If you haven’t gone mobile, you’re missing out on key productivity improvements in the way you do business. If your employee base has also avoided the mobile trend, you may be aiming to save money through in-house productivity. But, are you missing a key opportunity to expand your reach?

There is a growing demand for bring your own device (BYOD) flexibility in the workplace, along with mobile device management to protect the network. If you haven’t yet taken the leap, take a look at what the changing IT security landscape means for your eventual transition.

First, let’s take a look at what’s on the forefront for the IT administrator, as the demand for mobility continues to grow. The primary focus tends to be on security as it’s up to IT to protect the network, data and users. As such, there is generally a person assigned to managing security. This security officer protects the organization, assesses and manages risk, pinpoints new business opportunities, and works closely with senior executives to enhance the company’s brand and productivity.

These activities have to apply to business practices (whether in the office or on mobile devices), technology trends that could hurt or help the business, and measurement procedures. It’s important that all players understand how security affects them. Technology is rapidly advancing and shifting, putting more pressure on the enterprise to evolve and embrace new opportunities. While BYOD may make sense for some, the risk isn’t mediated by mobile device management for others.

Still, mobility is a growing priority for a number of organizations, even if they don’t readily recognize all the benefits. According to a global survey commissioned by Citrix, 71 percent of enterprises believe mobility is a top priority for their business. Another 63 percent believe it is the greatest factor in helping the organization to gain a competitive advantage. Roughly half of the companies surveyed have implemented technologies to support mobile devices, with 48 percent using mobile device management to protect all parties involved while also promoting mobility benefits.

While not all companies have jumped on board with BYOD, many are putting the policy in their long-term planning. For many others, it’s becoming the norm, as 71 percent of companies are allowing, accommodating and encouraging the use of personally owned devices among the employee base. Of these companies, 76 percent suspect there are more than 100 unidentified devices that access their network each day – something that could be perceived as a real threat.

The reality in the industry overall is there is a significant shift to mobility. While some companies embrace the opportunities afforded with BYOD, still others remain concerned about the risk. At the same time, there are still some companies that have yet to develop a healthy insight into mobility and what it means for the organization at all, both good and bad. This is a result of either barriers to entry on mobility or simply a lack of knowledge when it comes to the strategy overall. Either way, it demonstrates the clear need for a plan and supporting tools to ensure success in the long run.