Mobile device management (MDM) solutions can save hours manually updating, maintaining, securing and tracking handheld computers, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. But there are some common mistakes to avoid when implementing these solutions – otherwise, you can significantly reduce the benefits MDM can provide your clients.
Here are seven pitfalls you can encounter as you implement MDM and suggestions for how to avoid them:
1Unclear objectives
An MDM solution empowers businesses to manage mobile devices and enforce policies to keep their networks and data secure, keep employees on task, and control device and app use. But has your client clearly defined those policies?
Businesses need a corporate mobility policy that spells out which devices can be used, the mobile applications employees need to do their jobs and exactly what employees can access. Attempting to manage mobile devices without a clear strategy will create confusion and decrease the solution’s effectiveness. You can’t enforce a policy if it doesn’t exist.
2Poor deployment planning
You need a solid deployment plan to successfully deploy a solution to manage mobile devices or take advantage of additional features of an enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution. Without it, your client could experience downtime and a loss of productivity as you roll out devices. A rocky deployment can lead to slower employee adoption, delaying the benefits and ROI of equipping staff with mobile devices.
The more efficiently and quickly you implement MDM, the sooner your clients and their employees can learn it, build it into their workflows and see the benefits.
3Usability vs. security
More employees using mobile devices can mean greater productivity, real-time updates, and enhanced customer service. However, it can also mean more vulnerability to hackers and data breaches.
According to Verizon’s 2022 Mobile Security Index, 45 percent of businesses reported a security breach in the previous 12 months. This represents a 22 percent increase year-over-year. Further, 52 percent said they had traded security on mobile devices for “getting the job done.”
While leading MDM solutions are designed to enforce passcode use, identity verification, and data loss prevention, your client may be tempted to forgo some steps to simplify employee workflows. Work with your clients to strike a balance between usability and security.
4Unanticipated employee behaviors
Mobile users may try to get around corporate policies for mobile device use. For example, they may jailbreak or root a smartphone or find other means to use devices in unauthorized ways.
When managing mobile devices, a fatal mistake is not educating users about the “why” behind corporate policies or stressing that following them can protect data and preserve their ability to work most effectively. Businesses also need to establish and communicate consequences for noncompliance with their policies and enforce them.
5Device updates
Over a mobile device’s lifetime, multiple firmware updates will enable new features and continued security. But those updates can mean incompatibility with software applications installed on them.
You need to evaluate updates and ensure critical security patches are completed, but, in other cases, properly test devices before updating a mobile fleet to ensure that it won’t interfere with use.
6Making managing mobile devices harder than it has to be
Your client may have multiple mobile application management (MAM) solutions, depending on their business applications.
The best scenario is to build a system of integrated solutions so administrators can manage mobile devices and applications using all tools from a single screen rather than moving back and forth between platforms.
7A set-it-and-forget-it approach to managing mobile devices
Managed services providers (MSPs) and value-added resellers (VARs) know that today’s perfectly executed mobile device management won’t be sufficient in a few years. There will always be new devices, applications, updates, security threats, business processes and more to address.
Don’t forget to review your clients’ MDM solution configuration and the policies governing how they manage mobile devices. Ensure they’re optimized and keep their networks and data secure.
