Mobile Device Management
Guide to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solutions
In the digital age of today, many businesses rely on the use of mobile devices to complete their day-to-day responsibilities. Mobile device management (MDM) is a specific type of software designed primarily for administering security and ensuring compatibility across all mobile devices within an organization.
Mobile device management software should provide some or all of the following functions:
- Software distribution
- Policy management
- Inventory management
- Security management
- Service management for smartphones and media tablets.
How does mobile device management work?
Mobile device management software involves a specialized MDM agent as well an MDM server. The MDM agent is the client software installed on each mobile device, while the MDM server is the network server residing within an organization's data center (or cloud hosted) to which each MDM client will connect.
Each device within the organization must be installed with the MDM client software. From the MDM server, IT administrators can then centralize how they configure each mobile device, provide a universal security update or even deploy mobile applications onto all devices using the MDM client.
A mobile device management solution provides an end-to-end security framework, meaning that the MDM software centralizes security for all applications, data and network connectivity associated with each mobile device. Thus, an organization can easily manage all mobile devices from the MDM server interface with security at the forefront.
Why does mobile device management matter?
There is an overwhelming number of mobile devices available on the market as well as a continual rapid evolution of smartphones, tablets and similar technology. As a result, the chance of cyber attacks via mobile devices is higher.
Therefore, it is more important than ever for organizations to control how employees can access their devices that connect to the enterprise network. With MDM, organizations can allow employees to safely use their personal mobile devices for work purposes.
Mobile device management helps to ensure technological compatibility across all devices while also promoting data security best practices. MDM prevents IT administrators from having to tailor custom security patches and configuration updates for different operating systems or software versions.
Inevitably, employees’ personal devices are being used in the workplace, opening the door to network and data security risks. However, DirectNetworks’ Mobile Device Management allows you to embrace this trend with BYOD oversight, creating happier employees without compromising either your network or their productivity.
DirectNetworks can help
Organizations struggling to adequately manage how mobile devices are used across their business can benefit greatly from MDM software. The data security risks of unchecked mobile devices are significant without one such software system in place.
Contact the team at DirectNetworks today to learn more about how to best implement mobile device management within your business. Our data security experts offer years of technical knowledge and can work with your business to ensure secure mobile adaption and best practices.