MDM Integration

Mobile device management (MDM) is software that enables organizations to manage and secure mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, used by their employees. MDM solutions allow IT administrators to monitor and control devices, applications, and data on these devices, even when not physically connected to the organization's network.

MDM is particularly important for companies that allow employees to use their own devices for work purposes, also known as bring your own device (BYOD). MDM solutions ensure that these devices comply with the company's security policies, preventing data breaches and protecting sensitive information.

MDM software works by installing a management profile on the mobile devices that need to be managed. This profile provides the MDM solution with the necessary permissions to remotely monitor and control the device.
Once the profile is installed, the MDM software can perform a range of functions, including:

• Policy enforcement: The MDM software allows IT administrators to set policies and restrictions that govern how the device can be used. For example, IT administrators can set policies to enforce password requirements, restrict access to certain apps or websites, and enforce data encryption.
• Application management: MDM software can be used to remotely install, update, or remove applications on the managed devices. This can include both company-approved apps as well as those downloaded by the user.
• Remote wipe/lock: If a device is lost or stolen, MDM software can be used to remotely wipe or lock the device to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
• Reporting and analytics: MDM software provides IT administrators with detailed reporting and analytics on device & app usage.

Of course, the answer to that is “it depends” - on the number of endpoints you have to manage, the makeup of the operating systems on those devices, whether you want an on-prem or cloud solution, etc. Two popular options are InTune, made by Microsoft, and Jamf, which focuses on Apple devices. Other popular options are VMWare Workspace ONE, and IBMMaaS360.

It definitely is! Security walks a fine line between usability and protection – lock things down too much, and you incentive users to either find ways around it or not use it at all, which hamstrings their productivity. Keep things too open, and you risk being vulnerable to a data breach.

Users want to be able to access corporate resources via their mobile devices, but they are reluctant to turn full control of those devices over to IT. It doesn’t help that it’s often not clear what the full capabilities of an MDM are – people store a lot of personal data on their mobile devices, and the idea of a remote IT admin being able to view and control that data is very uncomfortable. The good news is that MDM solutions do NOT allow IT admins to snoop on your browsing or text history – typically it only lets them see things like device type, OS, owner, location, apps installed, etc. That is not to say that there is no way for IT to ever see this – there are other options. But it is not a part of what MDM does.

Here are some trends and developments that could shape the future of MDM:

• 5G Networks: With the rollout of 5G networks, mobile devices will become more powerful and connected, enabling new use cases and applications. MDM solutions will need to adapt to support the higher speeds, lower latency, and increased bandwidth of 5G networks.
• Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will play an increasing role in MDM, enabling proactive device management and automated threat detection. AI-powered MDM solutions will be able to identify potential security risks and suggest or even take remediation steps.
• Internet of Things (IoT): The number of IoT devices is growing rapidly, and MDM solutions will need to support these devices and manage their connectivity and security. IoT devices will require specific MDM policies and configurations to ensure they are secure and compliant.
• Zero Trust Security: Zero Trust Security models will become more prevalent, and MDM solutions will need to support this approach. Zero Trust Security involves verifying every user and device before granting access to resources, and MDM solutions will need to provide device authentication and continuous monitoring capabilities.

The future scope of MDM is bright, with the adoption of new technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT, and the need to support BYOD and Zero Trust Security models. MDM solutions will need to evolve to meet these new requirements and enable secure and efficient mobile device management in the workplace.