Enterprise mobility trends for 2026: Security, devices, and frontline work

Enterprise teams need fast, uninterrupted access to information so they can act quickly and decisively in real-world conditions. That means staying connected to:

• company systems,
• data sources, and
• team members during daily operations.

This requirement shows up most clearly outside traditional office settings. Frontline teams work across locations, shifts, and shared devices, often under conditions where delays or access issues are immediately visible. In these environments, mobility is not just a convenience. It directly affects how work progresses.

Enterprise mobility now brings several capabilities together within the same operating environment. Identity controls, device management, security enforcement, AI-assisted tools, and real-time connectivity increasingly operate together. Each has matured independently, but their overlap is where complexity tends to surface. As environments grow, small gaps in coverage or integration begin to affect overall stability.

As organizations move toward 2026, enterprise mobility is being shaped by how well these elements hold together during everyday use. In this blog post, we’ll discuss enterprise mobility trends that highlight why mobility needs to be treated as a connected environment, not a set of isolated tools, and how enterprises can build stable, secure, and coordinated systems that support everyday operations without disruption. Each trend offers a practical view into what’s shaping mobility decisions in real-world settings.

AI-powered endpoint and network automation

As mobile environments expand, device and network management increasingly influence frontline performance. These activities now contribute directly to operational reliability. Delays, access issues, or unstable connectivity now surface directly in frontline productivity, customer response times, and service continuity.

By 2026, 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network and IT operations.
– Gartner

Organizations are approaching automation with a broader operational goal in mind. Instead of focusing only on incident handling, the emphasis is on keeping device environments stable and predictable over time. To support that goal, teams examine usage patterns, access activity, and network behavior so they can act before disruptions reach daily operations.

Endpoint management practices are adjusting to this reality. Devices and applications are managed together with access policies, creating a more consistent operating environment. As usage becomes more established, automation informed by behavioral signals helps teams narrow their attention to situations that genuinely require action, rather than reacting to every alert.

Network operations reflect the same direction. Ongoing analysis helps teams recognize stress points and configuration gaps earlier in daily operations. That continuity matters for employees who depend on mobile systems, especially in environments where interruptions quickly translate into business impact.

Private 5G and edge computing for mobile workforces

Many enterprises have already tested private wireless networks in limited environments. What is changing now is where these setups are being taken next. Private 5G is moving beyond controlled pilots and into day-to-day operations where reliability and response time directly affect work outcomes.

This shift is driven by how mobile work is actually performed. Many operational environments place strict demands on response time. In manufacturing facilities, hospitals, ports, and large campuses, mobile systems are expected to react without delay. Even short pauses can disrupt task flow or introduce unnecessary risk.

Private 5G gives organizations tighter control over connectivity within their own environments. Access is restricted to approved devices, and network behavior can be tuned around operational needs rather than general usage patterns. In parallel, edge computing moves data processing closer to the point of activity. Instead of sending everything to centralized cloud systems, critical information is handled closer to where work happens.

When private connectivity and local processing are applied together, certain enterprise applications and mobile use cases become easier to support in everyday operations. Systems that rely on timely feedback or location context are less affected by network variability. Over time, this moves private 5G and edge computing out of trial settings and into the core of how mobile work is supported.

Identity-first security and zero trust

Mobile access now extends well beyond managed office environments. Employees connect from personal devices, shared locations, and changing networks, often within the same day. In this context, security decisions based only on network boundaries are no longer reliable enough to support enterprise operations.

By 2026, only 10% of large enterprises will have a mature zero-trust program.
– Gartner

Security decisions are increasingly tied to who is requesting access and under what conditions. Rather than relying on where a connection originates, organizations look at user context, device state, and access patterns together. This supports a security posture where verification happens continuously as conditions change, not only at the point of entry.

Device condition becomes part of everyday access decisions. Factors such as update status or basic protection settings influence what systems can be reached, even when devices are personally owned. This allows organizations to support personal device use without relaxing core security expectations across the environment.

Access checks also extend beyond initial sign-in. When behavior or connection context changes, additional confirmation may be required. Over time, this creates a security model that stays aligned with how people move between devices and locations, while still protecting systems that carry sensitive data.

Mobile threat defense

Mobile phones and tablets are now used for far more than basic communication. They support access to business systems, internal data, and external services throughout the workday. As this usage expands, risk surfaces shift as well, often in ways that are less visible than traditional threats.

Generative AI has added to this complexity. Employees increasingly interact with AI-driven tools from mobile devices, whether to review outputs, share inputs, or support decision making. When work and personal activity coexist on the same device, gaps in oversight can lead to sensitive information being exposed without clear intent.

Mobile threat defense tools are designed to address these conditions directly on the device. They monitor activity patterns, application behavior, and network connections to identify signs of risk that traditional security controls may not catch. Detection is based on behavior rather than fixed threat lists, which helps surface issues as they emerge.

When risks are identified, responses can be applied immediately. Access may be limited, warnings issued, or security teams notified. In many environments, these tools work alongside device management platforms, allowing actions to be coordinated. This helps organizations contain threats early and maintain confidence in mobile access, even as attack methods continue to evolve.

Source: Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index

Frontline workforce enablement and shared device standardization

Frontline roles often operate under very different conditions than office-based teams. Work is organized around shifts, locations change frequently, and devices are shared across multiple users within the same day. In these environments, access needs to be immediate, consistent, and easy to reset between users.

68% of executives plan to increase investments in frontline worker technology.
– HFS Research

As a result, many organizations are revisiting how shared devices are configured and handed off between users. Frontline devices are used continuously, often by multiple people across a single day. How they are reset, reassigned, and made ready between shifts affects whether teams can begin work without interruption. In these environments, readiness between users becomes part of daily operations, not a background IT concern.

Fast user switching becomes a practical requirement. In shift-based environments, delays at sign-in quickly add up. Workers need to access their assigned tools and tasks without navigating setup steps that slow the start of work. At the same time, information from a previous user cannot linger on the device. When these transitions are not handled cleanly, productivity is affected from the very start of each shift.

Standardized device configurations reduce these delays. At shift start, core applications load consistently, access rules follow a predictable pattern, and fewer adjustments are required before work begins. For teams that rely on shared devices, predictable behavior becomes part of the daily operating rhythm rather than a separate setup step.

Wearables and immersive technologies

In certain frontline environments, interacting with screens is not always practical. Workers may be handling equipment, moving between locations, or operating in spaces where stopping to check a device interrupts the flow of work. In these situations, information needs to be available without requiring constant manual input.

By 2026, over 45% of enterprises will be using AR or VR wearables in some form of workforce training or product experience.
– IDC

Wearable technologies are applied in environments where pausing work to check a screen creates friction. Smart glasses are one such application, bringing task-relevant information into view while hands remain engaged. Wearables are well suited to environments where stopping to check a device slows the pace of work or adds unnecessary effort.

In some cases, guidance is presented directly within the work context. Visual indicators or prompts are surfaced only at specific moments, supporting task execution without shifting attention away from the physical activity itself. The goal is not constant instruction, but timely support that aligns with how work progresses.

In regular operations, interaction becomes part of the task itself rather than a separate action. Information is accessed briefly during activity, not as something workers must step away to check. As a result, workers can glance at instructions or alerts during active tasks, without pausing the work or shifting attention away from field activity.

Preparing enterprise mobility for what comes next

Enterprise mobility challenges are usually not caused by a lack of available technology. They surface when systems interact under real operating conditions, such as during shift changes, shared device usage, or moments when access needs to work immediately. These moments define whether mobility decisions strengthen workflows or introduce avoidable friction.

Across all of these trends, a common requirement stands out: environments that remain stable and predictable even as users, devices, and locations change. To move forward, organizations first need to pinpoint where mobility friction exists today and resolve those pain points in a structured sequence. They need to strengthen identity controls, streamline shared device use, improve mobile threat defense, and reduce friction in frontline workflows.

Sustained progress depends on more than just planning. It requires active coordination across IT, operations, and frontline teams. When priorities are aligned, organizations can reduce disruption, maintain operational rhythm, and ensure systems evolve in sync with business needs. A well-structured mobility approach strengthens the foundation proactively so that systems stay resilient under everyday conditions. To drive consistent outcomes, organizations can work with experienced partners who understand operational constraints and know how to design for scale and stability.