Issuing company-owned mobile devices can help maintain your IT security and consistency while still giving your employees the technology they need to succeed. Here are some points to consider when choosing these devices.

 Features and capabilities – Smartphones' capabilities may seem endless, but don't assume that they're all your workforce will need. While your employee might be able to type emails or messages with ease, for example, writing lengthy reports is a job for a tablet at the very least. If your employees must make use of full-scale software applications for tasks such as video editing or database work, you'll need to equip them with laptops instead of trying to just get by with tablets.

 Operating system – While Apple's iOS offers tons of apps and surprisingly deep enterprise integration, it's also a closed system, limiting both your hardware options and your ability to create customized programs. Android also has broad app support, but it's open to customizing and can run on a variety of devices. Windows 10 Mobile has the advantage of running Office, but there aren't very much other business apps available for it just yet.  Some mobile devices can run a full Microsoft Windows OS, making these a good choice for power users and folks running additional or proprietary applications. 

 Security – Here's one area where Apple's closed system and Microsoft’s well established system have an advantage over Android, which is so customizable that it invites the evil efforts of hackers. It's also a compelling reason for limiting the number of devices and platforms you make available to your mobile workforce. The fewer options you're handing out, the narrower the range of patches and other security measures you'll need to manage.

If you want to make sure you purchase the right devices for your team's particular needs, consult your Austin IT support experts at Gravity Systems. We can handle everything from selection to setup and security so your crew can work on the run without running into trouble!

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