Three Ways to Ensure Your Business is Mobile Ready

When a product or service gains consumer popularity, it’s only a matter of time before enterprises begin evaluating the same trend. For example, laptops, tablets and mobile phones were each integrated into personal lives before making their way into the workplace. Now, with remote working and the need to be constantly available, mobile is officially both a consumer and enterprise priority – and issue.

With consumer devices, there can be concern around content stored on the device, such as images and personal information that the phone owner doesn’t want exposed. However, this becomes an even greater issue with business devices, as the information on the device could include sensitive corporate documents. However, there are ways to ensure that business information is protected, while allowing your organization to be mobile ready.

Remember the Endpoints

Frequently overlooked, endpoint data, or data accessed from an Internet-capable device such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone, should be remembered when backing up data, especially when considering the amount of data that resides at the endpoint. This includes content being created and stored on local devices outside of IT’s traditional domain, which can create an enormous risk for businesses. Taking this step ensures reduced data loss and improved employee productivity through self-service access to a user’s data. It also allows for meeting security and compliance requirements with enterprise-wide search and discovery enabled through a more comprehensive data set.

Know the Difference between File Sync and Share and Backup

The most important part of backing up data is to know what constitutes as backup, and what falls into the category of file sync and share (FSS). The first major difference is that endpoint backup is optimized for the secure backup and restore of data, while FSS prioritizes ease of use and sharing. The second is that backup is for protecting data to mitigate risk, but FSS is primarily used for collaboration.

While FSS capabilities have improved recently, backup still meets different business needs including recovery from multiple, previous points in time as well as additional IT control for improved data security and governance. When it comes to the needs for your business, weigh both options and seek out solutions that offer both backup and FSS to provide more robust productivity enhancements and IT control.

Some FSS solutions are used to store content that can be accessed anytime and anywhere, which is ideal for an individual consumer. In the case of businesses, those needs change and instead we find security, data governance and insight into data as priorities in addition to easy access. Keep this in mind when evaluating options.

Pick the Right Cloud

We’ve calmed down from the initial fear, uncertainty and doubt surrounding “the cloud,” and have now settled into more of a routine. However, there are still questions around the cloud and what type of cloud best fits specific business needs. Many businesses deploy one of three types of cloud services – private, public and hybrid – typically starting on a private cloud platform then integrating new technologies and incorporating different types of cloud services into the overall strategy.

As the world continues to focus and revolve more around mobile, it’s important to ensure your business is taking the steps necessary to stay aligned with the trend. By keeping endpoint data in mind, differentiating between FSS and backup and picking the right cloud solution for your business needs, you will be on the right track to ensuring your business is mobile ready.