The last ten years saw an explosion in powerful, affordable mobile devices, such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones. Rather than buy new tech every few years or force employees to work on devices they dislike, many companies now use a bring your own device policy. Employees can work on a device they know and like and the company saves on tech costs. Learning what is mobile device management becomes important in these cases.

Of course, letting your staff access the company network on a personal device creates security hazards. If an employee falls for a phishing attack while checking their personal email, it puts your network at risk. These kinds of risks drive the need for mobile device management.

So, what is mobile device management?

What Is Mobile Device Management?

It’s some form of a software suite designed to minimize the risks of BYOD. It typically involves setting up a range of policies, security requirements, and applications on the phone.

For example, it might block access to non-company email while you’re logged into the system. It might also auto-install new security updates and run anti-virus scans on employee devices.

Mobile device management software typically gives you options for multiple operating systems. This helps you deal with the fact that mobile devices might run anything from Android or iOS to Windows or Chrome.

Benefits

It offers obvious and less obvious benefits. The most obvious benefit is better security for your company network. The fewer viruses an employee can access or fewer risky websites they visit while on your network, the better off you are.

You also get more productive employees. An employee working on their own devices often prove more efficient. They already configured their devices and applications to work best for them.

You may also see an uptick in employee satisfaction, which typically translates to improved productivity. BYOD policies suggest that a company wants employees to enjoy their job.

In-House or Outsource?

When it comes to mobile device management, businesses face the class question of keeping it in-house or outsourcing.

Keeping the process in-house does let you retain full control of the process. It also requires that you have the right experts on staff. That can prove expensive in a time when IT security experts command premium salaries.

Outsourcing to a managed service provider lets you get expert help at a manageable price point. It also lets you better control costs by locking in a service contract at a fixed monthly fee.

Parting Thoughts on Mobile Device Management

The answer to what is mobile device management looks deceptively simple on the surface. Its obvious function is allowing employees to safely access company data through personal devices.

Beneath the surface, though, it’s really a productivity enhancement strategy. Employees will work faster and typically be happier when working on devices they chose and configured.

Inception Network Strategies offers a range of IT services, including cloud backups, network setup, and managed IT. For more information about our managed IT services, contact Inception Network Strategies today.