Apple Products Outshine Windows, Android in Enterprises, Survey Shows

This slide show looks at how enterprises are embracing Apple computer products, and why IT professionals now see great value in their use by employees.

This one may come as a surprise, but a whopping 96 percent of companies surveyed by JAMF Software say that they are currently supporting Apple products within their companies. That’s a staggering figure, considering that little more than a decade ago, Apple products were typically deployed in limited numbers in enterprises.

JAMF said that corporate adoption of Apple’s core products is on the rise. The company found that Mac adoption in the enterprise is up 68 percent compared with 2014, topping the 46 percent growth rate for the iPhone and 36 percent rate for the iPad.

Approximately eight in 10 companies now support the iPad, easily besting competing platforms. By comparison, 46 percent of companies are currently supporting Windows-based tablets, according to the survey, while 35 percent are running Android slates in the office. The iPad, in other words, is nearly twice as popular as competing Windows-based tablets.

The iPhone is by far the most popular smartphone in the corporate world. In fact, JAMF found that 84 percent of companies currently allow iPhone usage in the office. The IT professionals say the iPhone benefits from its “intuitive design” and overall “better user experience.”

JAMF took a closer look at how other mobile operating systems are being deployed in the enterprise. The company found that Windows-based smartphones are supported in 35 percent of offices, while Android handsets are supported in 64 percent of companies.

Windows may still be king in the enterprise computing market, but that lead is starting to shrink. In fact, two-thirds of IT professionals say that the Mac “will cut into PC share over the next three years.” JAMF added that the rapid adoption of Macs means Apple computer deployments will rise more sharply than Windows PCs in the coming years.

So, why are Macs gaining so much ground in the enterprise? Eight in 10 IT professionals say they’ve moved to the Mac because employees prefer the computers to Windows PCs. About half of respondents say that Macs can increase productivity, while a third were impressed by their ability to reduce maintenance time. Mac adoption is also getting a boost from “executive mandates” and reputed security advantages offered in OS X.

There’s much of the same to say about iOS adoption. A whopping 84 percent of IT professionals say that they’re bringing the iPhone into the office to satisfy employees who want to use the device. Nearly half of the IT professionals say the iPhone increases productivity, and a third say that the decision to adopt iPhones was made by top executives.

JAMF asked IT professionals to compare OS X to Windows. The company found that 64 percent of respondents believe Macs are “easier to manage” than computers running Windows or Linux. In addition, three-quarters of IT professionals said that their interest in Macs is due to OS X being “more secure” than Windows.

JAMF’s survey found that 78 percent of IT professionals believe iPads and iPhones are easier to manage than devices running on other platforms. More than eight in 10 IT professionals also said that they believe iOS is more secure than Android and Windows, making it a more desirable option.