On Tuesday, Bradford Networks (News - Alert) and Xirrus, Inc. announced that they would partner to develop bring-your-own-device (BYOD) solutions that are easy to use, but secure enough for IT management. Both companies have worked with each other on other integrated solutions in the past.

Xirrus, Inc. is based in Thousand Oaks, CA (News - Alert), and is reportedly the leading provider of wireless networks. The Sands Expo and Convention Center recently installed Xirrus Wi-Fi arrays.

BYOD gaining in popularity is not surprising, but the extent to which it's popular may be. Eighty-eight percent of executives in a global survey by Avanade in January 2012 said employees use their personal computing devices for business purposes.

For many companies, BYOD is the tail wagging the dog, overwhelming IT departments that struggle to keep up. Dealing with an increase in users, load balancing during peak usage, supporting a variety of devices while keeping networks secure is the challenge organizations supporting BYOD face.

Xirrus developed Network Sentry to address these and other critical problems. Network Sentry provides network infrastructure visibility so management can pinpoint areas where changes put the company at greater risk.

Its device profiling and fingerprinting identifies users and their devices to set up role-based security.

Network Sentry also enforces endpoint compliance to insure that devices have the latest updates and security installed, and prohibits non-compliant devices from connecting to the network.

It supports guest access and is fully scalable.

Bradford Networks' Network Access Control will integrate with Xirrus Network Sentry, creating a solution that will help organizations meet the demands on their networks, but at the same time possess a secure network.

The Cambridge, MA-based company creates secure networks designed to adapt to changing conditions.

Any attempt to hold back BYOD may be like trying to stop an avalanche; user demand spiked before IT infrastructure could keep up with it. Technology partnerships like the one formed between Xirrus and Bradford that maximize full use of each company's skill set is likely what many firms need in order to keep from getting buried under BYOD demand.