What mobile device management does for a business

What it is

Mobile device management, or MDM, is software that lets a business manage its phones and tablets centrally. Each device is enrolled once, and from then on IT can configure and protect it remotely.

What it can do

• Set up new devices with email, Wi-Fi and the right apps already in place.
• Require a screen lock and encryption.
• Keep devices updated, or at least show which ones are out of date.
• Install and remove company apps.
• Locate, lock or erase a lost or stolen device.
• Remove company data when someone leaves, without touching personal photos on a personal phone.

Company phones and personal phones

For company-owned devices, MDM can manage the whole phone.

For personal phones used for work, businesses usually manage only the work apps and data, and leave the rest of the phone alone. The business can remove work email and files, but cannot see personal messages, photos or browsing.

Why it matters

Without management, a lost phone is a guessing game: did it have a passcode, was it updated, what was on it? With management, there is a clear answer and a way to protect the data on it.