1. Three Ways BYOD Changes Company
Architecture
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is really taking root among
companies everywhere. It’s a trend that has challenged IT departments to
change the way they think about enterprise IT. I spoke to three companies
that have found unique solutions in managing the BYOD trend without
compromising the user experience.
Allowing for Personalization in Company-Issued Devices
How do you make sure that employees will actually use the devices you
assign to them? The key to usability is to allow employees to personalize
their devices. This is what Level 3 Communications did when they issued
over 1,300 iPads to their sales team. They allowed employees to download
apps for themselves. Of course this meant that usage on the iPads needed to
be tracked to keep users accountable. To do this, Level 3 uses Apptio to
provide a showback “receipt.” This way the company covers their security
concerns while still allowing employees to be well versed in iPad
functionality by encouraging personal use. And the iPads have proven
incredibly useful. Level 3 even created custom apps for the sales team that
include price quotes, product details, and other essential sales data to increase
the sales team’s efficiency.
Multiple Apps Lead to a Simple Log-In
We all access multiple applications and websites which require log-in
information. Some simplifications have been made towards log-ins. For
example, just log in on one Google page and you’re logged in across the
entire Google line. But what if an app uses two different sites with two
different log-ins?
Merit Medical Systems ran into this exact problem and turned to Symplified
for help creating a single log-in service for their employees. Merit Medical
Systems has hundreds of employees, partners and distributors that access
multiple software-as-a-service apps, the latest training and other important
information. These users are accessing this wide range information using

2. laptops, iPhones, tablets and other mobile devices. Merit Medical Systems
needed to regulate who could access what information since much of it was
sensitive and regulated data.
Symplified helped Merit Medical Systems create a secure central app portal
that is accessed with a single-sign in. The new architecture delivers the
correct apps for the appropriate users on any device they’re using.
Symplified Mobile Edition integrates directly with Active Directory for
authentication, access control and de-provisioning. Symplified Mobile
Edition also accepts consumer identities provided by Google, Yahoo,
Microsoft and other Open ID providers. Technology might seem to be
getting more complex, but it’s actually evolving in a way that simplifies the
processes to create a more usable experience. The key to success is to create
technology with the user in mind.
Focusing on Automation
Mentor Graphics Corporation (MGC) is working to automate technology
processes and remove some of the burden from their IT staff. MGC is
transitioning from a legacy access system used for guest wireless to access
control on wired and wireless for guest/training/contractor access. They plan
to accomplish this by using the Bradford Networks Solution. MGC plans to
use as much automation and integration in each space as possible. The glue
of this environment is Bradford Networks -- where automation does not
accomplish their needs, a Global Help Desk is ready at all times.
The usability of technology is a top priority in all of these examples.
Usability leads to greater efficiency, which is the ultimate goal of any new
development.
How has BYOD affected your IT department? What technology are you
catering to your users?
For more information visit: http://blogs.cio.com/consumer-it/16807/three-
ways-byod-changes-company-architecture