Check if your company also needs a professional MDM solution

Mobility in business began with the rise of laptops, which gradually pushed desktop computers into the background. When remote work took off in 2020, demand for mobile devices – in both offices and homes – surged.

Today, smartphones are firmly in the lead and have long since outgrown their original role as mere communication tools. They are now key instruments for running a business – ‘command centers’ with access to data, apps, and systems. Statistics show that nearly five times as many smartphones are sold worldwide as computers. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, 330 million smartphones hit the global market, compared to just 68.9 million computers sold.

Mobility has become a challenge not only for large organizations juggling multiple types of devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, rugged devices, and wearables) but also for smaller companies, where employees often rely on their own personal gear. On top of that, more and more organizations are moving to the cloud (Eurostat: in 2023, as many as 45.2% of EU companies purchased cloud services). Cloud solutions give employees the freedom to access company resources from virtually anywhere and on any device, boosting not just mobility but also flexibility.

Unfortunately, along with the undeniable benefits has come a surge in cyberthreats, and IT departments now face a much heavier workload. Mobile devices store vast amounts of sensitive data, making them prime targets for attacks. That’s why effective device management and ongoing protection have never been more critical.

All these challenges make the implementation of MDM-class solutions a strategic priority for every business, organization, and even small company.

What does an MDM system actually do?

MDM (Mobile Device Management) is a tool for managing a company’s mobile devices. In its extended form, it’s known as EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management) – a system for managing enterprise mobility. The most advanced version is UEM (Unified Endpoint Management), which covers every endpoint device with access to corporate data.

All of these solutions share one purpose: to ensure consistent configuration of settings, applications, and security policies across company devices. This way, every employee gets the right set of tools to work with, the IT team can respond quickly to issues, and the entire organization gains greater control over its hardware and data security.

In short, MDM simplifies, streamlines, and secures the day-to-day work of both administrators and users.

Rolling out corporate policies and resources requires installing an MDM agent on the device – an application that communicates with the MDM server, whether hosted on-premises or in the cloud. Initial configurations and updates can be delivered to the device remotely and automatically, without involving the employee. That means that from the very first startup, the system can, for example:

• require the employee to set a strong password,
• restrict access to specific device functions (e.g., camera, Wi-Fi),
• block the installation of certain applications (e.g., games, social media).

What benefits can you expect from implementing an MDM solution?

Simplified management and improved efficiency

Managing a handful of identical devices in one location is no big deal. The challenge comes when every device is different, scattered across multiple cities, owned by different people, and requires unique apps or security policies. Now imagine managing a hundred (or a thousand) such devices. Manual handling quickly becomes impossible.

Every organization should have remote and easy access to:

• their devices and their location,
• the data processed on them,
• security reports,
• device and application configurations,
• and even remote support,

something you can achieve without a large IT team only by using an MDM platform.

Cost reduction

An MDM platform drastically cuts the time and effort the IT team needs to spend on day-to-day device management. By automating many tedious, repetitive tasks – such as OS updates, app installations, or ongoing device health monitoring – IT can focus on more demanding, value-adding work. It also allows a company to handle a growing number of devices without expanding the team.

MDM can also rein in mobile data costs. In Device Owner mode, you can block roaming data entirely or set app-level rules that prevent cellular data use outside a defined zone – such as the country’s borders or the EU. This helps avoid nasty surprises in the form of huge mobile internet bills.

Support for BYOD

More and more organizations are adopting a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model, where employees use their own phones or laptops for work tasks. This saves the company from investing in extra hardware or telecom plans, while employees get to use a device they’re comfortable with, without juggling multiple phones.

MDM safeguards corporate data on a personal device by creating two spaces on it: work and personal. This protects company resources from accidental mishaps or cyberattacks, while giving employees peace of mind that their employer cannot see their private data or apps.

The ability to divide the device space into a Work Profile and a Personal Profile means that companies no longer have to choose between security and employee freedom.

Application management

MDM allows secure app distribution, whether from official stores (Google Play, App Store) or via direct corporate deployment. Administrators can create whitelists and blacklists to prevent the installation of unauthorized software.

It’s also possible to schedule updates to avoid downtime and excessive data costs. If needed, the system can force company apps to update to the latest version, regardless of network type.

Security and regulatory compliance

Remote management, automated updates, granular security rules, and real-time monitoring significantly boost an organization’s data protection. In case of loss or theft, the administrator can lock access to data or completely wipe the device. These capabilities make MDM not only an administrative tool, but also a compliance ally, helping meet legal requirements such as GDPR or ISO/IEC 27001.

Summary

Rolling out a professional MDM solution is now a key part of the strategy for any company that values efficiency, security, and control over its mobile devices. Managing a diverse fleet, protecting sensitive data, and supporting flexible work models like BYOD all become far easier and more effective with MDM. If your company uses mobile devices – even just a few, wants to streamline IT operations, and aims to defend against cyberthreats, MDM could be exactly what you need.

Originally published: 02.02.2023