As technology is getting enhanced, employees are expecting to access business applications from their mobile devices. Here, virtual mobile infrastructure (VMI) plays an important role by allowing mobile devices to run apps from a remote server.

The COVID-19 situation made companies adopt the work from home (WFH) policy, thus creating a long-lasting remote workforce. VMI made WFH possible without damaging enterprise data in this pandemic situation. However, work culture is undergoing a rapid transformation owing to the virus. It’s simple: new technologies arise to solve real-world issues.

The world of mobility management is frequently changing as novel technologies arise. From enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions to mobile device management (MDM) tools to a VMI platform, these changing technologies offer several options to enterprises to secure their data.

Several companies out there are finding an effective solution to deploy native mobile apps to employees; thus, VMI is receiving more eyeballs in the enterprise mobility space. With this comes fear, questions, and doubts that will this new platform really fulfill its promise.

Over the past few months, we are listening more about this technology. Now get on the train and learn something about VMI…

VMI to the rescue

In case you are not familiar with the phrase, think about virtual desktop infrastructure as it’s a comparable concept, only the desktops are swapped with mobile devices.

To monitor user activity and protect mobile data, companies must look beyond present solutions such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and mobile device management (MDM). This is where VMI comes in and resolves the security challenges imposed by the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. Thus, enabling companies to protect business data and attain conformity. The only difference between VDI and VMI is that VMI virtualizes Android operating systems instead of virtualizing Windows desktop applications. VMI is also termed as Android-based VDI.

Moreover, the platform helps to manage all apps from a single device, thus allowing easy delivery of corporate mobile apps to users having Android or iOS.

Hits and misses

Benefits of VMI

  • Satisfies compliance by enforcing robust encryption and authentication
  • Averts data loss from device theft
  • Lowers operational expenditures
  • Companies such as Slash Technologies help in app development to support all types of mobile devices
  • Effortlessly supervises users, including contractors

As you know, no one is perfect in this world; there are some flaws in everyone. Therefore, VMI isn’t always right. There are some situations where it may not be appropriate:

  • VMI doesn’t support users who work in remote areas with no connectivity
  • Users need access to iOS apps as Apple does not allow iOS to run on other platforms

7 facts one needs to know about VMI

1.   Addresses enhanced security and compliance requirements with session watermarking, recording, and geofencing. In short, we can say that it not only restricts the time and location that users can log in to avert unauthorized activity but also prevents users from downloading data on their phones. Therefore, VMI plays an important role in protecting and controlling business information.

2.   Lowers operating and hardware prices with high-density VMI utilizations. There are two foremost VMI architectures, i.e., mobile app virtualization and running a full Android operating system. Mobile app virtualization offers ten times improved density in comparison to an Android instance per user. Thus, it decreases the number of servers required to host VMI. As a result, it reduces operating and hardware costs.

3.   Offers smooth and effective video playback. By using Android OMX redirection for video and audio files, VMI solutions offer full-screen playback and professionally stream videos with ultra-low latency.

4. Imposes multi-factor authentication.

5. Supports a wide array of android applications.

6. Supports a wide range of clients, including Windows phone, iOS, and Android.

7. Delivers a brilliant end-user experience with GPU acceleration.

One of the best examples to understand more about VMI is “Hypori Virtual Mobility.”

Let’s take a quick look at what exactly Hypori is all about?

It is a highly secure virtual smartphone solution that allows users to perform business tasks on mobile devices without integrating corporate and personal data. Thus, securing the organization’s BYOD program. The key aim of the Hypori VMI platform is to protect businesses from the risks of BYOD by eliminating inherent conflict between business and personal personas.

As per Hypori, there are three major components of the VMI:

  • The Hypori Admin Console – this app allows to configure and monitor Hypori virtual devices, servers, and users.
  • The Hypori Client – it is a mobile thin client app that supports both iOS and Android platforms. Also, it gains access to the Hypori device.
  • The Hypori Virtual Mobile Device – is a virtual mobile platform that runs on a server and functions like a regular smartphone. However, apps and data run on the server instead of the actual device.

For the time being, the concept of VMI is quite new. It is superior in multiple ways, such as practically no storage place but still controls all the power of a high-end datacenter, requires less processing power, and less battery power. Using VMI, one can protect all the corporate confidential information while traveling. But there might still be several questions regarding Android-based VDI. Let’s take a snapshot of what VMI can do for you:

1. Is VMI or Android-based VDI only limited to mobile apps with touch input?

The answer is “NO” because it can support both typical keyboard and mouse apps as well as touch-based apps. However, it is completely transparent to the end-user. Thus, apps can be accessed from PCs, traditional thin clients, tablets, and mobile phones.

2. What types of hardware are required for hosting VMI?

It can be hosted on cost-efficient microservers using ARMv8 (Cortex-A53, Cortex-A57), Intel Atom, or ARMv7 (32-bit ARM) to usual traditional Intel Xeon-based servers.

3. Does VMI require expert thin clients?

Any gadget with an HTML5 browser can be utilized as a VMI client.

4. Is it possible to host VMI on public infrastructure such as Amazon AWS?

Yes, it can be hosted on the public cloud. But to ease manageability and control cost, it will be better to use mobile app virtualization.

Story ends…

It empowers security teams to protect data, it helps app developers accelerate development, and it streamlines IT processes to protect data. Therefore, empower your mobile workforce with secure VMI. Because tomorrow is all about enhanced technology and advanced work culture.