Bring your own device (BYOD) has been adopted by small companies and some departments of large companies for a decade now. But with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing significant attention to the trend toward remote work, BYOD is clearly here to stay. (Read: BYOD Security: 6 Ways to Protect Mobile Devices.)
In this new context, SMBs and enterprises leave enough latitude for employees to operate flexibly from anywhere, using mobile devices; We need a simple way to control the multitude of applications and security threats.
The answer? Mobile device management.
What is Mobile Device Management?
Mobile Device Management is a framework. It brings simplicity and usability to IT maintenance for distributed applications. It creates a single user interface to control all company devices, including their enrollment, user identity and related applications; Associates configuration profiles with usage data. MDM allows small IT teams to manage a growing number of devices and applications with centralized, automated controls from a single interface. Why is this? MDM works seamlessly with any mobile device, including BYOD and provider devices. It integrates seamlessly with On-Premise. Active Directory (AD) and Azure AD infrastructure. From securing corporate data to managing users’ access to data and corporate applications on their mobile devices – from one central location – MDM can improve productivity for employees and improve security for organizations.
Cloud-hosted MDM allows teams to control and secure remotely. All application and software security updates are performed over-the-air (OTA) without manual intervention. (Read: 5 remote work security issues – and how to fix them.)
MDM can significantly reduce IT overhead thanks to its own service options. For example, Apple’s device registration program built into Jamf Business allows customers to automatically register their new devices wirelessly when they turn them on.
Jamf Connect is an authentication and identification software that opens the door for employees to access enterprise applications. A cloud. Employees navigate company resources without the help of the IT department. Jamf Pro and Jamf Now interact with devices with Apple’s push notifications to automatically configure remote devices without human intervention.
What does Mobile Device Management do?
MDM creates an inventory of devices by querying their information such as serial numbers. as a result, The identities of devices and applications are interconnected.
A dashboard displays device owners’ credentials; It shows their device and application usage and the status of their updates. By grouping devices by their common characteristics, including applications and configurations; You can update the software for all of them with a single action.
Mobile Workforce MDM can address threats.
MDM is a solution to many of the key challenges of a mobile workforce;
1. IT Service Overhead
Small and medium-sized companies with few IT staffs must manage an exponentially increasing workload with the rise of mobile applications and the greater complexity of monitoring them remotely for updates and security.
As their employees work from home, the business will need tools for remote control. At this time in the theater IT teams have been shrinking despite the need for IT services to expand.
MDM can solve this problem because it allows IT staff to manage all of an organization’s devices and applications from a single interface. (Read: The IT Talent Shortage: Separating Myths from Facts..)
2. Migrating from the old system.
Businesses need to change IT maintenance systems dedicated to the installation of on-premises hardware and software as an increasingly mobile workforce renders them obsolete. The proliferation of mobile devices and cloud services has forced organizations to rethink how they handle maintenance and support of their devices.
Microsoft software widely used for on-premises desktops and laptops and Active Server for IT maintenance is not intended for mobile workers who use large numbers of Apple devices and cannot be available on-premises to refresh their devices.
For a mobile workforce, today’s companies need a new way to see the ownership of devices and applications and their updated status in real time to ensure their optimal performance. MDM is set up to meet exactly that.
3. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Employees prefer their smartphone of choice for business and personal needs; Users with potential conflict of interest. But tracking employees’ devices increases the risk of privacy violations.
In other words, IT maintenance staff want to separate business operations from personal use, but employees want enough latitude to do so. Mobile device management gives workers the best of both worlds as they can access company resources and manage updates via the cloud.
4. Security
Horrible zero-day threats that are difficult to attack after mobile devices breach firewalls; and malware entering the enterprise network. The intruders disguised their presence by posing as local authorities.
In addition, Workers often want to use applications that are not available from the App Store. Such applications require internal IT maintenance resources to validate them and track their vulnerabilities. MDM’s cloud integration is also useful here — it allows employees to remotely access IT maintenance resources.
5. Theft and Loss
Devices used outdoors are more susceptible to theft and may be inadvertently stolen. Because mobile devices store sensitive information such as users’ names, important competitive information can be spilled to competitors. (Read: The 10 Biggest Data Breaches of All Time – How to Prevent Them.)
MDM allows IT teams to control all company devices from a single interface, so lost or stolen devices can be easily locked down.
Benefits of MDM: Summary
- Machines are quickly brought under business control.
- Prevents rogue machine activity.
- Secure data with strong encryption and password protection.
- Securely wipe or lock lost/stolen devices
- asset management; Makes device tracking and reporting easy.
- Promotional dates; Supports configurations and applications remotely.
- Provides online support for employees using their own devices for work.
- Ability to resolve devices in real time.
The future of mobile device management
Windows 10 and 11 run on Microsoft’s Azure cloud – and mobile workers use these applications widely. Therefore, Microsoft’s move to the cloud now offers the alternative of operating from the Azure cloud, handing over IT maintenance functions from Active Server. On Apple’s offer, Microsoft offers a simple IT management console and Microsoft Intune, a robust cloud management platform. Intune:
- To quickly deploy Intune services; Enable administrators to manage and upgrade.
- It significantly increases the productivity of the organization.
- Simplifies fleet management and security.
Jamf has adapted to this new reality through its agreement with Jamf to allow users of Microsoft software and devices to sign in with a single ID using their Azure ID and Jamf Connect. This means that now Macs, Microsoft devices and Android devices can now be maintained remotely.
Jamf minimizes privacy violations with a policy of discriminating private data collection to prevent specific security threats. Applications include cameras, It also restricts the use of important functions of computers, such as microphones and downloads. Access to these features requires users’ express consent. It promises to make mobile device management more secure in the coming years.
Conclusion
A mobile workforce is no longer a trend; It’s our new way of doing business. Therefore, remote device management is a must for IT teams large and small.
Mobile device management provides a solution to many of the challenges IT teams face due to remote work. Integrating this framework into your organization can help your IT team, large or small, manage growing maintenance needs.
Your iOS, With many MDM solutions available in the market for Android and Windows Phone devices; Your organization can put in place the necessary security controls to protect your users and data. Unauthorized access This can lead to costly data breaches. It gives users the freedom to work wherever they are, secures data, and empowers IT with the tools to help users get their work done.
Mobile application management (MAM) is also a necessary tool for ensuring technology never slows down the frontline workforce.
