In this cloud-friendly era, managed service providers (MSPs) are tasked with the challenge of providing customers with an accessible, secure, and flexible means of accessing data in the cloud. Thanks to the abundance of mobile devices, mobility and mobile applications are a key part of this cloud access. Users must be able to access their data from anywhere and from any device, and the entire experience must be secure and convenient.

Mobile application solutions must satisfy certain key criteria for both the company and the end user. By meeting these criteria, MSPs ensure that both parties can fully leverage the business potential of cloud mobility solutions.

Satisfy User Needs

If the end user can’t easily access work resources from a mobile app, he or she is not likely to use it often. It is therefore critical that apps be easy for employees to access and use.

• Accessibility: Many users have multiple devices, and apps should be accessible from all major app stores. Additionally, any login or registration requirements should ideally integrate with existing systems and workflows.
• Usability: Users expect a positive experience from business apps and appreciate a savvy and responsive user interface that is easy to navigate. App performance should be designed to seamlessly handle a large user load and account for peak usage periods.

Meet Business Requirements

Among other needs, two of the key business concerns surrounding mobile apps are security and service.

• Security: Businesses have to know that company data is secure. Encryption at-rest and in-transit is becoming the industry standard for mobile app data. Successful apps also have some type of monitoring infrastructure in place by which the system can automatically detect any major security threats or compliance violations and notify administrators.
• Service: The MSP needs to prove that it is technically adept at troubleshooting mobile app issues. Additionally, the user-facing customer service organization must be responsive and demonstrate a commitment to furthering the organization’s mobility mission and access.

If MSPs understand key end user and business needs such as accessibility, usability, security, and service, they can better guarantee that mobile apps will be successfully adopted in the enterprise. The success of one mobile app project will likely lead to further opportunities to assist businesses in their continued use of new technologies.

eXemplify can help both businesses and MSPs better understand key concerns around cloud mobility and apps. Contact us today for more information.