What is Mobile Device Management (MDM) and how does it work?

Manually managing a fleet of IoT devices – especially mobile devices – is a major challenge for companies. Mobile Device Management (MDM) solves this problem by centralizing the monitoring, securing and management of smart mobile devices.

Introduction to Mobile Device Management (MDM)

In the digital world of work, where mobile devices have a permanent place in companies, it is crucial to have a reliable and secure MDM solution to protect sensitive company data and increase productivity. MDM creates security, transparency and control when using smartphones and tablets in the company.

A mobile device management (MDM) solution enables companies to manage their mobile devices via a central interface. It is not productive to manage each device individually, as mobile devices can be used anywhere. An MDM solution improves accessibility to IoT solutions without direct access to the device.

What is an MDM solution?

A mobile device management solution enables IT administrators to manage mobile devices for their company from a central location. This means you no longer have to manage each device individually without owning the device itself.

These solutions use application programming interfaces (APIs) that can communicate directly with a mobile device. The platform sends specific instructions such as policy changes, app restrictions, security configurations and software updates to the device via these APIs. The IT administrator defines these policies and other instructions in their chosen MDM solution.

MDM and its importance for your company

Mobility has become a lifestyle that can no longer be ignored in companies. Home office and remote working are no longer the exception, but the norm. As a result, all these mobile devices with company-sensitive information need to be managed without restricting the user and without creating unnecessary work for the IT department.

Security of decentralized distributed devices

Who hasn’t been there: your phone is nowhere to be found when you leave the pub, and then you realize you left it in the restroom. A security update pops up on your screen, but you’re listening to music; you click it away for later. Two weeks later, you’re still clicking that notification away every time. With a personal phone, your bank details, private messages and pictures are an easy target for anyone with a bit of IT knowledge.

In a world where you work remotely with a company owned laptop and have a company phone on which you have both secret company data and access to the office via an app, this is an easy target. A simple pin code, is the only barrier preventing someone from accessing trivial data about your company. I wouldn’t trust myself with that responsibility; why would a company take that risk?

MDM solves all of these problems by allowing the IT administrator to apply security updates to all of the company’s devices, lock or even completely reset a lost device, and enforce passwords more complicated than your child’s birthday. This allows you to control security company-wide with minimal effort, instead of putting the responsibility on the individual. Create security profiles for each department or team in minutes based on company-wide templates, instead of spending hours writing passive-aggressive reminders to everyone to update their devices.

Management of decentrally distributed devices

We all remember the first day at work when we spend all day installing our brand new laptop and figuring out what software we need. On top of the stress of the first day, you have to have almost hourly conversations with many colleagues from the IT support department because you don’t have the right permissions or credentials to proceed.

The IT support department has an even harder time because every device is slightly different. For example, different security updates are installed, different applications are installed and different settings are activated, which they have to find out about before they can help you with your problems.

Imagine all these devices in an MDM solution instead. Once the device has been added and assigned to the right group, the right applications and settings are prepared without the possibility of changing anything that would negatively impact the work of your IT department. In addition, future problems can be solved more easily as it is known exactly what has been installed on the device and which settings have been activated.

How will MDM solve your biggest problems?

We have been transparent in the past and will continue to be in the future. Every company has problems managing and keeping track of its assets. That’s why we invest millions in software that takes over this task for us. Because it relieves us of the repetitive tasks and manual monitoring and allows us to focus on more creative and exciting tasks instead. The software does a better job than we ever could; it can monitor everything around the clock and keep track of everything. That’s what an MDM will do for your mobile devices:

It monitors all your devices for you and informs you of any changes or problems.

It enforces your predefined security guidelines

It gives you control over which applications can be used and which do not belong on a company device

It manages updates, software configurations and security regulations for the company

It gives you an overview of all the device information you need

How MDM works: The most important components and functions

A mobile device management solution can communicate with mobile devices over the internet using application programming interfaces (APIs). These remote instructions can help enforce changes to device policies, security configurations, app restrictions and even over-the-air updates. With the help of an MDM solution, IT administrators can control their mobile devices in real time.

A mobile device management platform can do the following, among other things:

Restricting/limiting access to certain applications

Whitelist access according to the respective use case

Various roles and access management for the authorization of applications

Assignment of password policies to increase security

Definition of guidelines and specifications for the use of mobile devices

Audit log for tracking all changes made via an MDM platform

Mobile Device Management – The best solutions

We have an overview of all the major MDM solutions for you. Book a free consultation appointment to discuss your individual requirements with our experts. We will find the right solution for your company.

I look forward to your questions!

Ronald Bals

Head of Sales