It’s the summertime and half of your office is out on vacation or taking advantage of the beautiful weather to work outside. The other half has brought their personal smartphones or tablets to work on too. Though it’s quieter at the office, you want everyone to continue hitting business goals while still being able to use their own devices.
Whether your business is ready or not, a transformation in the workforce is coming. IT research firm IDC predicts the number of mobile workers in the United States will rise to105.4 million individuals by 2020. As a result, companies will adopt mobile device management (MDM) policies to let employees work whenever, wherever.
If you’re on the fence about how MDM can help your company weather the challenges of tomorrow, today’s blog post is for you. We’ll cover a few ways where MDM can make your transition much easier.
Leverage Geo-Fencing
The first MDM feature is Geo-Fencing. This concept uses location-based services to enforce policies on a device depending on its location inside or outside a designated geo-fence perimeter. Hospitals for example, often disable photo or video applications when employee devices move into patient areas. If a device violates the geo-fence perimeter, MDM can wipe the device and send an alert to administrators. This allows IT to keep track of devices and ensure their proper use.
Push the Right Apps (and Keep Them There)
Second, MDM enables categorization of corporate users into groups. IT organizations can use these groups to push specific applications and make sure that their applications stay installed. This ensures that devices remain compliant and groups maintain uniformity within their technology.
Maintain Wireless Network Access
It’s important to keep tabs on the types of devices allowed on the network. For example, if a device has been jailbroken or rooted, it may present a security threat for other devices on your network. With an MDM strategy in place, admins can quarantine or outright reject devices until they meet the requirements.
Selective Wipe
When working off-site, there’s always a chance to lose or misplace devices. Luckily, MDM can organize and separate company and user applications and data. Admins can choose what gets deleted and what stays on the device, easing fears of stolen data.
Manage User Access and Needs
Finally, MDM manages user access and application needs. MDM admins can use an LDAP database such as Microsoft’s Active Directory to create and use already-existing predefined user and organizational settings. This ensures that employees use and access what is meant for them and technology stays secure.
Do You Have a Mobile Device Management Strategy?
Are you convinced that you need a mobile device management strategy? Check out the all-new myhosting.com marketplace, where you can access all the device management tools you need to be successful in managing your employees’ tablets and smartphones. From Windows Intune to Windows Azure Active Directory, you’ll have your mobile employees up and running in no time. Check out the solutions at http://marketplace.myhosting.com/device-management/ today!
