The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way people interact and go about their daily activities, including how they work. Overnight, businesses across the globe found themselves adopting remote work setups in order to continue operations safely in the midst of the current health crisis, and central to these arrangements is the use of mobile technologies.
Mobile devices and applications afford remote workers the flexibility they need to get their tasks done regardless of location. They can easily access and collaborate on files with colleagues and clients in real time, as though they were all in the same place. In addition to facilitating business continuity, mobile technologies also enhance overall productivity.
However, these technologies are not without drawbacks, with cybersecurity risks being among the biggest disadvantages. For instance, remote workers may be accessing business data from their personal smartphones or laptops, which often don’t offer the same level of security that company-issued devices do. Business data is thus left vulnerable to a wide array of cyberthreats, from malware and phishing attacks, that can spell disaster for your company.
This is why mobile device management (MDM) solutions are more crucial than ever before.
What is MDM?
MDM refers to security tools and software used to remotely monitor, manage, and secure employees’ mobile devices, be they personally owned or company-issued. Most MDM software is cloud-based, allowing your IT team to remotely oversee mobile endpoints from a centralized console. From there, they can configure device and application settings to ensure the security of your company’s data.
What are the benefits of MDM?
Your organization will enjoy a wide range of benefits from having an MDM solution in place, including:
1. Enhanced security
MDM enables your IT team to secure your company’s data through several ways.
-
Data encryption – An MDM solution can be used to force encryption on all supported mobile devices. This adds an extra layer of protection to the device itself and the company files, application data, and other sensitive information stored in it.
-
Access control – MDM gives your IT administrator granular control over the apps and data accessed by users. For instance, by using a tool like Microsoft Intune, your IT team can set access restrictions based on each employee’s position in the company, geographic location, and the network they’re connected to. MDM software can also detect mobile devices with security issues (i.e., jailbroken, unpatched), and keep users from accessing the company’s resources through these until the problems are resolved.
-
Patch and upgrade deployment – Your IT staff can remotely distribute patches and updates en masse, or send company-wide reminders to install updates once these become available.
-
Remote data wipe – When an employee leaves your company, any personal mobile device they used for work can be remotely wiped of company data and apps. Their access rights to company systems can also be revoked through the MDM software. The same can be done for lost or stolen devices.
2. Simplified regulatory compliance
Businesses in highly regulated industries such as healthcare and finance must deal with the challenges of complying with data privacy and security laws. Achieving and maintaining compliance can be especially difficult for companies with a remote work setup or a bring your own device policy in place. Fortunately, MDM solutions can help companies in this aspect.
By leveraging MDM as part of your business’s compliance strategy, you will get more visibility into the devices used to access, store, and distribute company data. From an MDM tool’s cloud-based console, IT administrators can monitor user behavior and activity, giving you insights into how apps are being used and what data is being accessed. They can also identify vulnerabilities in employees’ devices that can lead to violations, and recommend or deploy the appropriate solutions.
3. Improved efficiency and flexibility
MDM gives your IT staff the ability to remotely access and manage devices without disrupting your non-IT teams. This way, everyone can carry on as normal and get their tasks done efficiently.
And with the robust protection offered by MDM software, your employees can use their own devices to do their jobs without having to worry about threats such as malware and data breaches. They can access company systems and work from anywhere, thus increasing their productivity and your organization’s bottom line.
4. Increased cost savings
Some business leaders may balk at the idea of spending for an MDM solution, seeing it as an additional cost that their organizations can do without. They fail to see, however, that MDM delivers a massive return on investment that more than makes up for the cost.
For one, cloud-based MDM solutions are available for a fixed monthly fee per device so you only pay for what you need, and scale up or down as required. Also, by enabling your team to safely work from home using their own smartphones, tablets, or laptops, the use of MDM tools leads to lower hardware and facilities costs. The significant cost savings from leveraging MDM can be reallocated toward investments and activities that add value to your business.
MDM enables businesses to leverage the fullest potential of mobile technologies, but only if it’s implemented and utilized properly. Quicktech can help with that. As one of Vancouver’s premier managed IT services providers, we have the knowledge and experience needed to guide you through the process of acquiring, deploying, and managing the right MDM solution for your business. Learn more about MDM as well as our other services by dropping us a line today: 604-709-8324.