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BPM Software Key to the Mobile Revolution

Cindy Cheng, ​Sr. Director of Marketing Communications, EMEA, Appian
May 16, 2013

Mobile device use is changing how many businesses get the job done, especially as the bring-your-own-device movement takes hold in many corporate settings. While BYODhas the potential to streamline operations, it also creates security challenges that organizations have to deal with. Business process management software can enable companies to maximize mobile operations while overcoming many of the data protection risks surrounding the technology.

Looking at the growing BYOD movement

According to a recent Gartner study, approximately 38 percent of businesses will nolonger provide employees with mobile devices as of 2016. Half of those polled said they will begin demanding thatworkers use personal smartphones and tablets in the workplace by 2017.David Willis, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, said thatthe rise of BYODrepresents a major shift in corporate operations.

"BYOD strategies are the most radical change to the economics and the culture of client computing in business in decades," said Willis. "The benefits of BYOD include creating new mobile workforce opportunities, increasing employee satisfaction, and reducing or avoiding costs."

Considering the implications of BYOD

The problem with the BYOD movement is that it puts corporate and consumer data at risk, leaving organizations with major security and regulatory challenges. When information travels freely within the corporate network and onto personal mobile devices, the potential data protection risks escalate considerably. Data stored on personal mobile devices, which often lack enterprise-class security solutions, are at risk. This is especially true because mobile devices are easily lost or stolen. One way to avoid this problem is to use cloud computing and other web-based solutions for all of the data and applications handled by mobile users. This creates an operational climate in which nocompany information or sensitive consumer data is stored on the end-user device.

Using BPM to support mobile security efforts

Cloud and mobile BPM solutions can give companies what they need to support strategies that involve enablingmobile use without dealing with security or process issues. Mobile BPM solutions can function with a write-once, read anywhere functionality in which data is written once in the server environment, but readable by mobile users. This adds a vital layer of security. At the same time, cloud BPM systems can give organizations the process automation and optimization capabilities they need to deal with the increasing dependence on cloud computing within the mobile ecosystem.

Cindy Cheng

Director of Product Marketing

Cindy Cheng