Security World: Apple just got dead serious about enterprise IT -- here's what you need to know

Apple enterprise-ifies the App Store with new bulk purchasing rules | Why Apple's new Device Enrollment Program is a game changer

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BY IDG ENTERPRISE

March 03, 2014

InCITE

Your twice weekly digest of the most important developments in the consumerization of IT

Apple to IT: We hear your concern and we're ready to help

With a ton of new technical details and guidance about iOS for enterprise and education IT departments, a new "zero-touch" mass deployment program, and changes to app purchase and licensing, Apple is saying loud and clear that it understands the needs and questions of IT professionals -- and that it will work to answer them while working more closely with IT.

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Lead the consumerization culture shift

Consumer technologies are changing business in fundamental ways. Learn how to lead the culture shift in your enterprise at the third annual Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise (CITE) April 27–29 in San Francisco. Learn more

Apple enterprise-ifies the App Store with new bulk purchasing rules

Apple's enterprise-zation of the App Store with options like traditional software licensing and new ability to make bulk app purchases by purchase order may seem like minor changes, but they will be major competitive advantages over Android going forward.

Why Apple's new Device Enrollment Program is a game changer

Apple's Device Enrollment Program is a major advance for iOS devices in enterprise and education. It gives IT the ability to thoroughly configure, deploy, and manage devices without needing to ever see or handle them. Here are all the details on why this is Apple's biggest play for the enterprise market to date.

A free version of Windows isn't as ridiculous as it sounds

More rumors are popping up suggesting that Microsoft is preparing to offer a free or reduced-cost version of Windows. The idea sounds ridiculous at first, given that Windows has traditionally been a cash cow for Microsoft. But if the company is at least considering the idea, it shows it recognizes the huge shifts in the market and is laying the groundwork in order to shift along with it.

With $50 million, ClearSlide will beef up analytics for salespeople

ClearSlide, the provider of services designed to help sales people better communicate with customers, just raised a whopping $50 million. It plans to use the funding to generally scale up but also to continue developing more analytics capabilities.

DEMO Watch: SecondMarket CEO says Bitcoin has unique uses, but the market must get bigger

SecondMarket believes Bitcoin could revolutionize payments and e-commerce, but the market needs to be bigger and more stable first. So it's spinning out its Bitcoin-related businesses and trying to build an exchange like the New York Stock Exchange. We talk to CEO Barry Silbert about his plans.

Ultimate cloud speed tests: Amazon vs. Google vs. Windows Azure

A diverse set of real-world Java benchmarks shows that Google is fastest, Azure is slowest, and Amazon is priciest.

Why Apple wants to brand all Bluetooth beacons as iBeacons

Apple is beginning to exercise its control of the iBeacon brand by offering to certify Bluetooth beacons that meet its specifications. There are two potential advantages for the company -- it could control or guide the development of beacon technology, and it can strongly associate that technology with its own brand and products.