Every day, Tangoe’s technology consultants work with IT leaders who want the same thing: mobility that boosts ROI, strengthens security, and accelerates business. As 2026 approaches, the conversation is shifting (as it always does this time of year) from keeping pace to pulling ahead: “How do we make mobility more of a competitive advantage?”
That question only gets tougher over time. Device sprawl, security gaps, contract oversights, and tool overload are piling up – draining budgets, slowing teams, and multiplying risks. In today’s shifting landscape, one thing is clear: reactive fixes aren’t enough. To make mobility a true driver of efficiency, resilience, and growth, leaders must stay agile, evolving their approach to meet the pace of change.
What will it take for your mobility program to deliver its highest value in 2026 and beyond? Read on to explore the latest research, uncover risks and opportunities you might not have thought about, and assess where you stand before the new year.
After more than a decade, BYOD’s shortcomings are undeniable.
A 2024 EY report found that 75% of companies are still failing to unlock the benefits of a truly mobile, agile workforce. It can be argued that Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is part of the problem. Without strong oversight end-to-end, BYOD introduces exactly the kind of complexity and risk that keep leaders from scaling mobility.
- Roughly 65% of organizations say corp-liable is more secure
- BYOD takes 4x more effort to manage
- Up to 75% of enterprise systems are mobile-accessible, meaning every unmanaged device is a doorway to critical business systems. BYOD creates far more of these cracks.
One financial leader we worked with saw this impact up close. When they decided to move from BYOD to corp-liable, Tangoe handled everything from procurement and kitting to compliance-ready configuration for 7,000 devices – all while delivering ongoing help desk support. We ensured a smooth transition, better security posture, and less time wasted learning the ins and outs of complex regulations.
5 Questions to Ask About Your BYOD Program
- 1. Are BYOD devices costing more IT time and budget than they should?
Look at hard and soft costs, from reimbursements and licensing to productivity drains. - 2. Can you enforce patches and prove compliance across every personal device?
- 3. Is device fragmentation slowing employees or spiking help desk tickets?
- 4. Do you know how many unmanaged devices are accessing your systems?
- 5. Is BYOD really saving money compared to a corporate-liable model?
If too many of these answers are “no” or “not sure,” your BYOD program may be costing more than it saves – and 2026 is right time to re-evaluate.
Whether your fleet is BYOD or a mix of corporate- and employee-owned devices, you can take advantage of Tangoe’s Managed Mobility Services. Check out our BYOD-specific offerings here.
2026 is the year Mobile Threat Defense should be on every enterprise’s radar.
According to IDC, less than half of business smartphones are fully managed. That means the device is under centralized IT control across its entire lifecycle – what a Managed Mobility Services (MMS) solution like Tangoe One Mobile does best. But even if a device is fully managed, that doesn’t mean there’s on-device security. That requires Mobile Threat Defense, or MTD.
Without visibility into what’s happening on the device itself, you’re leaving the biggest risks unchecked. IDC reports that less than 35% of companies have this level of protection – blocking phishing attempts, SIM-jacking, and other device-level threats that management tools can’t see.
Top Mobile Security Incidents – Which Do You Experience?
- Sim swapping (28%) – Attackers trick carriers into transferring your phone number to their SIM card, giving them access to calls, texts, and accounts.
- Wi-Fi threats (26%) – Public or unsecured networks allow hackers to intercept data, inject malware, or spoof trusted connections.
- Data exposure (23%) – Unsecured apps or devices leak sensitive business or customer data, often without users realizing it.
- Phising – Deceptive texts, emails, or app notifications trick employees into sharing credentials or downloading malicious files.
Think about your own environment. Do you have real-time endpoint detection and protection? If not, why? How could you benefit from an MMS solution that delivers seamless integration of device management and on-device threat defense?
Stronger security doesn’t have to mean a bigger budget. Cut out waste – unused lines, duplicate tools, redundant contracts – and reinvest those dollars into reducing mobile security risk. Get key insights on mobile spend management with our latest guide.
If there’s one move to make with UEM, it’s this one.
UEM is tables stakes, but the real value comes when it’s integrated. By connecting UEM with the rest of your mobility management solutions, you can manage, secure, and monitor every device and operating system from a single place. Just as important, integration unlocks real-time data synchronization across your mobile ecosystem – delivering deeper visibility to make smarter decisions and the consistency to let automation flow seamlessly.
One thing to make sure you have plugged in is Mobile Threat Defense (MTD). Only 35% of organizations have MTD in place, yet it’s the critical layer UEM can’t provide. Leading MTD solutions integrate directly with UEM, enabling automated deployment of on-device protection without relying on employees to enroll or install it themselves.
That’s exactly what Tangoe One Mobile delivers: a powerful platform that connects seamlessly, backed by a fully managed service that supports your endpoint management program across every phase of the device lifecycle.
2026 has to be the year you simplify, consolidate, and optimize your fleet.
Nearly half of enterprises are juggling three or more MDM platforms, and more than 70% are running multiple UEM tools. When everything’s scattered, control slips – and so does money and productivity. The management overhead is already high for IT teams stretched thin, and IDC warns this pressure will only grow. System consolidation is crucial for regaining control before complexity overruns your team.
One of our customers, Linus Health, was tired of the runaround. Moving to Tangoe One Mobile enabled them to streamline inventory tracking (increasing efficiency in inventory management by 50%), cut deployment times in half, and ensure global consistency across regions. We also helped simplify their UEM platform upgrade with no disruptions to existing security measures or their customer experience.
Don’t forget your contracts
Effective negotiations can save you up to 30% on the cost of your contract. If you haven’t audited your mobile contracts in the last year, chances are you’re missing out on faster savings.
5 Steps to Secure the Best Mobile Contract Rates
- 1. Audit current contracts – Review every line item to uncover hidden fees, unused services, and outdated terms.
- 2. Benchmark rates – Compare your rates to market averags to see where you’re overpaying.
- 3. Model usage needs – Align contract terms with real employee usage and devices requirements to avoid waste.
- 4. Negotiate smarter – Use expert insights and competitive data to push for maximum rate savings
- 5. Lock in savings – Finalize agreeements that deliver long-term savings and revist contract regularly to stay ahead.
Want the savings without the time suck? Tangoe has a team of highly experienced negotiators who cut deals on 400+ contracts each year – saving more on average, faster. See how our experts land the best rates and terms.
Take Our 5-minute Mobile Strategy Self-assessment
Answer five questions to reveal the gaps and see how you stack up against the competition.
- How many MDM or UEM platforms are you running today, and do you know what they’re really costing?
- What percentage of your devices are corp-liable vs. BYOD?
- Do you have MTD in place beyond basic MDM?
- When was your last contract audit or renegotiation?
- How much time does your IT team spend managing devices vs. driving the business forward?
If you hesitated or answered “not sure” to more than two questions, there are savings and security improvements within reach.
New year, smarter fleet. Schedule a demo to see what stronger automation, intelligence, and integration can do for your mobility program.