It is increasingly common for government workers to use their personal or government-issued mobile device to access government email, network drives, documents, or CRM’s. The digital realm champions improved efficiency and immediate access to limitless information. Simply being out of the office, in a meeting, or at home are no longer roadblocks for responding to emails and accessing work information.
There are enormous security concerns associated with government workers accessing sensitive information form an unsecure device. Lost or stolen cell phones, hacking, and “kill switches” are all concerns being discussed in the IT security realm. The consequences could be severe.
Federal and state agencies are currently exploring the world of Mobile Device Management (MDM) and structuring departmental initiatives and IT budgets to include MDM procurement. Agencies that rely on off-premise interaction and responsiveness such as the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. State Department, DISA, as well as the U.S. Air Force are all doing market research on MDM.
A major benefit of MDM comes for project managers in various agencies. Project managers are held accountable by agencies and contractors alike and need off-premise access to timesheets, the ability to update task status, and give approval with a user interface designed for quick interactions. The modern day workplace demands workers are available regardless of traditional barriers.
MDM joins cloud migration as two of the most talked about topics in the government contracting world. In October 2012, Gartner listed MDM and mobile applications as #1 and #2 on a list of the top 10 strategic technologies for 2013. The holiday season is over, and contracting season is just heating up. MDM providers and contracting companies are all looking to play a role in the RFP and RFI writing process and make the shortlist of MDM preferred government solutions.