efficiency.

Third-party IT companies can offer expertise in enterprise mobility management, helping businesses implement and manage BYOD policies, secure company data, and optimise remote work. They can also provide access to the latest technologies and tools, such as unified endpoint management solutions and cloud-based platforms, without the need for significant capital investment.

The enterprise mobility landscape in South Africa is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices, the rise of BYOD policies, and the need for businesses to adapt to remote work. To succeed in this new environment, businesses must prioritise security, embrace cloud adoption, and leverage the benefits of 5G technology. By partnering and consulting with third-party IT companies, South African businesses can access specialised skills, cost savings, and improved efficiency in managing their enterprise mobility strategies.