Enterprises struggling to manage consumer mobile device use

A joint research project conducted by Unisys and the International Data Corporation reveals a growing gap between the rise of consumer mobile devices in the workplace and the ability of IT departments to manage them. Companies are having difficulty identifying exactly how many employee-owned devices are operating on their network and how they are being used.

According to the report, approximately 40 percent of employees surveyed reported owning a tablet or smartphone used to access business applications. A rise in business-related social media applications and blogging may be driving this demand for mobility.

"The good news from the new research is that, in contrast to last year, IT executives are recognizing that the consumerization of IT trend is real and inevitable," said Unisys CTO Fred Dillman.

Companies are trying to keep an open mind and acknowledge the potential benefits. More than 70 percent of IT managers surveyed said that allowing tablets and smartphones in the workplace boosted employee morale and productivity.

But according to Network World, enterprises may be embracing the technology before they know how to handle it. Better policies must be developed to monitor employee tablet and smartphone use. Companies may also benefit from migrating applications to the cloud to enable easier management and improved service to a wider range of devices.