Where's the Company App Store?

With the rapid growth of custom-built and off-the-shelf mobile applications, many Enterprises are starting to explore Mobile Application Management (MAM) to improve security, streamline deployment and distribution, and manage the lifecycle of mobile applications. Unlike typical web-based applications, mobile applications can see new versions and releases every three to six months - which requires a strategy and approach that addresses both agility and flexibility in a fast-paced dynamic market.

There needs to be 3 components of any solution. 
1. The Enterprise App Store, 2. The apps, and 3. Security.

The Enterprise App Store can be Software-as-a-Service or living within the firewall depending on a thorough security assessment. The apps should be device agnostic allowing IT the ability to distribute apps to iOS, Android, Windows or Blackberry platforms. Thirdly, there needs to be a security layer built in to support app versioning, updating and wiping of applications by administrators.

A number of companies already offer Enterprise-wide solution such as Apperian, AppCentral and MobileIron.

How could such a system work?

The IT team manages all content through the Enterprise App Store as well as authenticating and adding users, setting permissions, and uploading in-house custom-built apps and linking 3^rd party content.

Users would download the Enterprise Store app to their devices and browse approved apps as required. Employees then simply download their apps safely to their devices. Updates are automatically controlled and new applications are communicated as they become available (after IT screening).