Rise of Apple in workplaces challenges IT departments

The increasing use of Apple devices in the workplace is raising significant challenges for organisations traditionally relying on Windows-based systems, according to Digital Arena.

Neil McGowan, Managing Director at Digital Arena, highlights the irreversible drive towards Apple integration within New Zealand's business environments. He attributes this to a growing trend for companies to incorporate marketing and creative teams internally, which necessitates Apple compatibility.

McGowan explains, "Devices are the tools of your trade, and people have preferences and employees increasingly expect device choice as part of their work environment, which reflects a broader trend over the last 14 years - in the first quarter of 2024, Apple had captured 8.1% of the PC market and 31% of tablet share in 2021."

He notes that many organisations are adopting a device-agnostic culture, where Apple devices are an option not just for marketing and creative departments. However, practical challenges remain, especially for IT teams that lack expertise and experience with Apple products.

"With the rise of Apple use, many organisations now embrace a device-agnostic culture where Apple is an option, not just within marketing teams and creative departments. Yet, while 80% of corporate adopters no longer see Apple devices as security risks, practical barriers persist, particularly for IT teams with limited Apple expertise, resources and infrastructure," said McGowan.

Instances have been observed where Apple users are marginalised within organisations, lacking access to network functionalities such as company Wi-Fi networks or printers. "Corporate IT infrastructures are often not well equipped to support Apple devices fully," McGowan states. Staff sometimes find themselves resorting to external methods like USB drives, raising privacy and compliance concerns.

McGowan stresses that incomplete integration can lead to staff feeling "excluded, unappreciated and divorced from the culture", which can hinder productivity as employees struggle to perform optimally.

The resource strain is often pointed out as a reason for inadequate Apple support. In numerous cases, a single IT staff member manages between 70 to 140 employees, rendering dedicated Apple support financially unsustainable, according to McGowan. This results in a scenario where Apple devices are "tolerated but not fully integrated", impeding departments like marketing from achieving full operational capacity.

Addressing these challenges requires building in-house expertise or turning to external specialists. McGowan argues, "It is critical that companies adhere to compliance standards such as CIS Level 1 and NIST 800 for Apple devices, even if there are only a handful in the organisation, so as to ensure parity with Windows systems."

Outsourcing for specialised Apple support can potentially offer "cost-effective" solutions, improving productivity and workflow particularly for creative teams reliant on Apple-specific tools.

McGowan advises companies to fully commit to integrating Apple devices by acquiring the necessary expertise and maintaining compliance standards to avoid vulnerabilities. He also suggests looking into cloud-based solutions to better accommodate new, Apple-centric teams.

"With the right approach, organisations can unlock the creative potential of Apple devices while maintaining robust security and compliance frameworks. Success, however, depends on decisive action and a commitment to addressing the unique challenges of Apple technology," McGowan concludes.