To answer the question, ‘What is mobile device management?’ think about what your workflow would look like if you removed your computer, cell phone, and other mobile devices?
If you’re like the majority of the modern workforce, your daily routine would come to a standstill, whether you’re in an office, the warehouse, working remotely, or in a healthcare facility. Managing, updating, and keeping your mobile devices secure is crucial to maintaining a productive work environment.
Understanding Mobile Device Management
Mobile device management (MDM) is the practice of configuring, maintaining, and updating the devices in your business. This can include mobile phones, laptops, printers, desktop computers, and more. It may seem obvious at first but our experts find the real reason people ask, ‘What is mobile device management, again?’ is because while it’s a practice, it’s also commonly referred to when talking about MDM software and solutions. There are dozens of tasks that can roll into MDM solutions.
New Mobile Device Enrollment and Configuration
Administrators need to set up new devices with the solutions that provide remote support. This can include setting up authentication measures, email accounts, Wi-Fi access, virtual private networks (VPNs), and shared file storage access.
Remote Management and Support
One of the biggest benefits of MDM is the ability to provide remote service to laptops, tablets, mobile phones, printers, and other connected devices that your business uses. This makes it easy for IT to provide assistance remotely while also updating and setting security features company-wide. Another benefit of remote device management is that administrators can use MDM solutions to enforce or limit app or file downloads and shared content.
Company-Wide Mobile Device Security
Empower your IT team to monitor all of the company’s devices for overall health and security. Company-wide MDM gives you the ability to enforce network access control, maintaining network security by limiting access to out-of-date or infected devices. Having MDM software installed on your business assets can also give your IT team access to locate lost devices or remotely wipe devices if necessary.
Explore Products That Change Your Decision Points
MDM Bottom-Line Benefits
Now that we’ve answered the all-important question, “What is mobile device management?” let’s look at ways to streamline your current device management strategy. By choosing an MDM provider who tailors solutions to your organization and provides a variety of benefits, you will protect your bottom line and your business.
Streamlined Processes and Systems
Having a centralized system for managing all the devices in your organization simplifies complex networks and streamline administration tasks. MDM solutions can handle large volumes of devices, helping your teams create consistent device security and support procedures. Flexible MDM solutions allow you to create custom settings, restrictions, and policies based on your organization’s priorities.
The Cost & Time Savings of Mobile Device Management
MDM saves time and money. Instead of provisioning, supporting, and managing devices individually, MDM solutions allow remote access to all or most of the devices on your network. With streamlined set up and onboarding processes in place, it costs less to set up devices remotely, and automated updates and security patches through your MDM can save your IT team hours of work while keeping your devices running efficiently.
Enhanced Security
With the ability to remotely monitor and report on all your devices, your IT team can provide an extra level of security to all your business devices, lowering your devices total cost of ownership (TCO). Phishing and other malware attempts are on the rise with remote work. Businesses use MDM solutions to prevent and quickly address suspected malware. MDM solutions can be used in offices with company-owned assets, as well as bring-your-own-device workplaces, to ensure that your network is protected, no matter what device is being used.
How to Implement MDM for Your Business
Now that you know what mobile device management is and how it applies to your business, you may be ready to evaluate a partner to help you select, implement, and manage MDM solutions for your enterprise.
Mobile device management is based on your business practices for enrolling, securing, managing, and supporting your devices. A partner should be able to help you onboard devices, keep your network secure, and manage your devices with little to no additional help from your internal IT team.
Look for MDM providers that have strong industry relationships to help you navigate adding devices to your fleet and maintaining all your devices over time to lower TCO for your enterprise. If you’re wondering where to start or need help refining your current MDM solutions, contact us today.
