A mobile device is the general term given to all kinds of handheld computer such as Phones, Laptops, Tablets, and even Smart Watches.
Typically, any handheld computer device will have an LCD or OLED flat screen interface, providing a touchscreen interface with digital buttons and keyboard or physical buttons along with a physical keyboard.
In the year 2010, mobile devices started to contain sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, and gyroscopes, allowing detection of orientation and motion.
Growth with Mobile Device Management
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are already widespread in the day-to-day life of an average human being. Since personal devices are indispensable and even irreplaceable in today’s generation, these smart devices have penetrated modern-day workplaces too.
Moreover, corporate and even non-corporate organizations today are embracing BYOD (Bring your own device) because it offers a flexible work environment, reduces infrastructure costs device costs, maintenance costs, and contributes towards increased employee productivity.
Nevertheless, the continued proliferation of mobile devices spawns concerns like corporate data protection, device management and synchronization with different platforms, varied OSs and varied IT configurations.
Why is Mobile Device Management Important
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is no longer a luxury for big enterprises, rather it is a necessity or a mandatory item for large organizations and SMBs alike.
According to a study by Kensington(1):
- A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds
- 70 million smartphones are lost every year
- Data breach comprises 80% of the cost of a lost laptop
- 52% of devices are stolen from the workplace
The cost of lost data is far greater than the cost of the lost device, and these facts bring to the forefront the need to incorporate an MDM solution to manage, monitor, and secure mobile devices for official use.
Small businesses are also at high risk of cyber-attacks and will not be able to withstand it if they do not employ effective control to mitigate these attacks.
According to SmallBizTrends(2):
- 43 % of cyber-attacks target small business
- Only 14 % of small businesses rate their ability to mitigate cyber-risks, vulnerabilities, and attacks as highly effective.
Businesses are primarily concerned about protecting intellectual property, data, financial information and private customer and employee from threats like:
- Device loss
- Exposure to third-party apps and malware
- Corporate data leaks
A well-implemented security policy in combination with an effective mobile device management system can not only ensure device and data security but also offers a convenient end-user experience.
Let’s look at the global MDM market growth scenario mentioned in some previous reports:
- Global revenue of MDM was 2.83 billion in 2018(3)
- 42% of enterprises(4) now consider themselves mobile-first
- Global MDM Enterprise Software market 2013-2018 projected growth at a CAGR of 23.95%
- Frost & Sullivan estimated the market for enterprise MDM will grow from $178.6 million in 2011 to $712.4 million by 2018(5)
- According to Zion Research Analysis of 2016(6): Global MDM revenue is expected to rise from USD 1.35 Million in 2015 to 5.15 Million in 2021
MDM market growth can be segmented into device management, application management, security management, and network services management, and is dominated by application management. Although, other sectors will exhibit considerable growth in coming years.
MDM market growth can be segmented based on verticals: education, healthcare, banking, financial services, insurance, retail, manufacturing, etc. Education is predicted to be the fastest-growing vertical.
North America is the largest segment geographically in the MDM market owing to a rising mobile workforce, BYOD trend.
Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow the fastest in the next five years due to a high percentage of the young population and increasing use of the local brands of smartphones and tabs for business.
Future Marketing Insights has also published a report titled, Mobile Device Management Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013 – 2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018 – 2028(7), which predicts:
- The global mobile device management market size is expected to register a global CAGR of 22.9% from 2018 – 2028.
- North America, South East Asia and others of APAC and China will account for an approximate market share of 40% by the end of 2028.
- MDM solutions will see a massive market in Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific region in the coming years, with a projected total incremental opportunity of US$ 1536.3 Million.
- In another report by MarketsandMarkets, the MDM market is set to grow from USD 2.81 Billion to USD 7.86 Billion by 2023, at CAGR 22.8%(8).
With all the above statistics, let us look at why mobile device management is important.
Top 10 Benefits of MDM
1. Remote Management of Users and Devices
Remote management is the process that allows the administrators to take full control of all operations of the users and their devices using a remote. With remote management, you will be able to edit and write your applications from your computer IIS server. It is easy to install and configure the feature and thus, you should learn how to do it. Organizations who have installed this software enjoy a large number of benefits.
These benefits of Mobile Device Management provide secure remote management as you transverse through firewalls it protects the encrypted sensitive details while data is exchanged between the server and administration tools. The manager has full control over configuration in case anything happens to the user or the device.
2. Automatic Deletion
This is a great benefit of MDM as Automatic deletion frees storage occupied by temporary storage queues that were not deleted by applications and that are no longer required. Thus, it leads to more space and less clogging.
3. Data Backup
An Organization that does not back up its data is bound to crash at any time because Data is part of the constituents of an organization, it keeps the organization running. Thus, A data backup is the copying or archiving of files and folders for the purpose of being able to restore them in case of data loss.
4. Cost Savings
If Mobile Devices are managed well, it saves the stress of buying and replacing these mobile devices every time. In other words, it saves money because the amount that will be used to buy a new device will be way higher than that which will be used to manage a mobile device.
5. IT Supports BYOD (BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE)
This is regarded as the practice of allowing the employees of an organization to use their own computers, smartphones, or other devices for work purposes. An advantage is morale. Employees generally like using the devices they’re familiar with. The touchpad works just as it should, and the “control” key is right where it should be.
Another advantage is that it saves cost and productivity may be improved as being familiar with certain devices/OS helps employees use them more effectively and efficiently. No time is wasted on navigating programs, folders or keys.
6. Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliance is an organization’s adherence to laws, regulations, guidelines, and specifications relevant to its business processes. The benefits of Mobile Device Management makes sure that workers comply with the organization’s rules in terms of how they take care of their devices in all areas and even so much more beyond that.
7. Controlled Device Updates
This enables the organization’s management to control when updates are installed on devices by setting a local system update policy for a device.
8. Application Control
This is a security practice that blocks or restricts unauthorized applications from execution in ways that put data at risk. Application control includes completeness and validity checks, identification, authentication, authorization, input controls, and forensic controls, among others. It is part of the benefits of Mobile Device Management as it saves an unexpected system crash or data loss.
9. Reduced its Needs
The Way Needs of the employees and even the organizations drastically reduce as a result of mobile device management is a whole packaged benefit of MDM.
10. Enhanced Security
Enhanced security is the new secure mode for reinforcing the security of communications between the organization and its employees. It prevents unexpected attacks, bugs or snooping one of the company’s privacy.
List of leading MDM’s
Having examined some benefits of MDM, let us take a look at some of the best mobile device management software. They include:
- SOTI MobiControl Review
- VMware AirWatch Review
- Citrix XenMobile Review
- IBM MaaS360 Review
- ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus Review
- Microsoft Intune Review
- AppTec360 Enterprise Mobility Management Review
- Baramundi Management Suite Review
There are so many others as well that the list is endless.
Conclusion
It is very important for organizations to manage mobile devices used by team members on the organization’s network to ensure the success of identity and access management as well as optimization of functionality and mobile device security.
Achieving this success begins with identifying the solution that is right for your business with the goal of protecting the corporate network. The solution you choose should include device tracking and inventory, application distribution, password verification, and enforcement, as well as data encryption.
Then, you will want to achieve buy-in from senior management and have a plan in place to train employees on new awareness tactics and management principles that will go a long way in the success and sustainability of your business.
