Today, device security isn’t just about safeguarding in-office assets. Cybersecurity leaders are now tasked with containing data as employees work from home, the office, and remote field locations. Additionally, employees conduct business on several devices—cell phones, tablets, and laptops, which can prove challenging to monitor. Left unmanaged, businesses may lose control of their device fleets and jeopardize the corporate data stored on them.
Enter mobile device management (MDM). What is MDM? Why is it important? How does it work? Let’s uncover everything you need to know about implementing mobile device management in your organization.
Understanding Mobile Device Management
Mobile device management (MDM) refers to the administration, oversight, and security of mobile devices that connect to a company’s network. The goal is to enable employees to conduct business from convenient devices while maintaining the integrity of the company’s data security: a tall order for IT departments. MDM software provides a centralized platform for IT admins to enforce enterprise policies on bulk devices, monitor compliance, and provision devices with business resources remotely.
If you’re wondering why mobile device management matters for your organization, consider the facts: about 10% of phones are lost and 5% are stolen—with a mere 50% found rate for each. Your employees will likely need to perform business functions from their mobile devices, so companies need a plan for doing so safely. Mobile device management can help.
Key Features of Effective MDM Systems
No two MDM systems are alike—each has nuances that could suit your business needs. Consider the following features of effective mobile device management systems:
- Remote Device Management: IT admins can create diverse policies for company-owned or BYOD management. You can also deliver an out-of-the-box experience to your employees with pre-configured, ready-to-use company-owned devices.
- Automate Routine IT Tasks: MDM tools can automate important but mundane tasks for your IT team like patch management and timely OS updates to protect data and apps, keeping security threats cornered.
- Remote Troubleshooting: Employees can be contacted via an MDM agent and offer remote support to ensure quick issue resolution.
- Enhanced Monitoring & Compliance Checks: MDM solutions allow IT admins to gain greater visibility of dispersed devices (i.e., track locations, monitor policy compliance, track device usage, and vitals).
- Improved Employee Productivity: Employees' devices can be locked into single or multiple selective apps and allow or block specific websites. This capability can also be leveraged to turn commercial devices into purpose-specific kiosks.
- Enhanced Security: Diverse network, device, and data security configurations can be created and pushed from the MDM dashboard to avoid risks like malware. As an additional security measure, lost or stolen devices can be locked, and their data can be wiped.
- OTA App & Content Management: Apps and content on mobile devices can be silently pushed, configured, updated, and data usages tracked. Files of diverse formats can also be remotely pushed, including documents, images, presentations, and videos, on a large number of devices.
Implementing Mobile Device Management in Your Organization
Implementing an MDM solution into an organization's tech infrastructure is simple. You can expect these key steps:
1. Assess Needs
On a micro level, assess your team’s devices, applications, and capabilities, considering each device type and their operating systems to ensure compatibility. On a macro level, you’ll want to think about scalability and future needs—what will your organization need 10 or 15 years down the line? Will more of your staff be remote, in-office, hybrid, etc.?
2. Develop Your MDM Rules
These “rules” should cover permission and tasks, assigning responsibility for managing and maintaining devices, and detailing what types of apps and data are allowed with guidelines for your team on how to access them.
3. Choose an MDM Solution
Your chosen MDM partner should meet your current and future needs, as well as satisfy your security and compliance requirements. With several mobile device management providers in the marketplace, businesses need to evaluate their needs and pick the right solution provider. Here are some factors to consider:
- Integration: How will the chosen platform integrate with your existing IT infrastructure?
- Scalability: Can the chosen platform scale with your projected business outlook?
- Pricing: Is there a transparent pricing structure with no hidden charges?
- Support: Do they offer 24/7 support and training opportunities for employees?
4. Enroll Devices and Train Users
This step will look different for every organization and MDM solution. It should involve installing software on every mobile device and configuring it to meet your business requirements. Set up regular training sessions for employees so they feel comfortable and confident navigating this new system.
5. Manage and Monitor Devices
A successful MDM doesn’t end at implementation. Just like device enrollment, tracking what apps and data are in use by employees is an ongoing process for MDM to be successful.
Pro Tip
One of the biggest challenges of MDM implementation is training employees and IT staff to use MDM tools effectively. To be successful, consider installing a VPN, configuring additional application settings, and continuously monitoring employees as they transition to or upgrade devices. You will also need to determine whether your team can handle this work or if you need an outsourced service to manage the details.
Future Trends in Mobile Device Management
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are poised to significantly impact mobile device management strategies, offering new capabilities for enhancing security, automation, and user experience. Here are a few ways we can expect AI and ML to impact this space:
- Enhanced Security Posture: Analyzing vast amounts of data from mobile devices, network traffic, and user behavior to identify patterns indicative of security threats or anomalies.
- Behavioral Biometrics: Establishing behavioral biometric profiles for users based on their interactions with mobile devices, such as typing patterns, touchscreen gestures, and location-based behaviors.
- Predictive Maintenance: Forecasting potential hardware failures or performance issues on mobile devices based on historical data and usage patterns.
- Contextual Access Controls: Using device location, network environment, and time of access to adjust access controls and permissions dynamically.
- Intelligent Automation: Automating and streamlining device provisioning, configuration management, and software updates.
- User Behavioral Analysis: Analyzing user behavior patterns to identify deviations from normal usage patterns that may indicate security threats or policy violations.
- Personalized User Experience: Tailoring the mobile device experience to individual user preferences and requirements.
The Best MDM Solution for Your Business
Every business should have an MDM solution; without it, the chance of corporate data breaches, lost client information, and damage to your corporate reputation is high. MDM reduces risk and brings cost savings and efficiencies, regardless of the operating systems or personal devices your employees use.
Meridian’s mobile device management solutions are tailored to your unique business needs and will help your organization take a proactive approach to managing mobile device security. Start with an IT assessment to evaluate your current IT stack and how MDM can benefit your business.
