VMware highlights Future of the Digital Workspace

At Connect 2016, VMware has shared how businesses can embrace the future of mobility powered by its suite of End-User Computing solutions. The next-generation VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management and VMware Workspace ONE extends VMware AirWatch into cloud-based management for traditional desktops and new-age connected devices, while providing users with the apps and services they need to work digitally. 

“Connect is a time to reflect on the mobility industry’s advancements in the last year, and also look into the future of how work can be reimagined,” said Noah Wasmer, Senior Vice-President, Mobile Products, End-User Computing, VMware. “In the nearly 10 years since the launch of the iPhone, enterprise mobility management has transformed from simple wipe and lock commands to a unified endpoint management platform for all devices, including Windows 10 and the Internet of Things. No longer will IT run different systems for different devices; instead, we built the single platform to manage all endpoints. With scalability, security, productivity and privacy at the core, VMware is uniquely positioned to deliver on this new digital work experience.” 

VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management, available as a standalone solution or as a part of VMware Workspace ONE, extends the VMware AirWatch Enterprise Mobility Management capabilities into advanced cloud-based Windows 10 PC lifecycle management. This includes configuration management, operating system (OS) patch management, client health and security management. VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management enables IT to deploy security patches and OS updates faster, install software more reliably and consolidate operational processes across all devices – on or off the domain. This extends the robust mobile device management technologies for Windows management already available in AirWatch to deliver the industry’s first comprehensive UEM solution that brings together desktop and mobile management under a single modern platform. 

Just as VMware AirWatch is expanding into traditional desktops, it is also branching out to manage IoT devices, smart glasses and touchless sensors. Businesses are beginning to see the impact of IoT technology in their workforces, and it is anticipated that IoT devices will far outnumber BYOD and other mobile devices in the enterprise. As businesses envision this shift, they need to consider how the wide range of emerging wearables, IoT connected devices, smartphones and tablets will fit into one holistic management framework involving data, cloud and mobile interactivity.

While VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management delivers IT a unified approach to managing the array of devices that may require access to corporate information, VMware Workspace ONE brings this same unified approach to the users. Workspace ONE builds on AirWatch to offer a comprehensive end-user experience to employees and contractors across all of their devices, managed or unmanaged.

Workspace ONE enables organizations to scale and tailor their management across unmanaged, BYO and corporate owned devices in a single platform. The flexible mobile application management (MAM) framework with adaptive management technologies provides organizations a way to easily manage all use-cases, from standalone MAM for containerized enterprise apps, to a managed workspace with OS-level MAM, to full device management. 

As the industry consolidates and services like VMware AirWatch offer unified and holistic endpoint management, organizations are rethinking the point-solution approach. Many businesses are finding themselves with one solution MDM, another for PC lifecycle management, one for IoT management, and others for services like identity and security management. 

To help customers transition to comprehensive UEM, VMware is offering several services for organizations to migrate from traditional MDM players to VMware AirWatch with minimal end-user impact. VMware expanded its Safe Passage program to help BlackBerry customers who must now migrate from Good for Enterprise with the recent End of Life announcement. An MDM Migration Tool is also available that migrates legacy MDM vendor profiles to VMware AirWatch, removing one of the major barriers for EMM platform migrations for customers. These services will streamline the process for transitioning to VMware AirWatch with low end-user impact. To learn more about the MDM Migration Tool, visit the AirWatch Blog. 

VMware Boxer for Android and the MDM Migration Tool are available today. VMware AirWatch Unified Endpoint Management, VMware AirWatch 9.0 and new advancements to VMware Workspace ONE will be generally available later in the quarter.