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Do enterprises need their own app stores?
BYOD has added a layer of complexity to IT management. Can internal app stores help?
Eileen Brown
Yes
or
No
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
Best Argument: Yes
Audience Favored: Yes (77%)
The moderator has delivered a final verdict.
Opening Statements
Fewer complications
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has introduced a cultural shift to the Enterprise and a logistical nightmare for the IT department and service desk. The ability for users to download their own apps from wherever they choose brings a layer of management complexity, app compatibility testing and provision of extra support. Directing employees to an external store to download one of potentially millions of apps poses significant risk to the IT team. The IT department will be expected to manage, test and provide on-going compatibility support for existing and proposed applications. This extra level of complexity brings with it an associated cost to the business.
Enterprises that have their own internal app store for employees to download approved, tested and sanctioned corporate apps bring several benefits. Companies benefit from a managed service to the business, a reduction in support and correct internal charging back to the business cost center.
Why bother with the risks?
I think the assumption that enterprises need app stores is misplaced -- some enterprises might need something like an app store, but many enterprises will not.
If you have a "BYOD first" policy -- as opposed to a policy where you buy all your staff the same device, e.g. an iPad or a BlackBerry -- you're going to have to run multiple app stores to cover off the supported platforms. Moreover, if you are working to this method, you are unlikely to be pushing out private, home-grown apps to the employees. People bringing their devices to work will be using a very limited set of apps -- web browsing, email, calendar/diary management, etc.
If it is your policy to give audiences within the workforce devices, you likely have private apps you want them to have. In this instance, the app store metaphor is overkill as it's simpler just to push down to those devices the apps that you want them to have. Why bother risking having the helpdesk bothered with "I can't find the app I need to do my job" type requests because you're dependent on the user finding the app within the store.
The Rebuttal
Great Debate Moderator
I'm ready
Let's go
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
I'm ready, too
First question...
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Distribution policy
What are the best ways to distribute enterprise apps?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Test first, then deliver
Enterprise apps should be delivered from a centrally managed repository with appropriate policy controls in place. All applications in the repository should have been tested for compatibility with existing line of business applications, and delivered to the users that have a requirement to use the apps.
The apps can then be managed effectively due to the infrastructure in place at the organisation. If the application is needed for a specific job function and is not compatible with other line of business applications then it can be delivered by an application virtualisation solution such as Microsoft’s App-V to avoid one app causing issues with another. Without this level of management and control, the user runs the risk of installing an app that conflicts with or renders the line of business app unusable
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Define the policy
If you have devices that you need to control, the best way to distribute apps is simply to have the sysadmins define policy that causes apps they want to install to be installed. Having the user follow the app store metaphor is unnecessary.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Need for app stores
How important is the concept of control regarding enterprise app stores?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Corporate IT must control through user policies
In branch office scenarios it is vital that the enterprise datacentre is able to deliver apps to all subsidiaries by delivering the applications across the infrastructure to the content servers in the remote offices over the WAN. Corporate IT needs to control the publishing, distribution and on-going management of applications by user policies.
Application licences can be assigned by the centralised IT team to specific users, teams or organisations and dynamically re-allocate the licences when the business needs evolve. Applications can be pre-scanned for malware or viruses before the user downloads the app to their device. Each user has their own unique requirements for apps which dynamically change as organisations re-org and change strategic direction. Centrally enforced policies are therefore a necessity to manage the changes.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
The blacklist
A key feature of enterprise app stores is the ability to black list (i.e. "prevent installation of") apps that you don't want the users to be running. This feature is very much about control -- and I'll talk about this shortly.
The other features are more about convenience. The intention of using the app store metaphor in enterprise app distribution is to give the users something that they understand and which using doesn't require too much cognitive loading.Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Why?
Why not just use Google Play and Apple's B2B App Store?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Mass confusion
When customers download apps from Google play or Apple B2B App store there is no option to manage or control distribution of apps through a centralised corporate policy. Any user that obtains a redemption code can download an app – whether or not it is of value to their task in the organisation. Costs would be difficult to manage centrally and licence re-allocation would be impossible as apps are controlled centrally by Google and Apple.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Trade secrets
These are public stores. If you have trade secrets that you wish to protected (e.g. an app that contains code that describes a procedure that you'd rather keep from competitors), you need private distribution.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Security control
Do enterprise app stores do anything for security?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
They need to pass inspection
Enterprise app stores allow business focused apps to be downloaded into a DMZ (de-militarised zone) whilst they are being checked for patches, worms, viruses and compatibility. When the IT team is satisfied that the app passes all of the corporate tests, it can be assigned to the appropriate policy for distribution to the correct set of users. Financial institutions such banks also need to guarantee that their line of business apps are deployed securely. Placing these apps onto Google or Apples store would cause concerns over security for some organisations. Financial based apps tend to perform one particular complex task such as applying for a bank loan, a mortgage or credit card. Rapidly changing user responsibilities means that organisations need to efficiently provision and deactivate access to systems to ensure adherence to the dynamic nature of the enterprise business.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Limit choices
Yes, insofar as they can used to blacklist apps that you do not want users to be running.
Whether this controls security, or whether it controls how much time the user spends doing non-work activities is unclear. It certain reduces the vectors that are in-play with regards to leaking confidential data outside of the enterprise boundary.Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
The use of technology from others
How do technologies from Citrix and others impact the need for an app store? In other words, can't you just distribute apps via tunneling and virtualization to tablets?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Use what's available
Some apps need to be accessed whilst the user is away from the corporate LAN or working offline. In areas of low connectivity, offline apps still need to be provisioned, delivered and used whilst not connected, syncing data when the user is next connected to the corporate network. Technologies such as Citrix XenApp and Microsoft App-V enable apps and user settings to be preserved whether online or offline and maintain a centralised and managed infrastructure.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Horrible user experience
This creates a horrible user experience and is not something I recommend for general use. (It's fine as a strategy for saving money on rarely used apps.)
However, as a counterpoint, my ZDNet colleague Jason Perlow had this to say about [session-based remote computing with regards to mobile apps in the enterprise].Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
HTML 5 effect
Will HTML5 ultimately eliminate the need for app stores and apps?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Rich-client apps
There will always be a need for rich-client apps. HTML5 will take away some requirement for rich client, but some legacy apps will always need local access to the device.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Native apps are much better
HTML5 in enterprise apps is an interesting one. It seems logical to suggest a single web app can expose data and functionality out to devices, however the reason why this doesn't happen in consumer environments -- i.e. that the experience is awful and native apps are much better -- would seem to apply to enterprise apps at all.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Packages only
Do you anticipate that app store distribution will simply be packaged in mobile device management applications?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
It's all or nothing
Mobile device management applications and settings are already packaged like this. The requirement for a password on the device and the auto-lock function are already distributed via policy settings. If the users refuses to accept this policy, then they are prevented from accessing the corporate intranet from that device. This ensures that corporate policies and updates go across every device that connects to the corporate network. Adding policy specific apps to the mobile device management application ensures that each user gets the correct suite of applications to a secure and well-managed device.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Yes
Yes.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Already outdated
Given the use of SaaS and apps from the likes of Salesforce and Workday already distributed on iOS and Android, aren't custom enterprise apps going the way of the dinosaur?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Necessary for highly specific tasks
In many specialised environments such as supply chain management, finance and the pharmaceutical industry, apps that perform highly specific tasks are often used. Workflow processes, governance and multi-layered security apps are used which are often written for specific devices such as ruggedized, sterilized and embedded devices. These apps may be required to be certified with the appropriate authority before the app is permitted to be used. SaaS cloud apps – where used in global companies that need to deliver apps to many different countries can have local compliance and legal challenges. Laws regarding data access, security and information access could make SaaS more difficult to manage than an enterprise app store.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
They're not for everyone
I think it depends on the approach. It's possible to find within your organisation "audiences" of people who need certain chunks of functionality. For example, in airline you might find a need to deploy iPad-based flight bags with apps needed to support piloting a plane, but you have a whole load of other people within that organisation who don't fly the planes.
I don't think custom enterprise apps are going away, but I'm not sure that custom apps that apply to all users within an organisation will apply.Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Your ideal system
If you could create your perfect mobile application distribution method for corporations what would it be?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Behind the firewall
A perfect method would be to access the corporate VPN via a technology such as Microsoft’s Direct Access that eliminates the need for a dongle, secure key generator or other physical device such as a smartcard. Once inside the corporate firewall, apps can then be downloaded to the device over the air in a secure, well managed infrastructure with policy controls in place. Users would never need to visit the office for updates, virus checks or patch management as this would be delivered over a seam free VPN access solution. For branch offices that have video requirements solutions such as Cisco Application and Content Network Streaming solution could be used to deliver live and on demand video streaming to branch offices.
Of course the need to track and manage the applications and keep track of the devices are important so a good mobile device management (MDM) solution such as Mobile Iron will enable organisations to track who downloaded each app and to control when and where they are used.Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
IT team should manage
It's really the necessity to borrow the app store metaphor that I think it wrong here. If you have devices that you need to control, it makes more sense that the IT team simply pushes down a policy that installs or blocks apps that you do or do not want the user to have. Making the user jump through hoops just to follow the metaphor of "going to a store and 'buying' apps they want" seems unnecessary.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Evaluating success
What are the key items to evaluate with enterprise app stores?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Bandwidth and accounting
Key items that impact users are the accessibility of the bandwidth between the branch office and corporate headquarters. If the WAN link is slow, for example less than 64kbps, then app deployment to branch offices might be an issue. In this scenario, then content servers with requisite apps should be placed at the remote end of the WAN link for users to download across the LAN. Any updates, patches, and security checking can then be distributed locally to the branch offices.
Other requirements for enterprise app stores are to ensure that there is an appropriate way of implementing cross charges and service delivery charges back to the business to ensure that the business groups within the organisation have the associated costs assigned to them. Business groups with heavy app download requirements (and consequently higher deployment and management costs) can be evaluated against other, more cost efficient businesses in the organisation.Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Blacklist, and installation prodedures
You're really only looking for three functions -- the ability to "blacklist" apps that you don't want the user to run, the ability to force installation of apps that you want the user to definitely have, and the ability to offer installation of apps that the user can optionally have. That's really all that you're looking for with an enterprise app store.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Lasr question: Role of BYOD and multiple platforms
How do BYOD and multiple platforms play into the enterprise app store model?
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Brings flexibility
BYOD brings a great deal of flexibility to the enterprise. Users want to be able to have the same experience regardless which device they use locally and remotely. Having a centralised corporate repository of user defined settings, security and data integration – with the policy settings, compliance model and structured management.
Enterprise app stores, coupled with a suitable enterprise app delivery mechanism enables the company to maintain control, ensure security of corporate data and ultimately keep the costs of BYOD down to a minimum.
Eileen Brown
I am for Yes
Makes it more difficult
It makes it much more difficult. If you don't have a platform that you have standardised on, you'll always be chasing around after whatever set of platforms comes into vogue within the organisation. One year you could have everyone bringing in iPads and Android phones, the next year you could have a few iPads, lots of Windows tablets and BlackBerry phones.
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
I am for No
Great Debate Moderator
Great Debate!
Both Eileen and Matt did a great job. Since both live in the UK, we allowed them to write in their native language. Check back Thursday for the closing statements and Friday for my final verdict. Don't forget to talkback and vote.
Thanks again for joining us.
Posted by Lawrence Dignan
Closing Statements
App stores offer simpicity
Eileen Brown
The plethora of devices makes it difficult for IT teams to manage their infrastructure – a far cry from the limited range in use only 10 years ago. Many enterprises have to manage complex operating systems, applications and hardware and struggle to manage software installations, updates and patches.
Enterprise app stores offer IT teams a simple way to manage their software assets but they are not right for every business. Businesses with a limited range of approved software that use virtualisation and embedded devices will find it much easier to manage their software assets and hardware devices.
Flexibility will give users the key to work effectively – but flexibility comes with a cost and potential security risk. Balancing this risk against perceived benefits whilst deciding how much the organisation is prepared to compromise security will remain a key factor when deciding to implement an enterprise app store for many years to come.
App store doesn't bring much
Matt Baxter-Reynolds
For enterprise-supplied devices, MDM is a must, but I don't think the app store metaphor brings much to this party. It makes more sense to know which audiences you have within the organisation, what apps they need, and then simply push those apps down proactively.
For BYOD, one thing we didn't touch on was potential invasiveness of MDM. For example, if you bring your iPhone into work, do you really want your organisation stopping you from using Facebook on company time. Or if the employee loses their iPad, do you want to be the one to explain to them that you wiped the entire device losing the only copy of video from their child's first birthday party?
The app store has it's place, namely in retail.
Distribution and quality control
Lawrence Dignan
Eileen Brown made her case well, illustrated how enterprises need to control their app distribution and quality and overall won the argument. In addition, the crowd happens to agree with her. Matt Baxter-Reynolds had solid points, but couldn't close the gap. Eileen gets the win.
Posted by Lawrence Dignan