In the world of wear your own device (WYOD), Samsung is preparing to release its latest smartwatch, Gear S, right before the holidays.
Will wearable tech be the next big headache for IT asset management?
Unlike with smartphones, most IT departments have no clue as to what the plan of action will be for incorporating wearable tech into data security and asset management.
If Samsung Gear S plans to go mainstream in the corporate world, employees syncing to corporate computers and devices must follow established security policies.
However, if left mismanaged, this can lead to loss of data and control. Companies need the right network access strategies and data security policies in place for employees.
When asked specifically about managing wearable technology entering the workplace – from Google Glass to smartwatches – 83 percent of National Health Service (NHS) trusts admitted to having no strategy in place. Even the healthcare sector, the hailed early adopter of wearable technology, is not prepared for the thrust forward into the wearable device industry.
Right now nearly 61 percent of the current wearable tech market is sports and activity trackers. The wearables market itself is expected to generate revenues of $53 billion by 2019, according to analysts at Juniper Research.
Juniper anticipates that many of the more advanced technologies for wearables will be developed first for the enterprise and healthcare segments, which have clearer use cases. These segments will drive wearable technology forward, before being adapted for the consumer sector.
The solution is to balance employee freedom with corporate protection. Consider mobile lifecycle management services from a certified IT asset management provider.
HOBI International, a leading IT asset management company, provides a full-service Mobile Lifecycle Management (MLM) program, MobileLife, to alleviate the burden and minimize the expense of procuring, managing and disposing of enterprise mobile assets. The program maximizes the value of your corporate mobile assets, ensures complete data destruction, and provides transparent reporting for corporate and legal requirements.
The MobileLife Process
MobileLife provides a one-stop-shop for your organization’s mobile asset needs. HOBI’s comprehensive mobile lifecycle management solution delivers custom programs designed to maximize your mobile ROI and keep data secure throughout the entire lifecycle:
• Repair Services
• Swap Stock Inventory
• Reverse Logistics
• Data Erasure
• Compliance
• Remarketing & Resale
• Recycling
Wearable technology is a huge up-and-coming market! Both manufactures and IT asset managers play a significant role.