Can you believe that smartphones (as we know them today) have only been in existence for slightly over 6 years? Yet, despite their relatively short existence, user adoption in the U.S. has already surpassed 50%. That sort of growth is absolutely incredible.

The mobile trend isn’t confined to the consumer world either. Over the past couple of years, we’ve really seen mobile usage and mobile apps gain traction in the enterprise. This will only increase in the coming years.

The explosive growth of mobile puts CIOs and IT leaders in a tricky spot, as they’re forced to adapt to this major trend on the fly. They’re stuck figuring out how their companies can best capitalize on the advantages of mobile while avoiding the drawbacks.

So, what must IT leaders understand about mobile? Today, I’d like to help answer that question. I’ve compiled a list of things every IT leader should understand about mobile, which you can find below:

1. You don’t have a choice

The rise of mobile reminds me of the rise of the web. Some companies recognized the potential immediately, and moved toward the web. Others waited to see if it would catch on. Those who waited struggled to catch up once they realized the importance of the web. Mobile is the same way: You don’t have a choice. It’s here to stay.

What does that mean? Does that mean your company must build native mobile apps? No. As I’ve mentioned before, native apps aren’t always the best approach for business.

That being said, you must address the fact that we now live in a multi-screened world. You must recognize that people will increasingly access your web site and web apps using mobile devices. These days, you must consider mobile when building web apps and/or web sites for your business.

How? We’ll cover that in the next section.

2. Responsive/Adaptive design is the future

You’ve probably heard about the concept of “responsive design”. If not, you certainly will in the coming years. Responsive (and adaptive) design is the future of business web site and web app design. But, what does it mean?

James Carlson, Chief Product Officer at Questis, explains the concept and importance of responsive design: “Responsive web design allows your business to create and publish content in a way that adapts to every screen size. This means a single website can be published, updated and accessed on televisions, desktop computers, tablets and phones while providing a great user experience. Mobile devices accessing the internet grew 55% in 2012 and mobile device access is expected to eclipse desktop access before 2015. Not only does building a responsive website today mean that your business is prepared for the future, but it also gives you more time to focus on what matters: responding to your customers.”

Adaptive design is similar, yet slightly different. While responsive design creates a single HTML page that adapts to every screen size, adaptive design delivers a different HTML page depending on the device. For instance, a single web application may have 3 separate presentation (HTML) layers: One for PCs, one for tablets, and one for smartphones. Logic placed in the application identifies the user’s device and displays the correct layer. For example, visit this web app from different devices and notice how it looks and acts different.

3. Security risks are evolving

A study released by Checkpoint highlights some startling facts about mobile security. The study finds that:

• 79% of companies had a mobile security incident in the past year
• 52% of large companies say the cost of mobile security incidents last year exceeded $500,000
• 66% say that careless employees pose a greater risk than hackers

With mobile devices, security must evolve. Of course, the need for secure applications still exists, but mobile opens up a whole new security nightmare: Careless users. Not only do mobile devices pose a greater risk for theft or loss, many users don’t practice proper security habits. If these users store sensitive business data on their mobile devices, they place your company at risk.

How can you fight this growing security risk? Here’s one piece of advice: Users need proper education. Many just don’t understand good security practices, or what they should and shouldn’t be doing with their mobile devices. Companies must make a better effort to educate their users about best practices regarding the use of personal devices for business.

4. Controlling the device is a losing game

Taking the previous point one step further, many IT departments attempt to control or secure user devices. The problem: Unless you work for a small company, trying to secure every device is extremely difficult and time-consuming. The better approach: Treat the devices as a doorway to the data, not the destination.

“The first advice for someone planning for mobile that comes to my mind is to think of a mobile device as a thin client the user carries around with them,” explains Miles Leacy, Managing Principal at The Mac Admin. “These devices are generally not used for intensive processing tasks and storage is typically limited. These devices are superbly well suited to accessing and entering information into a system that processes the data elsewhere. I would advise to stop caring so much about securing the device, but care more about securing your organization’s proprietary data through secure web or native apps.”

5. Users are already overwhelmed with apps

If you opt to create mobile business apps, consider this: A study from last year found that the average smartphone user has 41 apps installed on their device–and that sounds a bit low to me. How will your business compete with all of the existing apps on the user’s phone? How will your app deliver important alerts to the user when they’re already receiving alerts from other apps?

“Users are overwhelmed with mobile apps,” says Steve Mock, COO of Metric Insights. “How many mobile apps do you have on your phone and how many do you actually use on a regular basis? Your business mobile app will be lost in the shuffle if you don’t do one of two things: (1) create an alerting mechanism that avoids alert fatigue. With alert fatigue, users will eventually tune out the alerts they do receive. Or, (2), drive them to the application through some other means when it is important for them to go there.”

6. Mobile revolves around change

I remember even ten years ago, many businesses struggled to keep up with technology trends. These days, that task is harder than ever. With mobile, it’s like someone pressed the “fast-forward” button on technology.

Mobile revolves around change. As I’ve stated before, it’s the fastest growing trend in history. The hot new smartphone released today is outdated in 6 months. New operating systems crop up on a regular basis. Every year brings new mobile features and capabilities.

“Technology and the way we use it is ever-changing,” says Carson Conant, CEO of Mediafly. “It is a living organism in flux. You need to revisit your needs, security, hardware, etc. every six months at the very least. These check-ins will keep your enterprise mobility solutions working for you. Failure to consistently reevaluate your enterprise mobility solution is the quickest route to obsolescence.”

This constant change puts an added burden on IT leaders. In the next few years, the need for IT speed will become more important than ever, as IT departments constantly evolve their applications (and skills) to keep step with the quickening pace of technology.

7. It doesn’t stop here

If you’re already overwhelmed with the rise of mobile, here’s the really scary part: Mobile is just the beginning. The next big trend on the horizon: The internet of things. Soon, most everything will connect to the web. Your TV, your car, your house…you name it.

How can you prepare for the internet of things? Build apps for the web. Let’s face it: You don’t know what platform different devices will use in the future. But, they will use the web. Building apps for the web prepares your company for both the present and the future.

Wrap up

Over the next few years, I believe we’ll see a massive push towards mobile in the enterprise. As an IT leader, you must make sure that your company is primed to not only capitalize on mobile, but adapt to the rapidly changing mobile landscape.

So, what do you think? Would you add anything to the list above. If so, I’d love to hear it in the comments.