Enterprise Mobility – Myths and Realities

Today, enterprises around the globe understand the rising need for mobilizing their workforce to empower their businesses. Allowing employees to bring their personal mobile devices to work, namely, BYOD and providing Corporate Owned Personally Enabled (COPE) mobile devices to employees are becoming widely adopted mobile strategies in enterprises. An innovative mobility strategy provides a foundation for future growth with the highest levels of management and security that enables to transform businesses quickly to stay competitive. However, there are several misconceptions about mobility strategy in enterprise business initiative. This article surfaces around the common myths and realities in enterprise mobility strategy.

Myth 1: Can enterprises afford to defer the implementation of mobile strategy until the technology is mature

Reality: Employees wish to bring modern mobile devices of their choice to their work place. Alternatively, enterprises saw mobility as just productivity enhancers. However, recently they started to realize the value of the mobility as a competitive differentiator due its potential to innovate business processes and service delivery. IT must take an active role in devising an enterprise wide mobile strategy sooner to enjoy the advantages of these opportunities. According to the CIO Market Pulse survey, “Mobility Strategy and Solutions,” 75 percent of CIOs adopt mobile solutions after they are somewhat or highly proven in the market.  From this survey result it is apparently clear that the IT enterprise do not wish to invest in immature or unproven mobile strategies.  But, by deferring the implementation of mobile strategy these businesses lose the valuable time that they could have spent in the innovations rendered by these technologies. They lose their competitiveness while their peers employ the same solution successfully ahead of them. Enterprise wide mobility strategy investments must be made sooner and with confidence to reap the benefits.

Myth 2: Rise in mobility of workforce predicts rise in security breaches

Reality: With the rapid accession of diverse mobile devices in the work place as well as the new trend of bringing their own devices to work, the IT and security managers are dealing with new security breaches every day. The smart device is a tool of great goodness for businesses. On the other hand, it poses severe risk and has the potential to be used as a weapon for business destruction when it falls into the hands of the strangers. Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution and Virtual Private Network (VPN) are the important comprehensive solutions that help to mitigate all these security breaches, while allowing the enterprises to enjoy the benefits of the new smart device.

Myth 3: A Mobile Device Management strategy is not an essential tool for enterprise mobility, it can be optional.

Reality: Mobile Device Management (MDM) is one of the popular security regulating tools in the market preferred by the IT right now. This tool was quite nescient at first, but now quickly matured with dozens of platforms to handle wide variety of hand-helds. MDM provides management of the company-issued and personally owned mobile devices for their entire life-cycle starting from device provisioning, security of various applications and data, etc. MDM is a strong technology for the device-level security of mobile devices. It is an essential tool for compliance-regulated enterprises and for those that require greater management and control over devices, applications and data.

Myth 4: Enterprises need a team of developers to build a native app

Reality: Enterprises are faced with multiple demands from millions of mobile users with the increase of tablets and smartphones in the market and with multiple platforms. There are different operating systems and developers tending to choose a single platform and create apps based on that platform is a cost ineffective method and time consuming effort. Here is why cross-platform mobile application development technologies and tools gained traction. One can develop a single code of mobile application in a common language and execute it across multiple platforms.  The cross-platform technology can be used for multiple devices and platforms using single source for one application. Robust mobile applications can be developed using industry best practices and a single standard methods.

Myth 5: Native apps provide the same user experience as the Web apps

Reality:  A native mobile app is built specifically for a particular device and its operating system. Unlike a web app that is accessed over the internet, a native app is downloaded from a web store and installed on the device. Native apps have a major advantage over web apps by the ability to leverage device-specific hardware and software. Native apps take advantage of the latest technology available on mobile devices and provide a richer, more compelling user experience by leveraging the capabilities of the mobile device, including onboard hardware such as GPS, camera and graphics and software such as email, calendar, contacts, picture/video gallery, file manager and home screen widget areas.

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Microsoft 360 Event | ZSL | Queue Associates

Microsoft Dynamics helps companies improve customer service and manage their business through its project-based Enterprise Resource Planning capabilities including accounting, job costing, time collection, billing, financial reporting, resources and budget data, labour costs and more. Microsoft Office Project helps align work and people with business priorities to effectively manage work from ad-hoc projects to complex programs through capabilities for project and task management, scheduling, resource assignments and team collaboration. Migration to SharePoint: Zylog has created a centre of excellence, specializing in migrating from existing Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platforms like HummingBird and MOSS 2007 to SharePoint Microsoft Dynamics Mobile and Social CRM / ERP: Zylog’s Mobile solutions deliver comprehensive, dynamic, and end-to-end solutions that connect consumers, employees and business partners anytime, anywhere via leading mobile devices including the iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android and Windows Phone Microsoft Dynamics ERP & CRM Product Breakdown: Dynamics CRM: Combine familiar Microsoft Office applications with powerful CRM software to improve marketing effectiveness, boost sales, and enrich customer service interactions. Microsoft Dynamics CRM equips business professionals with access to customer information through a familiar Microsoft Outlook experience which helps ensure rapid user adoption and fast results. Dynamics SL: Dynamics SL is a business-management solution specialised to help project-driven midsize organisations obtain reports and business analysis, while helping increase efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. By enabling you to automate and streamline projects across company divisions and locations, Microsoft Dynamics SL helps you manage people, projects, and profitability. Dynamics AX: Dynamics AX is a comprehensive business management solution, for midsize and larger organisations that works like and with familiar Microsoft software. Microsoft Dynamics AX is built to make it easy to do business across locations and countries, by consolidating and standardising processes, helping to improve productivity, providing visibility across your organisation, and helping to simplify compliance. Click Here To Register & Reserve Your Seat Now!	Event Information: Event Date: Welcome Time: Start Time: End Time: Location: 16.11.2012 09:00 09:30 15:30 Abbey Business Centre, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 0SR. Event Agenda To Include: Microsoft Dynamics 360 Overview Microsoft Project Connector Overview Microsoft Project Server Overview Microsoft Share Point Migration Microsoft Dynamics SL Overview Microsoft Dynamics CRM Overview Microsoft Dynamics AX Overview Microsoft Dynamics Mobile & Social CRM / ERP Questions & Answer Session This event is complimentary and only requires registration. Click Here To Register & Reserve Your Seat Now! Please feel free to contact us for more info or if you require assistance with registering for this event. Telephone: +44 (0) 207 954 4250 Email: sureshv@zsl.com Website: www.zsl.com/uk If you are not able to make it but would like the information please be sure to contact us with your inquiry or to schedule a free demonstration with our software experts at your convenience.
Zylog Systems Ltd is a professional services organisation focused on providing Microsoft Dynamics solutions to International and domestic organisation. These solutions include accounting, financial reporting, Internet enable Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Sales Force Automation (SFA), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Follow us on a variety of popular sites such as       Receive up-to-date information and news on Zylog Systems Ltd and Microsoft's products and solutions!
Zylog Systems Ltd, 18 Mansell Street | London E1 8AA | Phone: +44 (0) 207 954 4250 | Email: saleseurope@zsl.com

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ZSL SmartPrise Cloud Manager | TMC Cloud Computing Excellence Award

ZSL Receives 2012 TMC’s Cloud Computing Excellence Award for its Cloud Management Solution - SmartPrise Cloud Manager

Edison, New Jersey, October 23, 2012: ZSL announced today that TMC, a global, integrated media company, has named SmartPrise Cloud Manager as a 2012 Cloud Computing Excellence Award winner presented by Cloud Computing Magazine.

“We are proud to receive the recognition for the 2nd consecutive year. This comes as a great encouragement for our Cloud Computing initiative to drive the innovation in developing and delivering the business aligned private and public cloud solutions which would bring the Business Process Agility and Cost Reduction at the IT Infrastructure level” says Shiv Kumar, executive vice president, ZSL.

ZSL’s SmartPrise Cloud Manager (SCM) is a Unified and Integrated Cross-Platform Cloud Management solution available for Amazon EC2, IBM SCE, OpSource, Windows Azure, Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud, Right Scale and Rackspace clouds. The SCM solution allows to Provision, Configure, Orchestrate, Automate and Monitor applications running in multi cloud infrastructure. Be it public, private or hybrid Clouds, SCM help businesses access all types of clouds through one unified management console, which allows enterprises to manage and monitor cloud apps with ease and to leverage the real benefits of Cloud Infrastructure.

“ZSL has been recognized for their achievement in bringing innovation and excellence in the market while leveraging the latest technology trends to create an enriched user experience,” said Erik Linask, Group Editorial Director, TMC.

“Recognizing leaders in the advancement of cloud computing, TMC is proud to announce ZSL as a recipient of the second annual Cloud Computing Excellence Award,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. “SmartPrise Cloud Manager has demonstrated innovation as well as the ability to improve the cloud.”

The Cloud Computing Excellence Awards recognized the companies that have most effectively leveraged cloud computing in their efforts to bring new, differentiated offerings to market.

Winners of the Cloud Computing Excellence Award are published in the October 2012 issue of Cloud Computing Magazine.

About TMC

TMC is celebrating its 40^th anniversary as a global, integrated media company that helps clients build communities in print, in person, and online.TMC publishes the TMC’s CUSTOMER Magazine (formerly Customer Interaction Solutions), INTERNET TELEPHONY, Next Gen Mobility, and Cloud Computing magazines. TMCnet.com, which is read by 1.5 million unique visitors each month, is the leading source of news and articles for the communications and technology industries. TMC is the producer of ITEXPO, the world’s leading B2B communications event. In addition, TMC runs multiple industry events: Cloud Communications Expo; Cloud4SMB Expo; CVx (ChannelVision Expo); DevCon5; HTML5 Summit; LatinComm Conference & Expo; M2M Evolution Conference & Expo; Mobility Tech Conference & Expo; MSPAlliance MSPWorld; StartupCamp; Video World Conference & Expo and more.

For more information about TMC, visit www.tmcnet.com.

View the news at infoTech Spotlight at: http://it.tmcnet.com/news/2012/10/11/6644535.htm

Contact:
ZSL Inc.
85, Lincoln Highway,
Edison, NJ 08820.
Phone: 732-549-9770
Fax: 732-767-6644
Email - info@zslinc.com

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Key Factors To Consider When Moving to Cloud

The technology market world-wide is migrating to Cloud Computing where many organizations host and run most of their applications on cloud infrastructure. Cloud computing is a means to utilize the cloud infrastructure or any cloud hosted software by subscription or pay-per-use service.

If you are migrating your applications to a public or private cloud, as always cloud solution providers may promise you—easy and fast deployment, high-end security, lower cost and more. But at this juncture, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the critical factors to be considered while migrating to cloud beyond all the marketing proclamations.

Integration Issues with Cloud Computing

It is imperative for companies to think about the Integration going in, while deciding to embrace a SaaS based application or PaaS model for any of your software requirement. Integration plays a vital role when companies depend on more than one application for their business process, necessitating a smooth flow of data across them. With issues in integration, the very purpose of employing the application is left unmet.

Therefore before deciding on a cloud vendor, make sure you gain an in-depth understanding about the integration process and issues, to handle them effectively even before starting to migrate which will make the whole course smooth.

Hidden Costs Revelation

Cloud computing helps enterprises save money on software purchases or licences. With cost structure in the form of subscription fees, enterprises can evade huge investments on infrastructure and pay per usage. However before migrating your application to cloud it is essential to look at your monthly and yearly package options along with the many aspects like number of subscriptions, services, bandwidth limitations, one-time migration costs, integration costs, offers, and support and exit charges. Also understand the complete pricing model for version upgrades, increase in database, number of users, data storage, back-ups, features, etc.

Keep an eye on your package regularly for its limitations like data storage, bandwidth usage, back-ups, data base size, etc., which in-turn helps you manage your charges well. Finally, look for ways to increase the ROI and success metrics of the application.

Cloud Security: Who’s Responsible?

Security is one of the top concerns for companies and end users leveraging from cloud. Cloud vendors must ideally provide reliable services with security at multiple layers—data, application, infrastructure and end user. Cloud security issues are more complex for users who do not hold zero responsibility.

According to a recent survey conducted by Ponemon Institute on the Security of Cloud Computing Providers, both customers and providers seldom take the responsibilities for data security on cloud. In fact, most of the providers believe that it is customer’s responsibility to secure their data—which is unfair. While both the parties point out each other for data infringement, in reality, both are equally responsible if data is hacked.

It is important that customers take necessary actions for data security, without feeling that cloud solution will handle security concerns on its own. Hence you can check with the vendors as to what they offer for data protection while in addition protecting your data with secure passwords for data access and constantly updating them.

Will Cloud Computing Lead to Privacy Obliteration?

Cloud computing brings numerous benefits to enterprises. However most of us hardly know what is the case behind the scene when it comes to privacy of your data and personal information which is on cloud. The privacy of your data majorly depends on the type of cloud that you choose.

If for example, the cloud application works on an advertising revenue model, your personal information is bound to be grabbed. Vendors will protect your data when you pay for using the applications like business emailing, news portals, software applications, etc and hence choose your vendor keeping your data security in mind.

Speed of Data Restoration—Disaster Recovery

Cloud network goes down at any point of time; but what really matters is how swiftly they recover from a disaster and how their infrastructure is designed for such a downtime recovery. Very few cloud providers unveil the metrics data of uptime and illustrate reports of their past. You can ask providers about their past experiences on disasters, maintenance schedules and their customer’s feedback which will all provide you with a holistic idea of their service. Some of the leading vendors like Saleforce.com publish statistics on a public web page.

In some cases data will be lost when cloud network is down, where it is highly impossible to recover the lost data. Data back-up is the only best way for data recovery which can solve data protection issues on the cloud and also help to restore data quickly when you need it. Organizations need to check the performance data reports of previous issues for reference. You should not only depend on the cloud solution or providers for data restore, but it’s better to take data back-up every time it’s been updated.

Switching Vendors on the Cloud

If you have hosted your application with one vendor and decide to migrate to another, it is not usually easy and with cloud it’s often appalling. Organizations should know how easy or hard it is to get the data out from their existing cloud and move it to another cloud. In some cases this goes hand in hand with integration and you need to be aware of data migration across the cloud solutions. You also need to check the strengths, weaknesses, costs, security features and performance capabilities of the other vendor. Test the performance of the new cloud soon after everything is set and migration is in full swing.

Enabling Green Cloud Computing

As we see a massive growth in industrialization, there is a growing need for resources to run systems or machines. Data centers enabling cloud computing are power-hungry consuming several megawatts of power to run server farms and air-conditioners. And according to a survey conducted by Greenpeace report, nearly $450 billion dollars are spent on new data center facilities. This automatically leads to a huge impact on our environment.

However, a research by Microsoft suggests, big energy reductions from cloud helps businesses by moving on-premise business applications to cloud which can reduce their power consumption & carbon emission by 30%. Even large data centers like Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. can use piped Columbia River water to cool down the servers. So make sure that your cloud vendor holds Greenpeace scorecard if you are an environment friendly organization.

Along with the above mentioned critical factors, feel free to comprehend all your queries and requirements whatsoever with the cloud vendors before making your final decision.

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IBM Business Partner, ZSL Incorporated Develops with Worklight

ZSL, IBM Business Partner, talks about ZSL's capability to develop secured cross-platform mobile app with reduced development cost using Worklight.

Mobile Business Partner video

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Do’s & Don’ts for BYOD and COPE Mobile Users

Businesses are going mobile one way or the other. Employees prefer to carry their personal modern mobile devices such as Smartphones and Tablets to work because of their ease of use and availability. On the other hand, enterprises introduce corporate owned mobile devices to gain pre-established security as in the desktop era. In either case it is evident that these modern devices have changed the personal lives of people in many ways from storing and sharing photos, personal information, social media networking and more. So, people wanted to use the mobile technology that transformed their personal lives in the work place. So also, enterprises visualize many benefits of leveraging mobility into their businesses like the increase in employee productivity, satisfaction, responsiveness, rapid reach of information and more. Employees feel more content with the freedom to use the mobile devices of their choice. Also, with the greater degree of ownership and personal finance involved, they take time to maintain their beloved gadgets.       

Mobile users are of two groups: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) users and Company Owned Personally Enabled (COPE) device users. Consumers of either group are driving and adopting technology at a faster rate than the enterprises which is termed as Consumerization of IT. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities for enterprises. A reasonable usage policy by the implementation of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution helps the enterprises to avail most of the opportunities such as optimizing support cost, reducing business risks and administering corporate policies and procedures at ease and to avoid the potential pitfalls of proprietary information leakage & loss, network security threat and more. On the other hand, below is the list of do’s and don’ts that will help the employees to enjoy the benefits of safe use of personally owned and personally enabled devices at work.

Download Apps from Known Source: Refrain from downloading apps from unknown sources rather than procuring them from official websites.

Review the Apps: Even before downloading the apps from the official websites, read the reviews to know the general opinion of the apps.

Permissions: Be vigilant while granting permissions to install apps in your mobile devices

Safe Browsing Habits: Adopt a keen watch over the web surfing activities. The dangers that exist on the web can also exploit the mobile devices.

Phishing SMS or VM: Do not respond to questionable voicemail or text unless you call the institution directly and verify the information.

Password Authentication: Use standard password protection methods such as PIN numbers and automatically generated pass codes to enhance the physical security of the mobile device.  Enhance device security that minimizes the threat of losing personal information such as stored logins to banking and social media sites.

VPN Access: Use SSL VPN access to secure the session while accessing the corporate network resources using smartphones.

WiFi Hotspot Security: Almost all the modern devices are equipped with WiFi functionality. Avoid accessing the password protected websites such as banking or social media sites while connected to insecure WiFi hotspots when in a tea shop or in an airport terminal.

Remote Wipe & Encryption: Enable encryption, remote wipe facilities on mobile devices to protect data in the event a device is lost or stolen. 

Use Security Apps: Consider to buy robust security apps available in the market for mobile devices.

Update: Always keep the mobile device operating systems and software up-to-date.

To conclude, the employees in an enterprise gain the power of personal computers, when they use these hand-held devices such as the Smartphones and Tablets for their day-to-day tasks, but smarter and secured usage will help them to keep their personal and corporate data from out of the reach to other third party or external attacks.

By-Emma Watson

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Webcast on Making the Move to Cloud: Things to Consider - ZSL

ZSL is hosting a live webcast "Making the Move to Cloud: Things to Consider" which covers on different types of Clouds laaS, PaaS, SaaS, Apps Should Go on the Cloud, Cloud Application  and different Types of Hosting -- Traditional, VPS, Cloud. Attend the webcast and view some Success Stories, FAQs and benefits.

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ZSL Presents at BoB Conference 2012 on The Evolution and Role of Distribution in an Era of Cloud.

ZSL Presents at the Panel Session "Industry Insight: The Evolution and Role of Distribution in an Era of Cloud"
Grand Hyatt, Tampa, Florida, October 17, 2012

BoB, produced by the UBM Channel Vision Events team, is a 3-day invitation-only conference designed for leaders dedicated to achieving the highest levels of business performance and technical certifications in the IT channel. At the BoB Conference, solution provider VIPs come together and engage with a small group of their peers and hear from leading-edge, thought-provoking speakers to identify ways to grow or improve business.

Total Focus on Industry Outlook & Technology Thought Leadership

• Keynotes by Innovators and high-achieving Entrepreneurs
• Keynotes from top visionaries at major vendor organizations
• The Cloud’s Disruptive Effect on the IT Solutions Business
• Social Networking’s Impact on Customer Relationships and Brand Extension
• The Evolution of the Solution Provider Business Model
• Best Practices for Cloud Integration
• Business Strategy & Best Practices
• Enterprise and Midmarket CIO Perspectives on the future of IT by
• Presentations by Venture Capitalists on what they are investing in and their outlook
• VAR500 CEO or CTO presentations— VARs on their technology strategy
• CEO presentations
• Workshops on how to build solutions around specific technologies

The Transformation Continues: Meet the New Normal

BoB’s attendees are driving their organizations through a massive transformation in their structure - sparked by fundamental changes in how IT solutions are sold and the effects of rapid technology advancements. We are in an era of total upheaval, where solution providers must guide partners and customers through colossal disruption.

The BoB agenda puts a spotlight on the make or break issues in the channel today – including BYOD, cloud, mobility, and social behavior. You will also hear from industry experts on critical business issues from M&A to CEO benchmarks, and transformational change.

ZSL Panels a session that gives an insight into the industry on the evolution and role of distribution in the Cloud Computing Era and how it brings transformation in enterprise businesses.

Session:	Industry Insight: The Evolution and Role of Distribution in an Era of Cloud
Date:	Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Time:	9:45 am – 10:15 am EST
Location:	Grand Hyatt, Tampa, Florida
Moderator:	Tim Curran, CEO, GTDC
Panelists:	Bill Barry, SVP, CompuCom Ron Dupler, CEO, GreenPages Chris Gerhardt, President, Denali Advanced Integration Shiv Kumar, Executive Vice President & CTO, ZSL View panelist profiles at: http://www.bobconference.com/2012/speakers/

For more details about the conference, please visit the URL: http://www.bobconference.com/

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