The rise of remote working and growing reliance on mobile phones as a business tool has made enterprise mobility management (EMM) a key component of modern business operations.
EMM solutions provide organisations with the tools to manage, secure and optimise the devices used across their workforce.
But while mobile devices offer flexibility and efficiency, they can also pose significant security challenges. When employees can work from anywhere, how can organisations protect their data and prevent unauthorised access in the event of device loss or theft?
What are Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions?
Enterprise Mobility Management is a critical solution for businesses operating in the mobile-first world. As employees increasingly rely on mobile devices for work, EMM provides the tools and strategies to manage, secure, and optimise these devices.
EMM provides a centralised platform for managing mobile devices, allowing businesses to remotely configure and update off-site devices. This ensures that all devices align with company standards and policy, which can reduce the risk of an attacker gaining unauthorised access and help to prevent data breaches.
EMM also enables businesses to distribute, manage, and secure applications on corporate devices. This includes the ability to deploy and update apps, control access, and enforce usage policies. Some tools can protect corporate data inside individual apps without managing the whole device, which is especially useful for personal devices.
The solutions help to incorporate robust data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information stored on mobile devices. This includes encryption, containerisation, and remote wipe capabilities. Encryption makes data unreadable to unauthorised individuals, containerisation isolates corporate data from personal data on the device, and remote wipe allows businesses to delete data on a device if it is lost or stolen.
Many EMMs offer or integrate with mobile security features such as malware protection, phishing prevention, and intrusion detection. By implementing strong security measures, businesses can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect their sensitive information.
EMM can also help businesses to optimise their expenses. By managing devices centrally and enforcing their usage policies, organisations can reduce the number of unnecessary devices as well as data plans and app purchases. EMM tools can help businesses recover lost or stolen devices, helping to eliminate the cost of replacing them where possible.
The solutions can also help with employee compliance to industry regulations and company policies. By enforcing standards for device usage, application management, and data protection, EMM helps businesses and employees meet regulatory standards. This can be particularly important for industries with high need for data protection such as healthcare, finance, and government, which are subject to strict regulations.
MDM vs EMM vs UEM: What's the Difference?
The three terms overlap, and vendors use them loosely. In practice they describe different scopes of management.
- MDM is the device layer. It involves a phone or tablet, applies configuration and security settings, and can lock or wipe it.
- EMM adds control over what runs on the device and what happens to the data. That means mobile application management, mobile content and data protection, and typically identity and access controls. The focus stays on mobile devices and the people who use them for work.
- UEM extends management across the wider endpoint estate, bringing mobile devices together with laptops, desktops and other endpoints in a single console.
This isn't a simple sequence in which UEM makes the earlier terms obsolete. Many modern platforms started as MDM or EMM tools and have added desktop management, which is why so many products are now sold as UEM.
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How to Choose An Enterprise Mobility Management Solution
When choosing an EMM solution, it's important to consider several factors. The most important is to ensure that the solution is compatible with the devices and operating systems used by your employees.
Next, evaluate the security features offered by the EMM solution, including data protection, threat detection, and compliance capabilities. From here, business managers can assess the application management features, such as app distribution, management, and security.
Assess the application management features, such as app distribution, updates, access control and security.
Consider how well the EMM solution integrates with your existing IT infrastructure and third-party tool and be sure that the solution can scale to accommodate your organisation's growth and increasing number of devices. Look at enrolment options, configuration and policy control, remote lock and wipe, and how well the tool handles the device lifecycle from deployment to retirement.
It is also important to evaluate the user experience, including ease of use and support and base your decision on the tech literacy of your employee base.
You must also consider the cost of the EMM solution, including licensing fees, deployment costs, and ongoing support.
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose an EMM solution that meets your organisation's specific needs and helps you manage and secure your mobile devices effectively.
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Cloud-Based vs. On-Premises EMM
Deciding between a cloud based or on-premises deployment is a critical business decision that depends on your organization's needs and priorities, and it isn't only a question of cost versus control.
Cloud-based EMM offers scalability, reduced infrastructure costs, faster deployment, and regular updates. IT teams don't maintain servers, and new capabilities arrive without upgrade projects. However, it also requires trust in the cloud provider's security measures, relies on a stable internet connection, and can lead to vendor lock-in.
On-premises EMM provides greater control over data and infrastructure, customization, and offline access. It can suit organizations with strict data residency or security requirements. However, it can be more expensive, complex to manage, and challenging to scale, and your team takes on patching, upgrades and capacity planning.
The Best Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions
Enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions give companies the option to control, update, and even wipe devices from a distance.
So, which EMM tools are leading the way today?
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