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Enterprise Software: Custom App Stores to Host Enterprise Software
Apple’s iPhone and iPad have created massive shifts in the worlds of communications and computing. In just a few years, people’s expectations and the way that they interact with technology have changed dramatically. Another change brought about by Apple is the App Store. In the four years time since Apple’s App Store has been around, it too has changed people’s expectations. The App Store created more than an on-line store, it created a delivery modelthat can provide immediate access to new software and updates.
It’s another story of how consumer technology has ‘one-upped’ enterprise IT. Typically weeks, if not months, can pass from the date a decision is made to acquire software to the time it is actually rolled out in an organization. Even employees that want access to software applications that are already exist in the organization often need to post their request, justify their needs, and wait long periods of time before access to be enabled.
Just like enterprises have been looking for enterprise alternatives for social media applications like Twitter and FaceBook, some are saying that the app store model can be applied to the enterprise too.
Mobileiron is one company that is trying to do that. They’ve created an app-store-like platform that operates within organizations. It works only with mobile devices, but IT can load the app store with enterprise mobile applications that are recommended and approved for employees. It’s an easy way for employees to attach to the store, browse available software and select and download and install applications for their mobile devices.
The Mobileiron platform provides management controls that can limit or target the selection of applications which are available to users. It also provides greater security and control over which users have access to the software. And this is exactly what IT departments are looking for. Cloud and mobile techologies are pushing IT groups in ways that they don’t want to be pushed, making it hard for IT to centrally manage their IT environments. The struggle still remains, but enterprise app stores moves the trend one step back in the direction of IT.
