As Android continues to dominate the field of mobile operating systems, its versatile nature and widespread adoption present both opportunities and challenges for organizations. With the increasing integration of Android smartphones and tablets into everyday business operations, effective management of applications on Android devices has become imperative.
This blog will highlight the benefits and key features of Android application management with Scalefusion MDM and its implementation on the BYOD trend.
What is Android Application Management?
Android application management refers to the specialized mobile application management (MAM) tailored for Android devices. It encompasses a comprehensive set of tools and practices designed for IT administrators to securely control and manage smartphone, tablet, and other Android-based mobile device applications.
App management on Android includes deploying apps, configuring app settings and permissions, ensuring security measures are in place to protect corporate data, monitoring app usage and performance, and facilitating app updates and maintenance.
Android app management plays a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency, maintaining security protocols, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies across diverse Android device deployments, including corporate-owned devices and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments.
Key Features of Android Application Management with Scalefusion MDM
1. Deployment
IT admins can deploy various applications in bulk from a single, unified Scalefusion console. They can push applications to various device profiles and apply those profiles to all managed devices at once. Scalefusion’s Android application management offers deployment of the following categories of applications:
- Play for Work (PFW) Apps: Scalefusion’s integration with Google’s Android Enterprise gives IT admins the ability to search, approve, and publish apps from the Google Play Store directly to devices. It enables IT admins to create a managed Google Play Store account on these devices. This account can be used to automatically install applications that are approved by the organization.
- Enterprise Apps: While many applications are available on Google Play, some enterprise apps are designed for internal use and are not hosted there. Scalefusion simplifies the process of uploading and distributing these Android Enterprise applications via its Enterprise Store.
Organizations can upload an APK file of their in-house applications, install them on the Scalefusion dashboard, and then publish these private applications on managed devices or selected device profiles.
- Scalefusion Apps: Scalefusion provides organizations with its proprietary apps, creating a comprehensive application management ecosystem. By integrating these apps, Scalefusion ensures seamless operation, improved security, and better application and data control, boosting customer satisfaction and retention.
- Progressive Web Apps: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are modern, lightweight web applications that deliver an app-like experience using web technologies like HTML5 and CSS. They function like native apps and have their custom app icon, which can open in full screen. Scalefusion allows remote installation of PWAs on EMM-managed devices via the managed Google Play Store.
2. App Configuration
Scalefusion offers remote app configuration, enabling IT to manage individual app settings and centrally control app access. Enterprises can set permissions for location, camera, storage, and microphone access and monitor data usage by authorized apps over mobile and Wi-Fi networks.
Admins can whitelist and blacklist applications and convert devices into dedicated kiosks, providing employees access to specific applications based on their roles. This simplifies app deployment and eases the management of diverse device configurations for various applications.
3. App Updates
IT administrators can schedule remote app updates directly from the Scalefusion dashboard, ensuring devices run the latest version of allowed apps without interrupting everyday operations. The ability to configure update sync intervals allows organizations to define update frequencies and time windows for cumulative updates, optimizing the process to minimize disruptions during critical work hours.
Moreover, Scalefusion provides extensive visibility through detailed reports on all applications. These reports offer valuable insights into the application’s update status, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and ensuring devices remain secure and up-to-date.
4. App Uninstallation
Scalefusion allows IT admins to remotely uninstall and delete applications from devices in case they are stolen or lost. This capability ensures sensitive corporate data remains protected by removing access to corporate apps and data.
Benefits of Android Application Management
1. Flexible Management
Scalefusion provides organizations with significant flexibility in managing apps on both BYO and corporate devices directly from the Scalefusion dashboard. Additionally, apps can be configured to meet the specific needs of different devices and user groups.
2. Silent App Installation
IT administrators can push applications silently onto managed devices without end-user intervention, enhancing employee productivity by installing apps in the background without interrupting their work.
3. Ensured Compliance
Organizations can enforce BYOD policy compliance by enrolling devices in Scalefusion with a work profile. This profile separates personal and work data and apps on a single device and provides strong anti-exploitation and data loss controls, ensuring compliance. IT admins can remotely update apps so that they meet the organization’s compliance requirements.
4. App Restriction
IT admins can create a locked-down experience to manage apps for end users by restricting Android devices to a single app or a restricted set of apps. IT admins can control which users can view or access specific apps. On a fully managed device, users running the Play Store app will only see apps listed for them, allowing them to install only those apps.
5. Automated App Installation and Reports
Organizations can use Scalefusion Workflows to schedule automated app installations, significantly reducing the IT admin’s workload by eliminating the need to perform recurring tasks manually. Additionally, IT admins can generate instant reports on app deployment status, improving device and app visibility.
Android Application Management on BYOD
Android app management on BYO devices with Scalefusion ensures robust security and flexible application deployment tailored to modern workplace needs. IT teams can leverage real-time application delivery to install business-specific apps seamlessly on enrolled devices.
Administrators can maintain strict control over app permissions and configuration, ensuring secure access to corporate resources. They can also instantly revoke app access from the Scalefusion dashboard, enhancing data protection.
As the BYOD trend gains popularity, access to company apps from personal devices can pose security issues. Enterprise apps house sensitive corporate data susceptible to online threats. Unmonitored apps pose risks such as IP theft, data breaches, and unauthorized access. Android app management allows IT admins to monitor, manage, and safeguard applications, including web apps accessed by employees.
Scalefusion offers containerization of applications by separating personal and corporate data and apps. IT admins can create a separate, encrypted container for work purposes that stores enterprise apps while leaving personal apps, content, personal files, photos, and activities in the personal container untouched. Scalefusion supports various mobile operating systems, making it ideal for BYOD environments while maintaining security compliance and respecting employee privacy.
Enhance Android Application Management with Scalefusion MDM
Scalefusion MDM offers robust Android application management for organizations seeking to efficiently manage and secure applications across Android devices in diverse deployment scenarios.
From flexible deployment options to comprehensive security measures and seamless updates, Scalefusion empowers IT administrators to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining strict compliance with organizational policies.
By leveraging Scalefusion’s integrated features and proactive app and device management capabilities, organizations can streamline app deployment, safeguard corporate data, and foster a productive mobile workforce.
Take a 14-day free trial to explore Android application management powered by Scalefusion. Get in touch with our experts for a product tour.
