As a growing number of enterprises consider a "bring your own" mobile device strategy, there is an increasing need for solutions that give end users access to corporate data while also providing assurance that corporate security and compliance guidelines will not be breached. According to new research from International Data Corporation (IDC), two distinct approaches – mobile device virtualization and client virtualization mobile extensions – each offer unique benefits that can help enterprises embrace the consumerization of IT that has begun to rapidly infiltrate companies across the board.   

When companies extend client virtualization to mobile devices, employees gain the ability to access their desktop whenever and wherever they have a viable network connection to the corporate datacenter. This allows workers to remain productive despite their physical location. Additionally, since the data is typically not downloaded to the local access devices, IT can rest assured that sensitive information will not be compromised.

Mobile device virtualization refers to a mobile device that has a hypervisor running on the device chipset or just above the operating system of the device. "Mobile device virtualization is an enabling technology that offers benefits to various stakeholders in the mobile ecosystem," said Stacy Crook, senior analyst, Mobile Enterprise research.

One of the most intriguing use cases of mobile device virtualization is the individual-liable mobile device. Because the hypervisor allows the device to run multiple instances of the operating system, an individual-liable device can now completely isolate the data in one OS from the other, running one instance for corporate applications, media, and content, and another for personal apps, content, media, etc. This gives IT the ability to only manage the corporate portion of the device, which users like, and it gives IT the knowledge that anything the user does on the personal OS of the device will not compromise the corporate side.

Additional findings from this IDC study include the following:

• Mobile device virtualization lowers the bill of materials (BOM) of mobile devices, reduces time to market, and allows mobile operators an opportunity to offer smartphones at sub-$100 prices.
• Mobile device virtualization allows silicon vendors to reuse existing real-time operating systems (RTOS) assets when developing chipsets.
• For the chipset vendor, the use of virtualization technology results in both time and cost savings that can then be passed on to its OEM customers.
• Mobile operators are a key stakeholder to get on board. Mobile operators worldwide are looking to increase their value to their consumer and enterprise customers.

The IDC study, Mobile Virtualization Technology Assessment (IDC #228088), examines how virtualization technology is being leveraged in a mobile context. The report analyzes two different markets — client virtualization mobile extensions and mobile device virtualization. Each of these has a role to play in enterprise mobility; client virtualization mobile extension software is used to access enterprise remote desktop infrastructure, and mobile device virtualization can offer security benefits enterprises require for mobile device deployments. However, mobile device virtualization technology is also being leveraged across chipset vendors, mobile device manufacturers, and the carrier audience as well. These should be viewed as two distinct markets, although there may be crossover between vendors and targeted audiences. Key definitions for each market are provided.

To purchase this study, please contact IDC Sales at 508-988-7988 or sales@idc.com.