The benefits of MDM software for distributed teams

According to Gartner, 88% of boards of directors view cybersecurity as a business risk, yet only 12% have a dedicated cybersecurity committee. Meanwhile, Lenovo’s Global Study of CIOs showed that the two top challenges for these leaders are cybersecurity/ransomware and privacy/security.

Data breaches can cost companies $4.45 million on average, so it's no wonder that IT leaders want to be vigilant of new threats and vulnerabilities affecting their organizations. Especially with the increase in distributed workforces, employees can access sensitive information from various locations and devices, increasing the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks. 

One of the main benefits of Mobile device management (MDM) software is that it allows companies to secure all mobile devices with access to organizational resources. Other benefits include reducing IT administration costs and enabling companies to scale across the globe compliantly.

In this article, we’ll cover why MDM is important for organizations with distributed teams, the key benefits this software provides, and the options that make the most sense for global companies.

Why Mobile Device Management is important

One of the main reasons why mobile device management is important is security. In today's tech-driven world, where we depend heavily on the internet and multiple mobile devices, organizations face an ever-increasing security risk of exposing confidential company data to cyber threats. Therefore, it has become critical for organizations to deploy solid defense mechanisms to safeguard their sensitive business data from potential security breaches. some of the security features of mobile device management include:

• Secure all mobile devices that are in use across multiple mobile service providers and operating systems within an organization. Enrolling company-owned devices in an MDM solution allows IT administrators to apply enterprise configurations, manage applications, and enforce compliance with policies. This is a great way to ensure that employees are using the right apps, on the right devices, at the right times. 
• Real-time insight into network security, usage patterns, specific data, and device compliance. This enables IT to identify any potential security breaches before they happen and take action quickly.
• Assert control over all devices connected to their network. It enables them to implement strong security protocols, enforce encryption, and facilitate remote data wipes in case of loss or theft.

A reliable remote device management system is essential to protect your company devices from potential risks and threats. This, in turn, helps build trust with clients and stakeholders and ensures that your business operations run smoothly and efficiently. 

MDM Benefits: 5 reasons why distributed teams need mobile device management

Mobile Device Management (MDM) software is an investment in the resilience and efficiency of your organization. It serves as the backbone of seamless operations by centralizing device management and allowing your organization to provide every team member with access to necessary tools and resources regardless of their location.

MDM software saves time and effort, ensures devices are up-to-date, secure, and in compliance with company policies, and enhances productivity while improving data security. Here is a deeper look into the five main benefits of mobile device management for distributed teams.

1. Reduce IT administration costs

Managing the IT infrastructure of distributed teams can be a challenging task, often resulting in inflated IT administration costs. MDM automates repetitive tasks and minimizes the need for manual configuration and testing of each device. This automation not only frees up valuable IT resources but also significantly reduces operational costs, allowing organizations to allocate their budget more strategically.

MDM software also streamlines IT administration through centralized management. This way, you can easily install, update, and remove applications, policies, and settings from a single management dashboard. This ensures consistent mobile experiences for new employees, keeps security settings current for existing staff, and eliminates access to devices no longer in use.

2. Meet compliance standards

Managing distributed teams that operate across different countries can be challenging when it comes to data protection and privacy regulations. Mobile Device Management (MDM) can serve as a guide for compliance by ensuring that company devices adhere to industry standards and regional mandates.

Moreover, businesses are mandated by law to meet specific regulatory requirements depending on their industry. Compliance is crucial for companies handling sensitive data, especially in medical or accounting sectors that handle the private information of multiple clients. MDM can help businesses to easily comply with regulatory standards through data management and password protection.  

3. Scale your company more quickly

The success of a distributed team depends on its ability to scale efficiently. MDM enables rapid team expansion, making it easy to onboard new members or incorporate the latest technologies. With MDM, teams can quickly and easily adapt to changing business requirements without compromising on operational efficiency. This scalability ensures that distributed teams remain agile and efficient in all work scenarios.

Even if your team suddenly expands by hundreds or thousands, MDM delivers the structure and processes needed to effectively manage this influx of new employees. MDM enables you to automate and streamline many manual processes, reducing the burden on your HR team and ensuring that your organization can continue to grow and thrive, no matter how large or complex it becomes.

4. Reduce security risks

Mobile device management allows you to systematically enforce your cybersecurity requirements instead of relying on users to manually manage updates. Additionally, you can monitor mobile device usage based on employee status. This is particularly valuable when it comes to tracking down devices that were previously used by former employees. 

Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions enable admins to manage remote access to sensitive data, authenticate users, and remotely wipe devices in the event of loss or theft. Moreover, MDM can ensure that devices are updated with the latest software patches, which can help address known security vulnerabilities. 

For companies still using Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, MDM solutions help to minimize risk by allowing them to oversee each device, isolate corporate data and applications from personal data, and ensure the overall security of personal mobile devices.

5. Make your teams more mobile and efficient

The essence of distributed teams lies in their flexibility, allowing team members to work seamlessly from anywhere. Through a centralized platform and device management, MDM enables efficient collaboration, streamlined workflows, and real-time access to critical resources. By empowering teams with the tools they need, regardless of their physical location, MDM fosters a culture of mobility, efficiency, and productivity.

Mobile device management can significantly boost end-user productivity by reducing the time it takes to request and receive new mobile devices from days to hours. Additionally, MDM expedites the process of getting end users set up on their corporate network, resulting in less time spent waiting for access to crucial tools such as email, internal websites, and calendars.

Which MDM software options should you consider?

Jamf

Jamf is a comprehensive MDM solution designed exclusively for Apple devices. With a robust set of features tailored to meet the unique needs of Apple-centric enterprises, Jamf enables seamless device management for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Originating during the Active Directory (AD) era, Jamf addressed the growing need to manage Mac devices in environments primarily oriented toward Windows. Nowadays, it offers deployment options both on-premises and via the cloud, accommodating support for FedRAMP and AWS GovCloud.

Jamf’s key attributes include integrations with enterprise-focused vendors like Okta and Microsoft, compatibility with various corporate directory approaches (Active Directory, LDAP, RBAC), emphasis on user self-service, and providing zero-day support for Apple OS releases. However, it exclusively caters to Apple products, prompting customer grievances about pricing concerns, prolonged deployment durations, a challenging learning curve, and insufficient support.

Kandji

Kandji is a mobile device management solution and security platform that helps organizations manage and secure their Apple device fleets. The service caters to small to medium-sized businesses, mid-market, and enterprise companies. With an intuitive user interface and prebuilt automations, Kandji streamlines tasks efficiently.

Renowned for its user-friendly interface and embedded automation and security features, Kandji aims to enhance user satisfaction and mitigate security and compliance issues for IT administrators and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). With over 200 prebuilt automations, a cloud-native architecture, and seamless transitions from previous MDM tools, Kandji presents an accessible and agile solution.

Despite its strengths, Kandji's limitations include exclusive support for Apple devices, excluding Windows and Linux, rendering it a point solution rather than a comprehensive management platform. Single sign-on (SSO) and API access are reserved for customers with 500 or more devices, limiting accessibility. 

Additionally, users have reported challenges such as mixed support reviews, delays in app installations and updates, and obstacles in obtaining quotes due to a sales-oriented process.

Jumpcloud

JumpCloud is a versatile and comprehensive solution, providing multi-OS support covering macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android devices. It offers centralized management, enhanced security, and compliance features across diverse operating systems.

This software functions as a foundational directory service, overseeing user permissions, authentication processes, and company-wide security and compliance policies through a cloud-based console.

Utilizing zero-touch enrollment, JumpCloud enables IT and MSPs to ensure Wi-Fi authorization via RADIUS, facilitate directory integrations through LDAP, and implement SSO via SAML 2.0, ensuring the security of data on both corporate-owned and personal devices. JumpCloud grants administrators the flexibility to choose preferred IT tools without being confined to a specific vendor or ecosystem.

Wrapping up: Manage all your devices from one platform

Device management can be an uphill struggle, particularly for enterprises juggling a global workforce. Equipment procurement and deployment become a global challenge, and asset management can quickly turn into a headache without a proper device management system.

A solution like GroWrk can help your business effortlessly manage all your company-owned devices, no matter their location. The GroWrk Dashboard streamlines device tracking and management across their entire lifecycle in just a few clicks.

GroWrk has teamed up with JumpCloud to simplify device management at a global scale. With JumpCloud’s mobile device management (MDM) and identity access management (IAM) capabilities, the GroWrk platform has become a powerful tool for efficiently managing IT resources and ensuring security across devices and locations.

Whether you are new to device management or considering switching to a more effective solution, our integration with JumpCloud will optimize all your device and access management requirements. Our solution is customized to help meet your organization's evolving needs and take your IT management solutions to new heights.

If you're considering upgrading your MDM solution, schedule a demo today to discover how our integration with JumpCloud can enhance your device management experience.