According to recent research, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone every day. We are living through the pinnacle of the mobile era!
Today, managing a myriad of smartphones, tablets, and laptops is a necessity. Employees expect the flexibility to work from anywhere, and businesses thrive on mobility. However, with great mobility comes the need for great control, and that’s where Mobile Device Management (MDM) steps in.
MDM ensures that all your devices adhere to policies, configurations, and security measures, keeping your business efficient and protected. In this article, we’ll delve into Mobile Device Management, exploring its key concepts, benefits, and implementation.
What is Mobile Device Management?
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a security software solution used by organisations to monitor, manage, and secure mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops across their networks.
It’s essential to distinguish MDM from Mobile Application Management (MAM), which focuses on managing specific applications rather than entire devices. While MDM oversees device settings, policies, and controls, MAM manages app installations, updates, and configurations. MDM applies security measures at the device level, such as passcodes and remote wipe capabilities, whereas MAM focuses on app-level security.
MDM solutions allow IT administrators to remotely control various aspects of mobile devices, regardless of their operating system. Key functions include:
- Device Enrollment: Enrolling devices into the management system.
- Configuration Management: Configuring device settings centrally.
- Security Management: Enforcing encryption, passcode policies, remote lock, and wipe capabilities.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Tracking device usage, performance, and compliance with organisational policies.
Who Needs MDM?
Mobile Device Management is beneficial for businesses of all sizes and industries. As mobile technology becomes integral to operations, efficient and secure device management becomes critical.
Here’s how different business models can benefit from MDM:
- Remote Work: Ensures remote workers comply with company policies and industry regulations, secures connections, and allows IT teams to manage devices remotely.
- Office Staff: Standardises device settings and policies, reducing IT support workload and ensuring devices are up-to-date with security patches.
- Field Service: Provides real-time updates on assignments, secure access to necessary tools, and enhances customer service.
- IT Management: Allows remote troubleshooting, efficient issue resolution, and simplifies inventory management.
Mobile Device Management Solutions
Understanding the evolution of management solutions helps in selecting the right one:
- MDM: Manages device settings, enforces security policies, and deploys applications.
- Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM): Expands on MDM by incorporating app and content management along with identity management.
- Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): Integrates MDM and EMM functionalities, extending management to all endpoints, including desktops and IoT (Internet of Things) devices, for unified management.
Implementing Mobile Device Management
Microsoft’s MDM solution, part of Microsoft Intune, offers extensive management capabilities for various endpoints, including Android, macOS, iOS, and Windows.
Implementing MDM on your own can be time-consuming and complex. Partnering with a professional service like Dial A Geek can streamline the process, ensuring a smooth transition. Our tailored approach and deep industry experience guarantee quick, easy, and secure MDM implementation and ongoing support.
Trust Dial A Geek to empower your business with a robust, efficient, and future-proof MDM strategy, allowing you to focus on growth and success.
To discuss how Dial A Geek can help you grow your business with our cyber security support, book a meeting with Gildas Jones today. We’ve already helped over 1000 businesses in Bristol and across the UK—let us help you too.