MDM (Mobile Device Management): Definition and Implementation
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MDM, also known as Mobile Device Management, is an essential tool to implement to meet the challenges of mobility and flexibility of the team, but also oforganizing, of security and data management
But what exactly is MDM? Why are they essential in our structures today? Rzilient gives you some tips for setting it up.
What is Mobile Device Management?
Definition of MDM
The Mobile Device Management is a software that allows you to manage the IT fleet of an organization's mobile devices (computer, mobile phones, tablets), for optimize operation and safety, regardless of the device's operating system. It is crucial for using IT resources efficiently and securely.
History of MDM
Today, businesses need to implement solid mobile device management (MDM) strategies or risk being victims of productivity losses And of costly security breaches and loss of control over data management. Not to mention that the advantages and functionalities of these software are numerous. In particular, it was the investment in MDMs that allowed companies to deal with the widespread use of remote working in March 2020.
The principle of Mobile Device Management came into being in the 2000s when Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs), like digital tablets, have begun to appear.
It was designed to help, in the first place, the phone management in business to prevent employees from doing anything with sometimes sensitive data.
The principle was taken up for other computer equipment and became popular with the development of cloud. Today, some companies operate at 100% thanks to online storage solutions, or Cloud Computing that involve careful data management (like Rzilient).
How does mobile device management work?
Concretely, MDM is based on the installation of an agent (or an application) on each mobile device. This agent is connected to a management console, hosted in the cloud or on your company's servers.
- Device enrollment
Each terminal is registered in the MDM console in order to associate it with a user and assign the appropriate security rules to him. - Automatic configuration
Once the device is enrolled, the software applies the settings defined in advance (Wi-Fi access, email accounts, authorized applications...). - Real-time supervision
Administrators have a global view of device health: operating system version, installed applications, location, etc. They can receive alerts if abnormal behavior is detected. - Remote management
In the event of loss, theft, or non-compliance with security policies, the administrator can remotely lock the device or even reset it. - Centralized updates
The IT team can push software updates across devices, ensuring that everyone has the same version and the same security patches.
The advantages of MDM solutions for VSEs and SMEs
Mobile Device Management is not only reserved for large companies: it also represents a advantage for small and medium-sized businesses, by allowing savings And a customized configuration adapted to policies and standards of each structure.
In addition to simplifying the use and management of numerous portable devices for professional use outside of corporate infrastructures, MDM facilitates management and maintenance of your terminals and secure your data.
1. Remote management
From the moment your teams are connected to the internet with the terminal, MDM is essential to remote management, especially if your business has adopted a flexible device management, policies such as Bring Your Own Device (as is the case with Rzilient!) Or remote/hybrid work environments.
It allows you to:
- carry out onboarding;
- do offboarding;
- run updates using FOTA (Firmware Over the Air);
- manage OS/operating systems;
- deploy security policies on devices;
- control the errors of an entire fleet of terminals;
- perform the troubleshooting;
- block equipment in case of loss or theft;
- take an inventory of active terminals;
- follow communications in real time.
2. Data security
The implementation of an MDM solution in your organization allows you toavoid the leak of your sensitive data, in case of loss, theft or hacking. In this context, having the ability to manage all devices remotely and to perform various actions quickly becomes a major asset that will allow you to:
- geolocate the device;
- block it and reset it.
To do this, some preliminary actions must be put in place for good security:
- roll up the devices;
- update operating systems;
- deploy applications and updates;
- deploy security policies.
3. Access and user management
In addition to securing terminals, MDM centralizes the management of access rights for each employee. You precisely define the resources and services (applications, files, intranet) accessible by each user or group of users.
It allows:
- precise control;
- simplified management in a single click;
4. Device monitoring and tracking
MDM solutions generally offer a comprehensive dashboard to monitor the status of each terminal in real time. You see who has what version of the OS, what applications are installed, if the storage space is almost full, etc.
It allows you to:
- benefit from total visibility;
- receive alerts in real time;
5. Installing and updating the application
Installing and maintaining applications is often one of the most time-consuming tasks for IT. MDM allows you to benefit from:
- centralized deployment;
- automatic updates;
Implement Mobile Device Management in your organization
MDM includes managing devices, applications, security, and network services. This sprawling management represents a real challenge for any business manager or iT manager, whether in terms of time or financial resources. To alleviate this responsibility and concerns, why not outsource your management mobile devices?
By outsourcing these issues, you can do significant savings, Relieve your IT teams, set up a increased safety and benefit from theexpertise of a specialized company.
To choose the offer that best fits your needs, here are some examples of questions you will need to ask yourself:
- Does the offer have remote erase and lock capabilities?
- Does it offer the possibility to manage all the settings of your mobile devices, etc.?
- Do you have regular reports on the operational status of your terminals and failures that may occur?
- Does the company offer remote support solutions?
To conclude, here are the key elements of MDM to remember
- Security and confidentiality : Your business data remains protected, even if a device is lost or stolen.
- Remote management : from a single console, you deploy and modify configurations or applications across the entire mobile fleet.
- Optimized productivity : employees have the tools they need quickly, without complicated procedures.
- Access control : you precisely define who can access what resources, and you review these rights at any time.
- Monitoring and updates : you quickly identify faults or non-compliant devices, and you rectify them in a few clicks.
In short, mobile devices are increasingly omnipresent in our daily lives, necessary for the functioning of our organizations, and the applications they host are flooding the market. In this context, the Mobile surveillance is becoming a major challenge. An increasing number of businesses have chosen to install an MDM solution to manage mobile devices, and this number is growing at a steady pace.
At Rzilient we offer the solution ofa unique platform which allows the management of all your IT equipment and all of your teams, centralized all in one place.
In addition to secure And ofEnsure the management of your mobile devices with MDM, we offer you several additional services : ultra-fast troubleshooting when needed; personalized assistance and refurbished devices for your IT fleet.
Do you want to know more? And if we Let's talk together ?
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