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eSIMs in the enterprise

Card Change

Article from ADMIN 67/2022

By Marco Föllmer

In this overview, we look at the opportunities eSIM technology offers for the mobile workplace and what IT managers need to watch out for in deployment and management.

The COVID-19 crisis and 2020 have changed the world of work. In response to the virus, many companies introduced long-term home office work models for their teams for the first time. Today, it is clear that the legacy 9-to-5 working model in the office is a thing of the past for many. Even when new people join the company, their first day at work often no longer takes place on the company premises but at home. Employees need to be able to commission their devices into operation as easily as possible while complying with corporate security standards.

Devices need to be directly subordinate to a unified endpoint management (UEM) system to ensure that they are configured in line with corporate policies. IT support can't supervise employees while they are at home and would be happy to field as few requests for help as possible. The same applies when a device needs to be replaced. The exchange needs to take place with as little overhead as possible for both users and IT.

Technologies for remote commissioning of devices already exist, and corporations could do worse than deploy them in line with requirements. One such technology is the eSIM, which offers employees, companies, and their IT administration teams the opportunity to simplify mobile work.

eSIM-Enabled Devices on the Rise

The embedded SIM is a chip built into the mobile device that stores one or more profiles belonging to network operators. For this purpose, each eSIM has an eID: a unique number used to authenticate the user on the mobile network. eSIM technology replaces physical SIMs in mini, micro, or nano format and offers many advantages for users. The eSIM looks completely different from a physical SIM and solves some of its challenges, as well.

eSIM technology was first used in a smartwatch by manufacturer Samsung in 2016. In the following years, its use was enabled in smartwatches by other manufacturers, as well.

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