Networked Enterprise Featured Article

In the technology space, innovation and change are the norm. When a new development of buzzword emerges, bets are taken to see how long it trends before something replaces it. In the dawn of the use of Big Data, the same was likely true, yet we don’t see the use or data or the important role it places in business fading. In fact, the networked enterprise is more important today than ever before.

As a response to this growing demand, VMware is on the path of development, introducing new solutions such as the AppCatalyst and Project Bonneville. The goal for both innovations is to enable today’s enterprise to adopt cloud-native applications by building them through an easy-to-use development tool and Docker containers securely housed on the WMware vSphere.

The appeal of the Docker containers has much to do with the demand for apps within the networked enterprise. App development ensures the needs of the stationary and mobile employee are easily met, while deep integration with current network assets protects legacy investments. As such, Docker is being rapidly adopted by developers seeking to ship apps faster to both private and public cloud infrastructures.

Through another extension, VMware has also integrated identity management through Identity Manager with its AirWatch (News - Alert) mobile device management in order to provide companies with a cloud option to extend identity management beyond the current perimeter of the enterprise. And while the solution supports the networked enterprise, the goal is to provide access control to mobile devices operating outside of the perimeter.

This move puts the enterprise one step closer to the capabilities of the enterprise, which was quickly left behind by the revolution of the mobile consumer. The challenge is the ability to provide security and identity management to mobile employees is lacking as these individuals want to take advantage of mobile applications. To further support the initiative, Identity Manager from VMware will also extend an application store to its users, making the transition easier for all involved.

The drive toward virtualization is significant as it allows the enterprise to come into the mobile revolution and truly extend the capabilities of the networked enterprise to the mobile worker. It also allows for the consolidation of all physical deices so as to combine the work of multiple servers. This also increases the demand on the physical infrastructure, identifying the challenges that may exist and limit capabilities.

The reality is there is a growing demand for virtualization. Yet, challenges to making this transition still exist. For the networked enterprise to function at optimal levels, these challenges need to be recognized and overcome. VMware is making strides to develop solutions to meet these challenges head-on so the virtual employee can make the most of their time on the road.