Forrester reverses stance on keeping Macs out of enterprise
updated 03:55 pm EDT, Thu October 27, 2011
People using detours to bring Macs to work
Forrester Research has reversed an earlier policy, and is now encouraging companies to permit Macs in enterprise. Mac use is growing, the firm notes, despite 41 percent of polled companies not technically allowing employee-owned Macs. A number of businesses are even claiming the existence of a "gray market" of sorts, in which workers will trade tips on how to bypass restrictions on the platform. Forrester's David Johnson claims that the subversion is being aided by Apple through Genius Bars, support staff and online forums.
He suggests that MacBooks are a plus in the corporate world, since they are often more reliable and require less maintenance than Windows notebooks, which for instance face a greater risk of malware. Mac users are also allegedly more productive, a result of not spending time on troubleshooting. Johnson labels Mac users "HEROes," short for "highly empowered and resourceful operatives."
Forrester polling indicates that 51 percent of companies allow worker-owned Macs to access web-based email, even though only 37 percent sanction Internet access. 21 percent apiece allow access to internal networks or hosted apps and virtualization. A mere 19 percent are open to native email; 14 percent say they will implement security policies and software, while 6 percent will install corporate apps.
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Employee Owned?
That would indicate corporations are so rigid in their IT procedures and purchasing that employees had no recourse but to spend their own money on a machine that actually works better for them.
Not only is that highly unlikely ;) but that would also be a net hardware savings for those corporations whose IT department heads have their own heads squarely placed in the round hole the sun never encroaches upon.