MobileIron to address BYO device challenges

Deal with Observatory Crest will help address gaps in the market

By Ulrika Hedquist, Auckland | Tuesday, 09 August 2011
According to Observatory Crest, the newly signed deal with mobile device management company MobileIron will help address gaps in the market.

“What we are seeing is as more and more individuals bring devices into organisations, there is a gap in terms of how enterprises manage, secure and gain visibility around those devices,” says Observatory Crest director Martin Christmas.

Most organisations have security strategies and policies in place around laptops, PCs and the more traditional ways of accessing the corporate network, but have less visibility when it comes to smartphones and tablets, he says.

The MobileIron products give enterprises the means with which they can manage and secure “BYO mobile devices”, he says.

Observatory Crest will carry MobileIron’s whole range of products, including the virtual mobile platform – covering Android, iOS, WebOS, Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Phone – and an iPad app to help IT managers monitor and control devices on the network.

Observatory Crest will be looking to "conduct enablement sessions" with partners in New Zealand, to raise awareness of the offerings available and how they are relevant to the local market, says Christmas.

Mobile device management is a hot topic of conversation right now, with many organisations having some level of discussion around what their strategy should be, he says.

Observatory Crest distributes six brands in New Zealand, the top ones being F5, ArcSight, Axway, MobileIron and AirTight, he says. The company distributes to around 25 resellers here.