You may have heard the saying, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” eSquared’s spin on this adage is “you can’t manage what you can’t monitor.” How do you know if the mobile devices you’re paying for are being used as intended?
If you don’t know how many devices you have deployed, their location, and how they’re used, it is incredibly difficult to manage an efficient, secure, and cost-effective mobile device program. What’s more, failing to monitor your devices may leave your company data at risk of being lost, stolen, or otherwise falling into the wrong hands.
That’s where mobile device management, or MDM, comes into play. An MDM system allows you to monitor your devices and measure how they’re used. This makes it much easier to manage your devices in the field throughout their lifecycles, from assigning authorized users and deploying devices to device troubleshooting and retirement.
What Is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?
Mobile device management (MDM) is software that a company or its outsourced MDM partner uses to control and secure devices and enforce mobile device policies across all devices deployed by a company. This can include smartphones, tablets, and other pieces of mobile hardware your team uses in the field.
Most MDM software systems are based in the cloud and give administrators a comprehensive view of a company’s mobile device program. Administrators use the software to assign and revoke device access, ensure passwords are being used on devices, track devices in the field, and deploy important software and security updates to devices from a single dashboard. MDM software also allows administrators to wipe devices remotely in case they are lost, stolen, or kept by a former employee.
Why Do You Need an MDM System?
Companies increasingly rely on mobile devices to keep their teams connected and productive. This is especially true of companies with many employees out in the field, whether they are driving trucks, working a construction site, teaching a class, or meeting with patients.
In all of these settings, your company’s devices must work, be accessible to the right users (and inaccessible to others), and contain the vital software and apps that keep your team up and running. Without an MDM system, managing and monitoring all of these devices would be next to impossible.
Another benefit of MDM is that it can help you enforce your mobile device policies. Because you can control device passwords, security settings, and downloaded applications from a central location, you can avoid many security concerns. For example, you can ensure a phone is kitted out with GPS tracking, a secure VPN, password-protected apps, and the latest security update before the device gets into the hands of employees.
Once devices are deployed in the field, MDM software allows you to monitor whether or not your mobile device policies are being followed and take immediate action if they are violated. With a click, administrators can revoke user access, lock down a device, or wipe it completely. This helps companies maintain control of their mobile assets and reduce losses.
As you may imagine, MDM is a full-time job. Sometimes, companies have the capacity to add these responsibilities to their IT or security teams. But in many cases, companies benefit from working with an outsourced MDM partner like eSquared. Our expert team has years of experience helping companies source, deploy, and manage mobile devices. Our turnkey MDM services offer round-the-clock monitoring and award-winning, 24/7 support for your employees.
Get in touch with eSquared today to learn how our turnkey MDM services can help improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your mobile device program.
