What is mobile device management (MDM)

Categories: Security

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a system that allows businesses to securely manage the devices that their employees use to access company data and resources

Why is Mobile Device Management So Important?

MDM software allows you to control, secure, and automate any security enforcement policies and compliance standards, across all your company’s laptops, smartphones and tablets within your organisation, as well as any employees’ own devices.

The use of mobile devices has become increasingly common in businesses of all sizes, as they offer employees the ability to access corporate resources and data from anywhere, at any time. There are several reasons why a business might need mobile device management:

1. Security:

As mentioned, mobile devices can be a security risk, as they can be lost or stolen, and may be used to access sensitive information or networks. MDM helps to mitigate these risks by providing a centralised solution for managing and securing mobile devices within an organisation.

2. Compliance:

Many businesses are subject to industry-specific regulations that require them to take certain steps to protect sensitive data. MDM can help businesses meet these regulatory requirements by providing the necessary controls and safeguards for mobile devices.

3. Support:

Mobile devices can be difficult to support, as they may be used in a variety of different locations and conditions. MDM can help businesses streamline the support process by providing a centralised solution for managing and troubleshooting mobile devices.

What solution does Microsoft provide to solve the problem?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based mobile device management (MDM) solution that helps companies manage and secure mobile devices that access corporate data. With Intune, organisations can set policies and configurations for devices, monitor device compliance, and remotely wipe or lock devices in case of loss or theft. This helps ensure that business data stays secure and that only authorised users can access it.

One of the key benefits of using Intune for MDM is that it allows organisations to manage and secure devices without the need for on-premises infrastructure. This makes it an ideal solution to take advantage of the flexibility and cost savings of the cloud.

Intune also integrates with other Microsoft products, such as Office 365 and Azure Active Directory, which allows organisations to manage access to business data from a single platform. This simplifies the process of managing mobile devices and ensures that users have seamless access to the tools and resources they need to be productive.

In addition, Intune provides a range of tools and features that help companies manage and secure their mobile devices. For example, you can use Intune to:

• • Enforce password policies and screen lock requirements to help prevent unauthorised access to devices
  • Set up remote access to corporate resources, such as email and files, to allow users to access important information on the go
  • Monitor device compliance with corporate policies and take action if a device falls out of compliance, such as remotely wiping the device
  • Configure and manage mobile applications, including the ability to push updates and new apps to devices
  • Set up device enrolment to make it easy for users to set up their devices and access corporate resources

Overall, Microsoft Intune provides a comprehensive and flexible solution for companies looking to manage and secure their mobile devices. With its cloud-based architecture and seamless integration with other Microsoft products, Intune makes it easy to ensure that corporate data remains secure and that users have access to the tools and resources they need to be productive.

Consider this; If your IT infrastructure system were compromised and, it was found that a data leak, even from an employee’s personally owned device had happened – the company and only the company would be held responsible for regulatory non-compliance and would likely be fined by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

The company would be seen as not following current UK General Data Protection Regulation rules (UK GDPR). The ICO, once notified, can issue a wide range of sanctions, bans and fines upon your company, not the end user.

Currently, fines can be up to a maximum of £17.5 million, or 4% of annual global turnover whichever is the greater, for any infringement of data protection principles or rights of individuals.

Furthermore, if a breach has been found to occur, the incident must be reported to the ICO within 72 hours from when it first became apparent.

In conclusion, mobile device management is a critical component of any modern business, as it helps to secure, monitor, and support the use of mobile devices within the organisation. Microsoft is the front runner to help businesses with mobile device management with Microsoft Intune.

At CNC we can implement an MDM solution, plus we have several Security Services that help our customers protect their businesses from cybercriminals.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01273 384100 for further details or email sales@cnc-ltd.co.uk.