The Benefits of Investing in the Right Equipment

Were you caught off guard by the recent increase of Apple products (MacBooks and desktops running OS X and iPhones and iPads running iOS ) being used in the corporate and enterprise marketplace?

It’s clear that many companies traditionally opt for Windows in their computational infrastructure, but now 96% of enterprises support Macs, according to statistics from JAMF Software’s second annual survey of IT professionals from around the world, cited by a recent Computerworld article. What’s more, 84% support iPhones and 81% support iPads.

Desktops and Laptops

Employees may prefer to use a desktop Mac at work because they are already familiar with OS X from school, home or a previous job.

Offering them Mac desktops could wind up improving your bottom line. Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO said that IBM is saving about $270 for every MacBook they deploy instead of a traditional PC, noted Computerworld.

Security and Ease of Use

You can manage Macs at scale in your enterprise, noted a recent article at InfoWorld, and Macs are known for being more secure than PCs straight out of the box.

Ease of use is another reason to deploy more Macs in the enterprise, especially for creative types. Furthermore, a business-class PC will cost about the same as a Mac but the total cost of ownership is less for Apple products, noted InfoWorld.

Windows on a Mac

In a bid to win over more Windows users, especially those running legacy Windows applications, Apple expanded its desktop and laptop capability by making it easier for Mac users to run virtualization software.

They can work with OS X apps at the same time as they run Windows programs, giving IT more options for workstation setup.

Mobile Devices: iPhones and iPads

An iPad is suitable for making presentations, such as to potential investors or customers. Your enterprise might want to implement a Bring Your Own Device policy to let employees use their own smartphone or tablet computer instead of providing company equipment.

However, employees may resist letting your IT department have any control over their devices. For example, you may demand the capability to remotely wipe all data from an iPhone or iPad if it is stolen or goes missing.

In such cases, while it can be cumbersome for the end user, you can offer a company iPhone or iPad that you can control and let employees carry their own devices for personal usage.

If you have always relied on Windows computers in your organization but are now looking to expand your options, there’s no time like now to add Apple devices to the mix. Job seekers who prefer using Macs, iPhones and iPads (and members of your creative team who felt hamstrung by Windows) will find your company more desirable to work for when you provide support for the Apple ecosystem.

What’s the story at your organization? Does your IT department already support Apple software and technology? Do you issue company-owned equipment, or is there a BYOD policy in place now? Let us know in the comments section!