How Can It Benefit Your Business?
Mobile device management lets IT teams monitor, manage, and secure devices across corporate networks. In practice, this process relies on a combination of device agents and cloud-based servers.
Device agents are software tools installed on end-user devices such as phones, laptops, and desktops. These agents communicate with cloud-based servers to provide real-time device information. IT teams can also implement device-level policies — such as restricting what users can upload or download — by pushing updates from servers to device agents.
With remote and hybrid work now standard practice for many companies, mobile management provides the visibility IT teams need to understand where devices are located, who’s using these devices, and what actions they’re taking on the network.
The Benefits of Mobile Device Management for Your Company
Implementing a robust management strategy for mobile devices offers multiple benefits, including:
Improved Security
When teams can easily monitor and manage devices, they’re better able to detect and respond to security threats. Consider a staff member working remotely and using their company-issued laptop to connect with corporate servers. If they also use this laptop for nonwork purposes such as visiting social media sites, shopping online, or downloading content, they may be exposed to malware or ransomware which could infect the device and make its way to company networks.
Mobile management allows IT teams to set rules about device use and immediately respond if threats are detected, in turn improving overall security.
Standardized Practices
Implementing mobile management tools also makes suit possible for businesses to standardize device practices. For example, IT teams can set restrictions on device use related to downloading and sharing information and can apply these restrictions company-wide.
Teams can also create per-user profiles that allow access to specific resources based on an employee’s current role or project. These profiles can be adjusted as operational needs change to ensure that the right people have access to the right data for their current roles.
Streamlined Application Management
Updating applications or adding new apps to hundreds or thousands of devices can be difficult and time-consuming for organizations. MDM makes it possible to streamline this process. Servers can push updates to devices simultaneously, and new application requests can be approved or denied based on criteria such as user role, application type, and any permissions required by the software.
Enhanced Mobile Device Tracking
Mobile management also delivers enhanced device tracking. Using a centralized management console, IT teams can quickly discover where devices are and how they are being used. Consider an employee who reports their device as lost. Using mobile device tracking, companies can pinpoint its location and remotely restrict access. If needed, teams can also delete any sensitive data stored on the device.
When it comes to tracking, businesses must be clear and up-front with staff about what data is being tracked, how this data will be used, and what circumstances may necessitate a complete device wipe.
Making the Most of MDM With CIO Tech
While this approach requires software and servers, strategy determines the efficacy of mobile management efforts. From communicating with employees to addressing cultural change and ensuring issues are rapidly resolved, strategy forms the basis of success.
IT strategy and design consulting from CIO Tech can help companies make the most of their mobile management solutions. Based on overall scope and needs, our teams create technology roadmaps that address immediate needs, plan for future upgrades, and help ensure that projects stay on time and on budget.
Ready to make mobile device management part of your strategy for success? See how CIO Tech can help.
