What to consider when choosing an MDM solution? – explore practical tips

How to choose an MDM system? There are so many mobile device management solutions on the market that it is easy to get lost. On top of that, the technology itself keeps evolving, so the list of available options grows year on year. Rather than analysing every aspect, it is better to focus on those that genuinely matter to your organisation. Here is what to look out for.

Price works wonders – or does it?

Price is naturally the first criterion of choice, but when it becomes the only one, it is easy to overlook other important elements of the offer. The cost of purchasing an MDM solution depends on many factors, so before you compare the figures on a price list, it is worth looking at what lies behind them:

• Range of available packages. Providers usually split system features into several packages – from the most basic to the most advanced. Check what the top plan includes and how much it costs. This is a good point of reference, as it shows the cost of a solution’s full capabilities. The current landscape of regulation and cyberthreats forces companies to respond flexibly to change. It is therefore worth considering which features your organisation may need in a few years’ time, not just here and now, and how much they will cost.
• Support for different systems and devices. Make sure the solution supports every mobile platform used in your company (e.g. Android, iOS/macOS, Windows) as well as specialist hardware, such as rugged or AOSP-based devices. Managing your entire fleet from a single console simplifies administrators’ work and reduces the number of IT tools required.
• Contract length. Note whether the licence is term (a subscription paid for a set period, e.g. one or three years) or perpetual (a one-off purchase of the right to use the software).
• Actual cost of use. Calculate the expense per device per month, taking into account everything that makes up the total cost of ownership (TCO): deployment, support and any additional modules or applications.
• Number of managed devices. Establish how many devices you can cover under a given licence and how adding more works as your company grows.

Additional features – fewer or more?

A good starting point is to draw up a list of requirements and compare it with the provider’s offer. The richer the catalogue of features, the easier it is to tailor the tool to the organisation’s changing needs. A more comprehensive MDM may also provide features you did not even think of at the outset.

It is also worth checking whether the provider is open to developing the system in collaboration with customers. In that case, the MDM can ‘grow’ alongside your company rather than confining it to a rigid set of options.

Compliance, security and certificates

A very important stage is reading the documentation and technical specification carefully. Examine the provider’s declarations and check that the chosen solution does not abuse mechanisms made available by third parties – for example Google as the creator of Android. MDM providers sometimes stretch the restrictions and legitimate integration options of operating systems. The consequences are then borne by end users: when a given feature is suddenly blocked as non-compliant, the company has to reckon with additional costs and downtime.

A sign that integrations are carried out honestly is the provider’s participation in the official programmes of operating-system creators, such as the Android Enterprise Partner Program, the Samsung Knox Partner Program or Apple’s partner initiatives. Validation in these confirms that the product is built in line with best practice and supports the latest features of the platforms concerned.

User privacy deserves separate attention, especially where the organisation allows a BYOD model. In this area MDM system complies with all standards set by Google or Apple and under no circumstances breaches privacy. Of course, if the device owner (in BYOD cases, the employee) consents, company security policies may cover part of the device’s private area – but this should never be the default.

Finally, the question of certificates. An MDM helps you meet the obligations arising from ISO or the GDPR.

As you transfer responsibility for correctly meeting legal requirements, it is worth choosing a provider that holds current certificates (e.g. ISO 27001, ISO 9001).

These provide objective confirmation of compliance and a guarantee of a high standard of service and data processing.

License model – cloud or on-premises?

Many MDM solutions today operate exclusively in the cloud. This is convenient: deployment is quick, there are no servers of your own to maintain, and updates install automatically. There are, however, organisations that for various reasons (for example regulatory requirements or the critical nature of the services they provide) need an on-premises deployment, that is, within their own infrastructure.

When deciding on a deployment model, the question of technological sovereignty comes up increasingly often: where data is physically stored, who has access to it and how independent the company remains from external, often foreign, providers. For many organisations and public institutions, this is an argument for opting for an on-premises model or for a provider that guarantees data processing in line with local regulations.

When deciding, check whether the vendor offers both models. That way, you avoid having to give up a great system just because the right deployment option isn’t available.

Technical support

Like any other software, an MDM requires solid technical support. Even the best solution loses its value if the company is left alone with a problem at a critical moment. The scope of assistance can vary considerably between providers, so it is worth establishing in advance:

• Does the provider accompany the customer at every stage of the purchasing process – from testing, through deployment, to after-sales service?
• Is support included in the licence price, or does it require an additional fee?
• Does the offer include extended, flexible SLA terms – that is, an agreement setting out the guaranteed response and resolution times for a request?
• Through which channels (email, chat, service queue) and during what hours can you make contact if a problem arises?
• What is the language of the services provided, the available documentation and the administrator guides?
• Does the licence include access to a knowledge base and other educational materials?
• Can you count on migration support?
• Does the vendor offer administrator training?

Good technical support is not only a rapid response to failures, but also help in making the most of the software’s potential.

Summary

Choosing an MDM system, like any other cybersecurity technology, calls for careful analysis. Changing providers later can be costly and complicated, so the decision is best made with security, functionality and the company’s long-term needs in mind. The time invested in testing, consultations and conversations with providers will pay off in the form of a tool that responds flexibly to the organisation’s requirements.

Originally published: February 02, 2023

Updated: July 16, 2026