Mobile device management (MDM) software allows IT administrators to control, secure and enforce policies on smartphones, tablets and other endpoints.
MDM is a core component of enterprise mobility management (EMM) and unified endpoint management (UEM), which aims to manage all endpoint devices with a single console. These platforms include mobile application management (MAM) tools, identity and access management, and enterprise file sync and share. The intent of MDM is to optimize the functionality and security of mobile devices within the enterprise while protecting the corporate network.
Modern enterprise mobility products support iOS and Android smartphones, tablets; Windows and macOS laptops, desktops; and even some internet of things (IoT) devices.
Mobile device management relies on endpoint software called an MDM agent and an MDM server that lives in the cloud.
IT administrators configure policies through the MDM server's management console, and the server then pushes those policies over the air to the MDM agent on the device. The agent applies the policies to the device by communicating with application programming interfaces (APIs) built directly into the device operating system.
Similarly, IT administrators can deploy applications to managed devices through the MDM server.
Mobile device management software emerged in the early 2000s to control and secure the personal digital assistants and smartphones that business workers began to use. The consumer smartphone boom that started with the launch of the Apple iPhone in 2007 led to the bring your own device (BYOD) trend, which fueled further interest in MDM.
Deploying MDM in a BYOD environment introduces some challenges. Organizations must balance IT's need to secure corporate apps and data with the end user's need to maintain privacy. Users are often concerned with IT's ability to monitor their actions on a mobile device, but privacy settings can help alleviate those concerns.
Organizations can use other methods to maintain user privacy while deploying MDM for BYOD environments. Some MDM platforms offer app wrapping, which provides a secure wrapper on mobile apps and enables IT to enforce strong security controls. For Android devices, organizations can use Android Enterprise, Google's enterprise mobility program that integrates with leading MDM platforms. Android Enterprise offers separate work and personal profiles so end users can keep their personal data away from IT's control, and IT admins can secure corporate data and apps as needed.
The developers of mobile operating systems and manufacturers of mobile devices control what MDM software can and can't do on their devices through their APIs. As a result, mobile device management has become a commodity, with most vendors offering a similar set of core capabilities. MDM vendor differentiation comes by integrating mobile device management servers with other enterprise software.
Common mobile device management features include the following:
The MDM vendor landscape has changed significantly since its inception due to acquisitions of startups by larger firms seeking to add mobile device management functionality to their products and solutions portfolios.
Microsoft holds a dominant role in the market with its Enterprise Mobility Suite solution. Jamf has grown with its Jamf Pro product. A new generation of MDM startups, such as Esper, Fleet, Kandji, and Mosyle are jockeying for positions, especially with enterprises standardized on Apple devices. And device vendors like Apple are integrating MDM features into their device OSes.
SaaS is the current standard for MDM because of the increased flexibility and pay-as-you-go services model, making it easier for organizations to onboard and offboard devices. The pandemic and the rush to remote work showed that on-premises MDM systems are a relic of another age. SaaS-based MDM also offers potential customers a pilot or trial experience that's economical, dynamic and won't completely drain their internal IT staff on a one-off project.
The small and medium-sized business (SMB) market is a notable piece of the MDM landscape in 2023 compared to earlier years. Apple launched Apple Business Essentials in 2022 to help small businesses improve device management practices.
01 Mar 2023