What Does MDM Stands For? A Simple Guide In 4 Points

Introduction

In this frequently innovating technological world, there is a continuous influx of readily improving technological devices that have resulted in the mass adoption of smartphones, laptops, and tablets. These devices challenge the long-standing policy of working on company-owned devices. It has not only led to an increase in the employees’ satisfaction but has also reduced IT desktop costs for companies as employees are willing to buy, update, and maintain their own devices. They only need the organization to bear the one-time investment cost of such devices possessed by the employees. 

MDM has played a vital role in the effective and secure implementation of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in the company. MDM safeguards the crucial corporate assets that can be in physical infrastructure assets or strategic policies and information. It is essential to safeguard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the information systems. 

1. What is MDM? 
2. MDM and EMM
3. Functions of MDM
4. Benefits of MDM Software

1. What is MDM? 

MDM stands for Mobile Device Management, is software that assists in the implementation of the process of managing, monitoring, and securing several mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops used in the organization to access the corporate information. 

MDM is a simple solution to numerous device security issues. It employs many security features that saves the enormous working hours of the IT management and administration team in the company. MDM software deployment enables us to get all the relevant information on the device in one place. It improves employee productivity, thus avoiding useless iterations. 

2. MDM and EMM

Effective monitoring, enforcing security policies, tracking inventory, and reporting can be enabled with a basic Mobile Device Management tool. MDM software has unique features such as device safeguarding, provisioning and enrolment of the device, and real-time location tracking. It also helps in the deletion of data in case the device gets stolen or lost. It will enable to prevent the critical information of the organization from getting abused. 

Mobile Application Management (MAM) is similar to MDM, which has been created for data security. MAM, however, differs from the MDM since MAM is applied only on some of the specific applications present on the device instead of the complete device. 

MAM was a perfect solution for employees and employers as it protected data security. But since it was valid on the specific apps, not the numerous apps present in the app-store, various other applications evolved, such as MCM (Mobile Content Management) and MIM (Mobile Information Management). But these applications are focused only on the security of the particular document database, which is accessed by the employees and employers. 

Several developments led to the development of the EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management). EMM is the merger of MDM with MAM that enables the security of the data of the business. In addition to MDM, EMM provides for MCM, Mobile App Management, Containerization, and Application Wrapping. It offers the security of data on BYOD and various Dedicated Devices known as Corporate-Owned Single-Use. 

3. Functions of MDM

MDM application enables to set up devices such as manage apps, Kiosk mode, configurations management, and can even convert devices into function-specific hardware like ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices). 

1. Registration: 

MDM ensures that only the authorized devices get enrolled for registration. The configuration is done by the IT-team, and the actual boarding is done by the end-user. Enrollment can be done based on the user’s enrolling platforms, user interaction, and security requirements. Users can opt for self-enrollment to get Onboard and allocate the device to themselves. 

2. Management: 

In this phase, MDM is required to: 

⦁    Deploy configuration by the IT Team. 

⦁    Availability of the vital apps and the content on the devices. 

⦁    Enabling Security restrictions, disable distracting functionalities, and integration of policies to prevent data loss. 

⦁    It involves the implementation of Geofencing and Telecom Expense Management policies. 

⦁    Ascertaining the performance of the equipment consistently, along with assuring its timely up-gradation. 

⦁    It also ensures that the device performs consistently without any interpretation. 

3. Monitoring: 

It is essential to continuously monitor the functioning of the enrolled devices and their compliances. The compliance settings can be specialized as per the requirement of the IT administrator of the organization. 

4. Security: 

This phase provides for the reporting of the compliances of the enrolled device. This information becomes vital during the performance of the audit. 

4. Benefits of MDM Software

Implementation of MDM has rendered the flexible workspaces, empowerment the employee, and providing employees with working beyond their work hours. 

1. Security Management: 

MDM provides a holistic security solution for the upgraded enterprise. The crucial areas covered by the MDM are data application, data security, content security, and equipment security. It is essential in the world of data leakage, which is caused due to the introduction of malware in the information system. 

2. Application Management: 

It enables the easy configuration of the apps on the employee’s device. It ensures that the devices enrolled are authorized that reduces the risk and vulnerabilities to the corporate assets, which are in the form of data and information system. 

3. Productivity: 

MDM has a built-in capability of Web-Filtering. IT-admins can permit the websites accessible on the devices with the help of methods such as blacklisting or whitelisting. It enables the use of the devices only for workplaces and no other personal purpose. 

4. Remotely Accessible: 

MDM system ensures that the employees’ devices are remotely accessible as per the requirement. IT-admins can consistently monitor, control, and access the device from remote devices. 

Conclusion

MDM technology has increased its reach to several industries such as healthcare, education, logistics, etc. It is now possible to control the employees’ activities without compromising on security, employee efficiency, and productivity. It assures the security of the extremely confidential data even while the employees work with their own devices. Many vendors provide with MDM solution, but it is crucial to select the perfect for the enterprise. 

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