IBM`s Internal App Store

IBM is using an internal service akin to the Apple App Store guarantee the quality and safety of the apps distributed to its employees. The service, known as Whirlwind, also creates a framework for managing roles and responsibilities and keeping data in the right hands. This model seems likely to take hold across the corporate world, as IT struggles to secure mobile devices and maximize their value to the enterprise. Whirlwind is a way of addressing behaviors such as employees loading their own apps onto smartphones; in some cases, this software can create the potential for data leaks or loss — or outright theft. And for organizations looking to develop internal apps that access sensitive data, the combination of approved and unapproved software can ratchet up risk. The need for mobile security and management is increasing rapidly across the economy, as the number of mobile knowledge workers and the penetration of smart mobile devices continues to grow. Here’s a brief look at IBM's Whirlind app store.