V3 Cloud Summit: Experts urge IT teams to thoroughly test mobile apps

Experts from Intel and law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse have urged businesses to perform due diligence on applications before deploying them on mobile devices to optimise the user experience and ensure that data is kept safe.

Only 51 per cent of companies surveyed by V3 test applications to ensure they run correctly on mobile devices, while 29 per cent do not even consider this and 20 per cent simply ask vendors whether software is compatible.

Antonis Patrikios, senior associate at Field Fisher Waterhouse, explained that due diligence should be a priority before deploying any application in the workplace, but suggested that vendors could do more to help businesses.

"Proper due diligence is a must as it is the responsibility of the business to secure data. It is also in the interest of vendors as they will alleviate the concerns of customers," he said.

"Businesses need to analyse what is happening to data and put appropriate products in place. This is easy to say, but not to apply."

However, Richard George, enterprise channel director at Intel, maintained that companies not throughly checking apps is understandable because IT departments are being deluged.

"Traditionally, we have used a business PC or device to access enterprise data, and it has had features and functionality to kill bugs and manage things," he said.

"In defence of vendors there is a wave that has hit everybody, and we have had to deal with that. There is a degree of catch up going on."

Stuart Dommett, business development manager at Intel, urged IT departments to make testing a priority before deploying mobile software.

"It is good that the 29 per cent of respondents who have not tested apps are not having issues, but in some cases this is possibly lucky," he said.

"As an IT person I would check that apps not only work, but work in the way I expect. Are my employees going to get the right experience? Does it meet the IT requirements? Are they going to get a good user experience and the productivity benefits that we're trying to achieve? The only way to see that is to try it."

The survey also found that 72 per cent of companies provide employees with handsets such as iPhones and BlackBerrys to access apps, and Dommett said that this needs to continue in order to keep employees happy and allow IT to remain in control.

George added that there will be a proliferation of devices, and that organisations need to continue providing high-end user experiences.

"The end point matters. Businesses need to provide an experience tailored to the end device so that there is value out of it. IT has to provide devices that are fit for purpose and that are going to work," he said.

"The user experience has to really work. If it doesn't, people won't use it and devices will go in the drawer."

The V3 Virtual Cloud Summit is taking place all day on Tuesday 27 September, so if you haven't already, register here to attend the other sessions.