In terms of security, the iPad isn't far behind the PlayBook, says Reed. BoxTone contends that the iPad is enterprise-ready because it covers security's essentials.

"If you really distill down a device's enterprise readiness, it's about protecting against loss," says Dan Dearing, group director of mobile security strategies at BoxTone. "This means three things: Can the device be encrypted? Does the device have a passcode on it that's settable via policy such that you can restrict access? Can you wipe the device in the event that it gets lost?"

Over the years, Apple has delivered APIs (especially in iOS 4) to protect against device loss, including enforcement of passwords, network access restriction, and the ability to disable certain features such as the camera. Apple has also built in encryption on the hardware side.

The iPad, however, lags the PlayBook in native app management features. Simply put, IT can't control or manage every single app on the iPad without help from third-party software. "In the land of the iPad, you cannot block or remotely delete apps that are installed by the user from the App Store," Reed says.

Even worse, warns that many commercial iOS apps are a security risk for companies. These apps might not tap into the native iOS management and security capabilities. Or maybe they're intentionally leaking data for marketing and advertising reasons, Forrester says.