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What is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?

The business landscape has shifted dramatically because of the use of mobile devices. Employees are using their mobile devices in workplaces that have secure networks, which brings about work flexibility in accomplishing some tasks with low costs of equipment.

The trend of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) has brought about a new aspect of connectivity, privacy, security, and information management because of the number and types of mobile devices running on different operating systems, being introduced to the workspace from time to time.

The risk that BYOD has brought about has led to the rise of Mobile Device Management(MDM).

What is an MDM?

MDM, which is also known as mobile device management (MDM) is being used to manage, monitor, and secure the smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices used in the workspace. An integrated MDM solution supports various mobile devices from different operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

As BYOD increases over the years, data breaches and security issues continue to cost businesses a lot of money. That is why mobile device management (MDM) software is becoming a primary component in the modern workspace.

How does MDM work?

MDM is a solution that uses Software as a Component (SAC) to provision mobile devices while securing an organization’s data. An organization practices MDM when they apply software, processes, and security policies to their use of mobile devices. Beyond managing device inventory, MDM solutions help protect devices from malware and viruses by providing application management, data protection, and content filtering. MDM and mobile security are similar in that they both help protect devices from malware. However, MDM is a device-centric strategy, whereas mobile security and Unified Endpoint Management have evolved to be data-centric.

Mobile Device Management Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of MDM Solutions

Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions is to manage mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and other mobile computing devices. These solutions can help companies protect their data by monitoring the use of these devices, controlling access to sensitive information, and enforcing security policies. The following is a list of some of the benefits of using an MDM solution:

Data Protection – An MDM solution can monitor all activity on a mobile device, including text messages, emails, web browsing, calls, and more. This allows you to see what your employees are doing with company resources and take action if necessary. For example, an MDM solution could prevent users from accessing confidential documents or emailing them outside work hours.

User Control – An MDM solution gives users control over how they use their mobile devices. Users can choose which apps they want to be installed, set time limits for app usage, and block certain websites. They also have the ability to wipe their device if it’s lost or stolen remotely. Security – An MDM solution provides secure remote management capabilities that allow IT administrators to enforce corporate policy and keep sensitive data safe. It can be configured to require authentication before allowing access to applications and data.

Cost Savings – Mobile device management solutions typically include features that reduce costs associated with managing mobile devices. For example, many MDM solutions offer remote support services that allow IT staff to troubleshoot issues without physically visiting each employee’s office. In addition, many MDM solutions provide tools that automate tasks like software updates, backups, and configuration changes.

Mobility – Many organizations are moving towards BYOD programs to increase productivity and flexibility. However, this means that employees may bring their own personal devices into the workplace. An MDM solution helps ensure that only approved applications are allowed on these devices and that they comply with corporate policy.

Mobile device usage should increase employee productivity without burdening the company’s IT department with the additional labor of monitoring and managing these devices.

Disadvantages of Using Mobile Device Management

The following are some of the major drawbacks of using MDM software:

Costs – One of the biggest drawbacks of using an MDM program is that it usually comes at a cost. Most companies charge between $10-$20 per month for this service. However, there are some free options available as well.

Complexity – Although most MDM systems are fairly easy to install and use, they still require much setup time. They also often come with a steep

Lack of Features – Though most MDM systems offer many features, they often lack certain key functions. For example, some programs only allow you to block specific websites, while others only let you monitor the time spent on each website.

Privacy Issues – Many organizations worry about privacy issues when managing mobile devices. For example, some MDM systems require that you give them permission before they can read emails sent by your employees. Others may ask for access to contacts, photos, videos, and other personal information.

Limited Availability – Not every organization has an MDM solution in place. In fact, many companies choose not to invest in such solutions because they aren’t convinced that it would provide them with much value.

Mobile Device Management Trends

Mobile device management (MDM)is becoming increasingly popular among businesses. Here are some of the trends that are driving the growth of MDM:

Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) – Many employees now bring their own smartphones and tablets to work. This means that IT departments must manage them just like any other device. To do so, they often turn to MDM solutions.

Cloud Computing – With cloud computing, businesses no longer have to worry about managing their own servers and storage. Instead, they pay a monthly fee to a vendor who provides those services. This frees up IT resources while giving users access to the latest technology.

Mobility – More people are accessing the Internet on their mobile devices. This has led to a surge in demand for MDM solutions.

Security – Many companies are concerned about protecting their intellectual property and confidential information. MDM solutions help protect these assets by providing secure file sharing, encryption, and password protection.

Compliance – Organizations are required to comply with various laws and regulations when it comes to handling personal information. An MDM solution helps ensure that organizations meet these requirements.

Unified Communications – MDM solutions provide unified communications capabilities, allowing users to make calls, send messages, and receive emails from multiple devices.

BYOD Policies – Companies are beginning to adopt policies regarding the use of company-owned devices. They want to be able to track employee usage and limit what they can do with their phones.

Enterprise Applications – Enterprises are also adopting new applications requiring specific settings and configurations. MDM solutions help administrators configure these applications and enforce compliance policies.

The Evolution of Mobile Device Management

Mobile Device Management is continuously evolving as more smartphones and laptops are used in the workplace. This has led to an increased need for solutions that can allow employees to gain access to information from anywhere at any given time. Earlier, solutions focused primarily on the devices and not content management. But today, there is a growing demand for broader Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) to serve the mobile landscape much better,

Some of the current EMM suites comprise of privacy policy and configuration-management tools that are integrated with mobile application management to overlay content and application that is intended for specific smartphones. Managed Service providers and IT organizations use EMM suites to provide their support services to end users of mobile devices to maintain security policies.

The Modern EMM provides the Following Functions:

• Application inventory
• Hardware inventory
• OS configuration management
• Mobile app deployment, updating, and removal
• Policy management and Mobile app configuration
• Mobile content management
• Execute remote actions
• Remote view and control for troubleshooting

The Advantages and Disadvantages of BYOD Policy

There are various benefits of BYOD, including increased employee satisfaction and efficiency, reduced costs of equipment, reduced office space, and a decrease in the burden that the IT staff gets when it comes to maintaining their equipment.

On the other hand, there are other risks as well. Security vulnerabilities can be exposed to the wrong hands by an employee’s device that is not directly supervised by the IT staff. This is where mobile device management becomes essential.

Smartphones, tablets, and other devices are the least secure compared to laptops and desktop PCs because they don’t have pre-installed malware security features. Most computers have at least an anti-virus suite, but when it comes to mobile gadgets, users and IT managers will have to install mobile endpoint security features. That is why sending a corporate email through a mobile phone is sometimes prohibited in some companies.

Hackers have taken advantage of these vulnerability points to unleash threats like text message-based attacks. Hackers have become more advanced in releasing more complex key-loggers and Trojans, creating phishing software and other malicious apps.

Even though enforcing a ban on these devices is next to impossible, there are options that businesses can use to maintain security on a tight budget.

A business can establish protocols on the devices allowed in the workplace by listing guidelines for forbidden applications, acceptable use, and how to avoid browsing some dangerous sites while connected to the company’s WiFi network.

The business can also analyze the currents to see how they can be used to protect BYOD devices by using passwords, remote wipe-in and other measures.

If a lot of sensitive data needs a much more solid solution, explore areas where the use of Mobile Device Management makes sense.

Why Businesses Should Use Mobile Device Management?

The adoption of tablets and smartphones and the number of employees working from remote locations have placed mobility on the top priority list of businesses. In 2015, a study by Gartner indicated that PC sales were on the decline, and approximately 87% of the devices being shipped were mobile gadgets. This resulted in a prediction by the research that by 2018, the EMM (Enterprise Mobile Management) will grow to $9.8 billion, from $3.8 billion in 2015.

EMM has been trending, and the trajectory will increase in the future. If a business does not have a Mobile Device Management solution, information can be stolen easily, or information on devices that are lost can be used negatively if it falls into the wrong hands.

Additionally, devices that don’t have a Mobile Device Management solution are exposed to malware and other threats that could potentially corrupt sensitive data. Once the data is compromised, hackers can easily break into the data center network and permanently bring down the company; this can be an expensive process that could cost the business partners dearly and corrupt customers’ loyalty.

Best Practices for Mobile Device Management

There are several key components to a successful mobile device management (MDM) program:

• Policy Enforcement – The first step in managing mobile devices is establishing a set of policies that govern what activities are allowed on each device. Policies can range from limiting the number of times a device can be connected to the Internet to requiring that certain applications be downloaded before allowing the device to connect to the network. Before allowing the device to run.
• User Education – Users need to understand the importance of following policy guidelines and how to configure their devices properly. They must also understand why the MDM system may not permit certain actions.
• Application Control – In addition to enforcing policies, an MDM solution must control what applications can be installed on the device.
• Network Monitoring – An effective MDM solution should provide visibility into the behavior of individual devices and groups of devices. It should also detect when a device connects to a rogue or otherwise insecure wireless network.
• Data Protection – A good MDM solution should encrypt data stored on the device. This includes sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information.
• Remote Wipe – If a device becomes lost or stolen, it should be remotely wiped so that unauthorized individuals cannot access its contents.
• Security Patching – All devices should receive updates to fix operating system and application software vulnerabilities. These patches should be applied automatically without user intervention.
• Reporting – An effective MDM program should include tools to track the status of all devices and generate reports detailing which devices have been updated, which require additional configuration, and which are currently offline.

What to Look for in an MDM Solutions

Once the company has decided to get a Mobile Device Management solution, certain features should be on the lookout for because there are many options in the market. Some of the essential features include:

• Cloud service based
• 24/7 network monitoring capability
• Remote monitoring and configuration
• Blacklists, passwords, and other security policies
• Geo-fencing to block access to specific applications and data based on location
• Logging and reporting for compliance
• Backup and restore of corporate data
• Alerts for rooting and jailbreaking to bypass restrictions
• Remote disconnection of unauthorized devices
• Scalability for new users to be accommodated easily

The solutions that Mobile Device Management products bring are only as useful as their execution; they can only work well if they are implemented well. Due diligence and care have to be taken to evaluate the Mobile Device Management solutions to understand if it is working well with the company’s specific policies and if data integration is being maintained.

For instance, what happens to the BYOD device when an employee is terminated? Is there a complete block of the corporate systems? What happens to the saved data on an ex-employee’s device? Is the data wiped or is it ignored? How is personal data separated from business data? Before selecting a Mobile Device Management, policies have to be set in place to decide on what is needed and to continuously review and ensure that the best practices are maintained.

Conclusion

Mobile devices at the workplace are here to stay, and businesses must develop a plan to manage them before havoc starts to reign on the company’s data. Mobile Device Management solutions can help to protect, control and secure the data and configuration settings for mobile security devices in a company’s network, for both company and personal devices. Finally, before it is purchased, good research and testing must be done on a Mobile Device Management solution.

To help you in achieving this end, at ExterNetworks, we take pride in offering managed services, network design & consulting, and integration & deployment of Mobile Device Management services. We have offered Managed Technology services since 2001, and we have grown over the years to provide our customers with 24/7 support on the deployment of end-to-end Mobile Device Management services. Contact us through our website or call us at (877) 825-1575, and we will help you select the Mobile Device Management solution for your company.