5 reasons why you need an MDM in 2020

You are on vacation in Hawaii taking in the sun and you get interrupted by a work call. There is an issue with an app that the employees recently updated and they need your help to resolve it. As an IT admin, you are bombarded with calls from all the employees and managers to guide them through the process of app downgrade or upgrade to the patched version. Well, there goes your vacation.

The unprecedented rise in Covid cases has led to a large majority of employees working remotely. This can cause concerns for organizations if a reliable management setup isn’t in place. With 2021 looming, it is time to reevaluate your enterprise’s security and device management structure. Here are 5 reasons why you need an MDM in 2020 for your company.

Ease of Management

Electronic devices like laptops, PCs, mobiles, tablets, etc. are widely used by companies regardless of their field of operation. Even a warehouse has several rugged devices and scanners. With the increase in dependency on these devices, it is becoming harder for companies to manage them.

MDMs provide device management and device restriction features that make it easier for IT admins to manage them. Devices can be enrolled easily via zero-touch deployment methods, pre-approved enrollment, Apple configurator, etc.

Application management features can be used to install, remove, and restrict applications for work. App updates and downgrades can be pushed to devices remotely. Location tracking and geofencing features can be used to track devices and assign policies and restrictions to them based on the location. It is extremely useful for companies with on-field employees.

Kiosk lockdown is another useful feature provided by MDMs. Companies can lock their devices to certain applications and websites. Single-app, multi-app and digital signage display are the most common kiosk functionalities offered by top MDMs.

MDMs allows for the integration of 3rd party services like Okta, G-suite, Azure AD, SCCM, Apple Business Manager etc. Android devices, especially rugged devices can benefit from the OEMConfig management capability. OEMConfig helps to unlock an array of management features that aren’t directly available with MDMs.

Along with integration, MDMs can also be used to set up device configurations. Global HTTP proxy, APN, VPN, Wi-Fi, Emails, Certificates, LDAP, CardDAV, CalDAV, etc. can be configured and assigned to devices. It saves admins the hassle of manually assisting each employee with setup and periodic updates.

The use of groups makes it easier for bigger organizations to manage their bigger workforce. Custom and dynamic groups for devices and users make the management process seamless for admins. You can assign different sets of policies and restrictions for each group.

Notifications and broadcast messages can be used to notify employees through a single console. Alerts can be used to notify employees about activities that need urgent attention. The remote control can be used to guide employees through setup processes more effectively from anywhere in the world.

Security

Device security and enterprise data security is one of the main reasons why you need an MDM. Most enterprises have sensitive data on their devices which can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. It can also be compromised via cyber-attacks on employee devices.

Device security and protection of company assets can be managed through MDM. The location tracking and location history features help admins locate lost devices. Features like remote ring can help you find your misplaced devices.

Data security can be enhanced by utilizing remote actions supported by MDMs. Remote view and control can be used to monitor devices in cases of suspicious activities. Remote wipe can be used to delete all the data on the device. The lost mode can be enabled via the MDM console to lock lost devices.

You can create password policies to ensure that the passwords meet enterprise standards and that they are updated on a regular basis. Data syncing can be blocked to secure enterprise data from being synced with other accounts. The disabling of storage ports can be used to secure devices from malware. Wi-Fi restrictions can be used to prevent devices from connecting to unauthorized networks. To make sure that the device is always connected the enforce Wi-Fi feature can be used.

Device security is boosted by the restriction of unauthorized content. Web content filtering can be used to blacklist websites or whitelist them so that everything but the approved websites remains blocked. Blacklisting and whitelisting of applications can also be used to restrict leaky apps from entering the device.

With the use of compliance policies, you can restrict your devices to adhere to international compliance and data protection laws, it is handy if your employees travel a lot. Alerts and notifications can be set up so that admins are notified as soon as devices fall out of compliance with the policies set by the enterprise.

Productivity

According to a Forrester study, employees waste at least 22mins a day on IT-related issues. The deployment of MDMs can reduce the time lost to IT management issues. Updates of applications and software are carried out regularly with minimal user intervention. It is easier to monitor compliance issues and address them directly.

Automation of device deployments and configurations can save your IT team a ton of hassle. You can have your new employees set up and ready to go in just a few mins. Mobile device management solutions support the integration of third-party services like Okta, Azure AD, G-Suite, etc. for a more efficiently managed workplace.

The restriction of websites and applications can ensure that employees remain focused on their tasks. File Explorer can be used to copy, move, or delete files from managed devices without interrupting the employee. The use of mobile device management solutions will aid the use of personal devices for work. BYOD has been proven to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.

The configurations and permissions for applications can also be pushed remotely to devices. User profiles can be used to enforce continuity on shared devices. MDMs ensure that productivity doesn’t take a hit because of device usage.

BYOD

The bring your own device culture is rapidly becoming prevalent in most companies. Employees are reportedly happier and more efficient when they use their personal devices for work. The use of personal devices will reduce device costs for the company. A lot of users prefer to use the latest gadgets and a BYOD setup can help you support them without any major expenses.

MDMs allow for the partitioning of devices so that the personal and work side of things are separate. You can block the transfer of data between these profiles so that the work profile can remain independent and secure. The work profiles can be protected with passwords so that the usage of devices by unauthorized users is restricted to the personal profile.

The same can be done for corporate-owned devices. With the pandemic, most of the employees are working remotely. Partitioning and managing these devices will make it easier for companies to allow their employees to take their corporate-owned devices home.

BYOD cultures the growth of device diversity which can be beneficial to companies. Most employees have multiple devices that can be managed with MDMs and used for work. The various operating systems and the flexibility of work will increase productivity without compromising enterprise standards.

Financial Benefits

Most companies shy away from MDMs because of their rates. Device management solutions actually provide several financial benefits for companies. The increase in employee productivity is one of the major financial benefits of MDMs.

The implementation of a BYOD system with a robust device management solution can help your organization save tons on device purchases. Companies provide allowances for employees to manage and upgrade their devices. These expenses combined with MDM costs will be significantly smaller than issuing corporate-owned devices. The routine maintenance of corporate devices can bite into your budget, which is one of the reasons why companies are turning to BYOD.

Data usage management can be used to restrict the usage of data on devices. The monitoring and management of data usage will be a good financial move especially in countries where data costs are high.

Other major savings are on the security provided by MDMs. The retrieval of lost devices, securing data with remote actions, securing devices via restrictions, etc. can be achieved via MDMs. The data of certain enterprises are invaluable and its security could be their biggest financial benefit. The savings on recurring IT expenses is the cherry on top of the proverbial cake.

MDMs are a ‘set it and forget it’ solution that pays for itself in the long run. The deployment and setup may seem tedious at first but with top MDMs like Hexnode providing setup assistance, the enrollment can be a seamless process. These are just the key benefits of MDMs for enterprises, besides these several industries benefit from specific features provided by device management solutions.

The unforeseen events of 2020 have helped many organizations understand the value provided by MDMs. 2021 will see more technological innovations that can be managed and utilized with the help of MDMs.