Source：UNWIRE.PRO

Intelligent devices have transformed the way we work today, and the current priority for enterprises is to adapt their management strategies to accommodate this major trend. A survey has shown that 81% of business decision-makers reported that the mobility of information and services has completely changed their operational models.

The growing number of end-point devices - including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and even connected printers - requires the IT department to ensure that employees are properly utilizing company resources in the background, such as prohibiting the use of corporate networks for personal entertainment or suspicious websites. Relevant management strategies are undoubtedly crucial for enterprise security. As the number of end-users and access to critical data continues to increase, information security risks will become a major test of a company's IT capabilities.

▲ From left, Microware's Director of Professional Services, Joseph Yang, and VMware's General Manager for Hong Kong and Macau, Charleston Sin.

In the past, enterprises adopted a Mobile Device Management (MDM) strategy, which later evolved into Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM). Today, as operational needs shift from just connectivity to cross-platform innovation, companies are starting to transition to Unified Endpoint Management (UEM).

Microware's Director of Professional Services, Joseph Yang, said that many enterprises may still be at an earlier stage due to the long replacement cycle of their devices. However, as software vendors change their service or update models, such as the support lifecycle of computer systems and security update patterns, becoming a continuous service, old devices, and systems will inevitably become obsolete. Enterprises can no longer remain complacent, as doing so will only lead to more and larger security vulnerabilities.

To avoid escalating information security risks, digital transformation has become the top priority and most pressing issue for enterprises. Joseph Yang believes that the key to digital transformation lies in the IT department's ability to have full control over the endpoints within the organization, including personal computers, smartphones, and the applications within them.

In addition to ensuring that the endpoints are securely configured to access critical data, monitor application performance, and track employee usage patterns, it is also crucial to safeguard a consistent user experience for employees accessing services from any device, anywhere and anytime.

As Joseph Yang Hua mentioned, there are suitable solutions available in the market, but some enterprises tend to adopt a delay tactic to avoid the problem of device security management. VMware's Workspace One is one of the unified management solutions that address the new-generation BYOD trend. The key lies in whether the enterprise is ready to embrace the new trend.

VMware's General Manager for Hong Kong and Macau, Charleston Sin, noted that the company's Workspace One has been recognized as a leader in Enterprise Mobility Management by Gartner's Magic Quadrant for seven consecutive years. The VMware Workspace One solution can help enterprises manage every endpoint and user through a unified management console, ensuring security across all levels.

Embracing Change to Retain Talent - Smart Office Management Strategy Cannot Be Ignored

Joseph Yang stated that the usage habits of the new generation are changing, and the key to retaining talent lies in embracing this change. Therefore, the methods of supporting users, including the support for personal computers and mobile device systems (iOS, Android, Windows OS), also need to be updated accordingly.

He mentioned that users often face obstacles when using applications, such as difficulty accessing important data, long loading times, and overly complex registration processes. These subpar experiences create a negative perception of the smart office environment for the users.

Using O365 as an example, he pointed out that as more software, programs, and systems within the office adopt a shared mode, enterprises naturally demand a higher level of information security environment. Simple endpoint security identification devices are not enough to mitigate the potential security risks brought by future mobile or remote work models.

Additionally, the "software as a service" model has become a new trend in IT. In this case, the "PC-as-a-Service" model allows enterprises to arrange work locations flexibly, and the point-to-point device service has evolved from iterative updates to a continuous subscription service, making the operational cost more stable and easier to calculate. The traditional purchase/use/update cycle model of IT product sales has also transformed into subscribing to services, software, and equipment from service providers.

Therefore, using a one-stop management solution like VMware Workspace ONE has become the new-generation device management strategy. Joseph Yang pointed out that this one-stop management solution can provide enterprises with a range of services, including hosting, user management, remote data monitoring, user support, and deployment.

Discussing the currently discussed smart office and future IT trends, Joseph Yan pointed out that with the widespread adoption of meeting-related applications (such as MS Teams, IBM Watson), the demand for real-time dialogue in marketing and daily work is growing.

Enterprises must seamlessly integrate dialogues with employees, data, and application data within the network. Furthermore, as virtual reality (VR) gradually enters the office, managers in the future may use VR devices to conduct meetings, site inspections, quality control, and other tasks.

However, at present, telephone, email, and video conferencing are still the most commonly used communication channels in the office. Therefore, it can be imagined that as the number of external devices accessing the company network continues to grow, the traditional management approach will naturally become inadequate, and may even hinder the company's operations and innovation.

The article emphasizes that as new communication and collaboration technologies emerge, enterprises must adapt their management strategies to integrate these tools seamlessly and enable efficient dialogues across employees, data, and applications. The increasing connectivity of external devices also requires a more comprehensive and flexible IT management approach to ensure smooth operations and enable innovation.

Joseph Yang summarized that Microware has grown together with VMware, from the traditional vSphere Compute Virtualization products to today's SDDC (Software-Defined Data Center) and End-User Computing Solutions. From deploying infrastructure blocks and providing cloud services to enabling enterprise mobility and driving innovation, Microware has tailored solutions for customers based on its close partnership with VMware and rich value-added services, as well as certified business processes, to provide customers with a one-stop service experience, including consultation and recommendations, hardware and software procurement, implementation, as well as IT system management, maintenance, and support services.

In the future, Microware will continue to work closely with VMware to seek more efficient and reliable IT solutions for its customers.