Modern technologies, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, have liberated today’s workforce and given them the ability to work from where they may need. While having devices easily on hand and working from wherever can increase overall productivity, the possibility of cyber threats and confidential data loss also increases.
Businesses use a multitude of devices on the regular; whether you’re in the office or working remotely. Even for those that use their own personal devices within the company, important data is often exchanged and access to company materials remains essential for employees. This leaves gaps open for risks of security threats and cyber-attacks that could ultimately be easily avoided. And what about when new employees come on board? You’ll need an easy and efficient way to unload essential devices and have them set up to go as soon as possible.
Businesses must adopt an approach that serves to prevent these issues, keeps devices secure, and allows easy access & updates whenever needed. This is where an MDM solution comes in.
What is an MDM solution?
An MDM solution is the administration of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, and laptops, usually implemented with the use of third-party software. It allows a business’ IT department to enable control of security, encryption, tracking, and managing devices under one business network. They feature a number of inclusive features (depending on your solution) that synchronise devices and make it easier to encompass them all within your company.
Why do you need an MDM solution?
1. Management
It’s not uncommon for the average employee to have a number of electronic devices, including laptops, phones, and tablets, regardless of their field of operation. With an increase in dependency on these devices, keeping business data protected, and ensuring the company retains control over confidential information, both in and out of the office, it can be difficult to manage.
Most MDMs offer device management and restriction features that make it easy for your IT admins to manage. Devices can be enrolled easily through features such as ‘zero-touch deployment’ using software like Samsung Knox or SOTI. Similarly, it’s not just the devices that can be easily controlled. Specific applications on the devices can also be managed – from installing through to removing and updating those that are necessary for work, this can all be done through a singular solution regardless of the number of devices.
2. Security
An effective MDM solution would make sure that sensitive business data remains secure at all times, regardless of where your employees are accessing it from. For example, if a mobile device is lost or stolen, MDM can remotely lock and wipe all data. Remote locking and wiping capabilities enable companies to keep devices and data secure and ensure that no confidential information is exposed. Implementing security software, specific tools and restrictions can all be done automatically to ensure that your devices remain protected and that nothing can be compromised.
It’s unlikely that everyone in your company would need access to everything. With an MDM, you can separate access and management into designated groups; define each group with a distinct set of policies and configurations that suits them. When employees need to access files while working on mobile devices, MDM enables convenient access to relevant documents at any time and any location through its centralised system. Company files such as training materials and forms can be shared as needed while making sure they’re only accessed by those authorised to do so.
3. No more wasting time
According to a recent study, employees spend at least 22 mins a day on IT-related issues. The deployment of an MDM can reduce the time lost with these issues. Updates of applications, software, and OS can be carried out regularly with minimal user intervention. And, it is easier to monitor compliance and GDPR issues and addresses them directly.
Plus, to avoid employees installing games or spending too much time distracted on social media, anything that you don’t want your employees to install, you can block to make sure your workforce productivity stays high and data charges stay low.
4. Flexibility
The increased flexibility of mobile device management gives companies the control they need over their mobile devices while supporting the freedom of the mobile workforce to work productively. Many employees nowadays prefer to use their own devices – allowing them to choose from the latest models and customise it to how they like, but still being able to access work data and important applications as needed. If your company so requires, BYOD (bring-your-own devices) can also be integrated into an MDM solution, it’s not just available to specific company-owned devices. Ensure that those employees who use their own devices aren’t compromised and allow a separate profile to still access all the necessary data they need to operate.
5. Financial benefits
Whilst some may shy away from MDMs due to the monthly/yearly subscription rates – in the long term, they can actually help to reduce financial burdens. Routine maintenance of corporate devices can be hard on the budget; an MDM permits saving on mobile costs which would otherwise be pricey both in maintenance and purchasing, as devices are regularly maintained and cared for, meaning they are less likely to need replacing. Not only that but employee productivity is one of the greatest benefits to come from controlled and managed devices. And with more productive employees, comes a more successful business.
It’s important that for your business, you decide which MDM solution fits better into your ecosystems. It will depend on the level of security and management that you need from your devices. A complete solution such as SOTI or Samsung Knox would be better suited to a business that knows its requirements are at the top of the bundle and that a full management solution would better suit the level of control that’s needed for all their companies’ devices. On the other hand, if you don’t need enterprise-level advanced features, a budget option would be more viable for you, such as Android Enterprise Essentials from Google – you don’t need to pay for the more advanced option if you’re not going to use it.
