Mobile devices have become the norm at work – in fact, 66% of American employees use cell phones multiple times a day at work, and 87% of companies have adopted BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies.1 That means you have to secure these devices, which otherwise pose a serious risk. Mobile Device Management, or MDM, is how that’s done. In this blog, we'll break down what MDM is and how it works to help you determine if it's right for your enterprise.
What Is MDM?
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a software solution that lets you monitor, manage, and secure mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. With MDM, you can control applications, data, and settings, ensuring compliance with security policies while protecting sensitive information. MDM is particularly useful if your company has a lot of mobile devices since it gives you centralized control over everything from device configuration to data encryption and beyond.
Why Is MDM Important?
With employees accessing sensitive information on mobile devices, MDM ensures that these devices comply with security protocols, reducing the risk of data breaches. It lets you enforce security policies, control app installations, and remotely wipe compromised devices, safeguarding corporate information. MDM also enhances productivity by providing IT teams with the tools to manage devices efficiently, reduce downtime, and ensure secure access to company resources, making it essential for anyone who relies on mobile technology.
How Does MDM Work?
The concept is generally simple. Mobile device management operates by installing management software on devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, either manually or through an automated process. Once installed, MDM enables your IT team to remotely control and manage the device. This includes setting policies, configuring settings, pushing software updates, and monitoring device usage.
MDM solutions also enforce security protocols, such as data encryption, password protection, and app restrictions, to ensure compliance with company policies. If a device is lost or stolen, MDM allows remote wiping of data to prevent unauthorized access. By offering centralized control, MDM helps maintain security and efficiency across mobile devices.
Mobile Device Management Tools
MDM solutions consist of a few key tools that work together to secure and manage mobile devices. Here are some of the main components of a mature MDM solution:
Device Monitoring
These tools track device activity, monitor compliance with security policies, and receive alerts for any suspicious behavior. This helps you identify and address potential risks before they become major issues.
App Management
With app management capabilities, MDM software enables the control of app installations, updates, and removals on company devices. This ensures that only approved apps are used, reducing the risk of malware or unauthorized software.
Security Enforcement
MDM tools provide robust security features, such as enforcing encryption, requiring strong passwords, and remotely locking or wiping devices in case of loss or theft.
Policy Management
MDM platforms allow businesses to set and enforce policies across all devices, ensuring consistent security and operational standards, regardless of the device type or operating system. This is key to eliminating miscommunications or inconsistencies that could lead to security issues.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and MDM
One of the most troublesome potential security risks is when employees use their own devices for work. If you have a BYOD policy that allows this, solid MDM is especially important. Here’s how MDM supports BYOD:
Security and Compliance
MDM ensures that personal devices used under BYOD policies comply with corporate security standards. It lets IT teams enforce encryption, password policies, and app controls on employees’ devices without interfering with personal data.
Device Separation
MDM tools can create a clear separation between personal and work data on the same device, ensuring that sensitive company information is protected while allowing employees to maintain privacy for personal use.
Remote Management
In a BYOD environment, MDM tools provide the ability to remotely manage work-related data. IT teams can lock, wipe, or restrict access to corporate information if a device is lost or stolen or when an employee leaves the company.
Potential Challenges of BYOD
While BYOD can increase flexibility and reduce hardware costs, it also brings challenges, such as ensuring data security on personal devices. MDM helps address these challenges by offering secure access to corporate resources and mitigating potential risks.
5 MDM Best Practices
Not all MDM is equal, and it is possible to do a bad job of it, so following some best practices is highly advisable:
1. Establish Clear Usage Policies
Define clear guidelines for how mobile devices should be used within the organization. This includes acceptable use policies, security protocols, and data access controls for both company-owned and personal (BYOD) devices.
2. Enforce Strong Security Measures
Use encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and strong password policies to safeguard sensitive data. MDM should allow IT teams to remotely lock or wipe devices in case of loss or theft to prevent unauthorized access.
3. Regularly Update and Patch Software
Ensure that all mobile devices are running the latest software and security updates. MDM tools can automate patch management to keep devices up to date and reduce vulnerabilities.
4. Segment Personal and Corporate Data
In a BYOD environment, separate work data from personal data on employee devices to protect both user privacy and corporate security. This segmentation can prevent data leaks while ensuring compliance with regulations.
5. Monitor and Manage Applications
Use MDM tools to control which apps can be installed on devices accessing corporate networks. This helps reduce the risk of malware or unauthorized applications compromising business data.
MDM-Related Solutions
Several key technologies and solutions are associated with MDM. Here are some options that complement MDM or represent the broader context in which it operates:
- Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): Provides a comprehensive approach to managing desktops, mobile devices, and IoT endpoints within one platform.
- Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM): Focuses on securing, managing, and enabling mobile device usage within an organization.
- Mobile Application Management (MAM): Enables control over the apps that can be installed or accessed on corporate and BYOD devices.
- Mobile Content Management (MCM): Ensures secure access and distribution of corporate content on mobile devices.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Regulates access to systems and data based on user credentials and roles, enhancing security.
- Secure Email Gateway (SEG): Protects corporate email on mobile devices, allowing secure communication.
Fit MDM Into Your Picture With TailWind
It’s important to take a holistic approach to your telecom strategy, and MDM is just the beginning. If you’re new to it, fitting MDM into your overall cost picture can be daunting. That’s where TailWind comes in.
Our Telecom Expense Management services provide cost control, streamlined operations, and better visibility across all communication assets and initiatives, which could be the difference maker for properly implemented MDM. Contact us today to explore how we can help.
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