Mobile device management permits IT to track anything company users depend on such as:
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Cellphones
- Desk phones
- Desktop computers
- Meeting room devices
- IoT/connected devices
If an organization has 1,000 employees, managing their devices and sensing when something goes wrong becomes quite difficult. Therefore, device management is a critical part of guaranteeing businesses function efficiently.
What is DaaS (Device as a Service)?
DaaS (Device as a Service) alleviates the IT needs of an organization by outsourcing the software, hardware, and device management needs to an external business. Partnering with a provider lets a business update its devices at the end of the lease without additional costs that would usually be attached to a device refresh. Device management services typically include:
- Asset tracking
- End-of-life disposal
- Device backups
- Security
What is Device Management?
Device management allows companies to maintain and oversee electronic devices. Device management is a crucial part of any company’s security strategy. It aids in guaranteeing that devices are safe, up-to-date, and following organizational policies, to secure the corporate data and network from unauthorized access.
Since companies support hybrid and remote workers, it’s more critical than ever to have a strong device management strategy. Businesses must safeguard and secure their data and resources on any device.
Data is one of an organization’s most vital assets. Dividing corporate from personal data is an excellent way to protect it from cyberattacks and user missteps, whether your users access corporate data on personal or company devices.
Knowing where to begin when securing these devices is critical for guaranteeing data security while continuing employee privacy. As a rising number of employees use mobile devices for work, management must be informed that today’s devices come with processes that separate corporate and personal data.
How Device Management Works
To further grasp what device management is, also known as mobile device management (MDM), you need to understand how it works. Device management depends on two parts.
A mobile device management console is in a company’s data center and lets leaders manage, organize, and implement policies. The other is an MDM agent that gets and puts into effect these policies on users’ devices.
Policies are designed by IT managers via the mobile device management console, then the policies go to the mobile device management agent. This professional puts the specified policies onto a device by using application programming interfaces that are inside the device’s operating system.
Previous MDM solutions depended on SIM cards and client-initiated steps, which limited scalability. But today’s versions can automatically sense when new devices connect to corporate networks and use policies or commands for them to apply.
Why Is Device Management Important?
The rising implementation of devices merged with more employees working remotely or from home emphasizes the significance of MDM. Organizations must have mobility solutions that protect user access, despite which device they use and where they connect to the networks.
MDM helps businesses ensure that data on users’ devices, especially the ones that are lost or stolen, doesn’t get into the hands of criminals. Additionally, it decreases the chance of devices being corrupted by viruses that hackers use to steal sensitive corporate data.
A lost company device is a huge security threat to a business. MDM lets them locate, lock, and at times, a complete wipe of devices that are lost. Moreover, the procedure can be performed automatically in some instances.
An MDM tool can apply a geofencing feature to generate alerts and begin actions if devices abruptly appear in a strange or suspicious questionable location that can be a sign it was stolen.
Additionally, MDM also uses policy-based security like configuring corporate devices to need a personal identification number (PIN), limiting actions available to users, or stopping the use of certain applications. This can be problematic on personal devices, but businesses can use time-based limitations to balance security with employee contentment.
Many organizations are just becoming mindful of the need for it as their employees start to work from home for the first time. Those who do not have experienced IT staff members or huge budgets need to be able to safeguard themselves just as much as bigger organizations. Cybercriminals will target companies of any size to steal their data.
A completely managed MDM tool can eliminate the need to employ devoted staff members to oversee user devices. It places the security of users and their devices into knowledgeable hands, enabling businesses to be confident that they have 24-hour monitoring of their systems and devices.
MDM has a critical part in preventing the chance of data loss and allowing employees to be safe and productive. This is critical as data breaches become more common and clever. In turn, they are becoming more costly for organizations.
Key Aspects of Device Management
Data protection – Device management solutions include many tools to secure sensitive data. Data protection could mean encrypting the data on the device, stopping unauthorized access, and managing data transfers between personal and corporate applications.
Monitoring and reporting – Device management solutions offer monitoring abilities that track and gauge activity, security issues, and other incidents. Detailed reports let managers make informed decisions and respond efficiently to security dangers.
Remote management – Remote management of devices is a crucial feature of device management. Remote management includes remote updates and configuration as well as the capacity to lock, locate, or wipe a device in case of loss or theft.
Device security – Device management implements policies to guarantee devices meet certain security standards. Security policies may include device encryption, password requirements, and the ability to wipe the device remotely if it is lost.
Application management – Device management lets managers operate and oversee applications installed on devices. Remote application management includes whitelisting and blacklisting applications to stop the installation of possibly unauthorized or dangerous apps.
Network access control – Device management can aid in restricting access to corporate networks. It can enforce policies about Wi-Fi configurations, VPN usage, or other network-related settings to guarantee secure connections.
Compliance monitoring – Device management solutions let devices follow security regulations and policies. Routine monitoring and reporting give insights into the security level of the device fleet.
Identity and access management – Device management combines with identity and access management systems (IAM) to implement solid authentication. IAM guarantees that just authorized users can get to corporate resources via devices.
Endpoint security – Device management is a part of a company’s endpoint security strategy. Endpoint security entails securing all devices joined to the network to eliminate cyber threats.
Device management is vital to cybersecurity, particularly in contemporary workplaces where devices, including mobile devices, are commonly used. It gives businesses the tools and abilities they require to sustain a safe and well-managed device setting.
Act Before Problems Occur
One of the most vital steps to managing data on company devices occurs before the employee ever uses the electronic for work. From a legal viewpoint, the organization must have an understandable, written device policy. This policy should outline what business information is and the smallest requirements for safeguarding it. Moreover, it should also include processes for when a device is stolen or lost, or when data access privileges are misused.
Take into account the security risks from several angles and examine policy templates as a beginning point. When it comes to creating the policy document, get help from:
- Human resources
- Legal counsel
- IT security managers
Explain procedures for getting into company resources on any device an employee uses for work. Include information about device policies during the onboarding procedure.
The Privacy and Security Challenges of Company Mobility
If an employee is working from a café, a dangerous person could get unauthorized access to private and sensitive information, harming the employee and possibly, the whole company. Because over 45% of data breaches are due to wrong IT resources, companies must employ efficient security management platforms across the organization.
Train the Staff
The top software options may be less efficient if team members aren’t aware of the cybersecurity dangers that come with using their personal devices for work. Train every employee in device security during the onboarding process, offering regular updates.
This entails reviewing the device policy and security procedures, as well as teaching employees to identify phishing attempts and other skeptical behaviors and communication. Be sure the staff understands the costs and dangers of a lost or stolen device. Use multi-factor authentication whenever it is available for extra security against illegal entry to sensitive company accounts.
Finally, ensure that business managers and all IT employees understand the operating processes in case of a compromised cell phone or laptop. The best security plan on earth is pointless if the people involved don’t obey it.
We Can Help
Protecting company data is an overwhelming task, even when employees are working in an office. However, with the right planning and training, a device management policy could benefit staff and companies alike.
Contact us today for more information on DaaS and how device management policies can protect your sensitive data.