We've have been getting a lot of calls from businesses looking to shift Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) capabilities from traditional network-based communication methods to wirelessly enabled devices. Given the proper focus on priorities, the move can make a lot of sense. Since the typical OOBM session utilizes a secondary network connection, and is rarely used, the network asset often sits idle. Cellular networks are only billed for data usage at a very economical rate. This slack-time represents a potential efficiency improvement, often in the form of a wireless Out-of-Band Management tool, but here’s where things get tricky.

The advent of the ubiquitous wireless device is here, and proof is in the numbers. According to an article by Cisco’s Chief Futurist Dave Evans, it is noted that there are 1.84 “Connected Devices” per person in the world today with that number projected to rise significantly in years to come. According to Evans, the ratio of connected devices per person is projected to reach nearly 6.58 before the end of the next decade.

The use case for the MSSP has been well documented. Key benefits of the service model consistently mentioned in research are cost effectively getting, and keeping the right people for the job. It’s hard for businesses to attract and retain top talent, “in house”; the simpler path is to align with a trusted security provider and leverage their expertise. Additionally, external threats are increasing in frequency and becoming more complicated; using a sophisticated third party makes a lot of sense.