ABI Research predicts subscribers of enterprise mobile content management (MCM) solutions will grow at double-digit rates to over 110 million by 2018 – and that trend must be addressed when businesses consider cloud-based storage solutions.
Smartphone subscribers of MCM will grow at a modest 12% year-over-year, whereas corporate-liable tablet subscribers will grow 21% over the next five years, ABI says. North America and Western Europe are the largest subscribing markets; Asia Pacific will stay in the number three position throughout the forecast period but grow nearly twice as fast as the regional leaders.
“As the Bring-Your-Own-Device phenomenon becomes more widely accepted within enterprises, more corporate content is being placed in the cloud using consumer-grade storage solutions,” explains Jason McNicol, senior analyst for enterprise at ABI Research. “As such, more corporate content is susceptible to leakage and theft, placing a higher need on mobile content security and protection. This threat is driving enterprises to add a mobile content management solution to the enterprise’s overall mobile strategy.”
For those enterprises seeking a mobile content solution, the difficulty lies in selecting a content vendor. There are currently three supplier segments offering solutions:
- Basic cloud storage and protection (i.e., box, Dropbox, Cubby).
- Content specific solution providers (i.e., Content Raven, Watchdox) whose sole business model is focused on content security.
- Enterprise Mobility Management providers (i.e., AirWatch, Citrix, Good Technologies, SOTI) whom provide content management solutions to complement a broader mobility support services portfolio.
“MCM is yet another solution in an already complex enterprise mobility marketplace,” added McNicol. “The key challenge and opportunity is integration of MCM into enterprise infrastructure to address IT security needs while also ensuring a good user experience from the mobile device.”
CLO Inside Track: Businesses of all sizes are moving to the cloud because it enables them to do more with less. In today’s wireless-focused world, however, the cloud value proposition can be hampered if mobile security is not up to scratch. BYOD in particular will have a seismic impact on cloud security. Organizations must look at their cloud presence holistically rather than on a point-solution basis – and that includes consulting with independent experts who can give them insight on how to address emerging threats – as well as to optimize the power of the cloud in their operations.
(For more information visit www.abiresearch.com.)
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