Consumerization Strategies for the CIOMobile devices from Windows aren't as popular among consumers as iOS and Android devices are, but that doesn't mean you should count them out.
A lot of Windows mobile devices have business features, such as a targeted app distribution program, Information Rights Management compatibility, physical keyboards and the enterprise-grade software Microsoft is famous for.
It's up to you and your IT department to determine whether Windows mobile devices are right for your company. As more Windows 8 devices crop up, that decision could get harder. This guide to Windows mobile devices can help.
In this part:
Take control of app distribution with Windows Phone 7.5
With Microsoft's targeted app
distribution program in Windows Phone 7.5, you can build and release your own enterprise apps
through the Windows Phone Marketplace and keep those apps hidden from the general public. Sounds
great, right? It is if your employees use Windows Phone 7.5 devices! If they don't, you'll need to
find other ways to securely deliver enterprise apps to their devices.
Securing Windows Phone email with IRM
Windows Phone 7, Apple's iPhone and Google's Android devices don't support Information Rights
Management (IRM), but later versions of Windows Phone do. With IRM, you can secure Windows
Phone email and prevent messages from being forwarded and printed. You just need Exchange 2010
Service Pack 1 and an Active Directory Rights Management Services server and you'll be on your
way to email security.
Tools to bolster Windows mobile security
Mobile devices create a serious information risk for your organization. And even though Windows
Phone devices aren't consumer favorites, they still pose a security threat. This list of Windows
Phone security tools can help you start tracking down the right tools for Windows
mobile security.
TechEd tweeters unimpressed by Windows 8, Windows RT tablets
After Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 and Windows
RT tablets at the TechEd conference, admins who were unimpressed took to Twitter to air their
grievances. Some pros said that the new features aren't innovative and that Microsoft is late to
the game, while others said the touchscreens are great, but not what the enterprise needs.
#notimpressed.
Can Microsoft's tablets scratch the Surface of what IT needs?
It's pretty clear that Microsoft's
Surface tablets are meant to compete
with Apple's iPad, which has to make you wonder if Surface will be just as tough to manage and
control as the iPad. Though Windows 8- and Windows RT-powered tablets will have some business
features, such as physical keyboards, styluses and Microsoft software, that doesn't mean they'll be
a dream for IT to manage.