Since 2011, Android has been the best-selling OS worldwide. With over 3.9 billion active users globally, Android dominates the market with a wobbling market share of 43.35% as of April 2024.1 This shows that Android has always been the go-to mobile operating system choice.
Android-based phones, tablets, and rugged devices offer a broad range of performance and affordability options, making them a choice for both personal and corporate use.
Businesses must ensure these Android devices have consistent security and are easily managed. Mobile Device Management (MDM) offers an effective way to achieve this goal. It streamlines device provisioning and enforcing organizational policies. However, it all begins with Android device enrollment.
This blog highlights different ways to enroll Android devices using an MDM solution like Scalefusion.
Why is Enrollment Critical to MDM?
Enrollment is a critical part of mobile device management software. By integrating devices into an MDM ecosystem, IT administrators gain total control over a fleet of devices. This allows them to manage and secure the devices within an organization. Moreover, it simplifies device configuration by automatically setting up devices according to predefined organizational policies, reducing the burden on IT teams. MDM enrollment for BYOD enables organizations to segregate personal and corporate data on employee devices. This maintains user privacy while retaining control over corporate assets.
Types of Android Device Enrollment with Scalefusion MDM
Android device management starts with enrollment. Here are different methods of enrolling Android devices into Scalefusion MDM.
1. Android Zero-touch Enrollment
Android Zero-touch enrollment offers IT admins an over-the-air (OTA) device enrollment experience. It enables you to enroll and provision Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) devices with Scalefusion and Google’s Android Zero-touch.
The ‘Zero-touch’ feature speeds up the enrollment process without the need to manually configure individual devices. Instead, you can enforce detailed security policies and restrictions, load business apps, enroll devices in bulk, and deliver a fully managed device to the end user.
2. EMM Token Enrollment
EMM enrollment allows you to set up company-owned devices right out of the box or after a factory reset. The process begins with registering Scalefusion as your EMM provider through the Android Enterprise setup. This registration enables the integration of Android devices in the workplace. Once registered, the Scalefusion MDM app is installed on the devices to be enrolled, it is set as the Device Owner (EMM managed), and the sign-in is done automatically, leaving only the permissions step to be completed.
When the device turns on for the first time after a factory reset or fresh out of the box, the new user needs to tap anywhere on the screen ‘6’ times on the same spot. This prompts a QR code to set up the device. This setup installs a QR reader, which prompts you to scan the QR code created in the Scalefusion dashboard. The end-user needs to accept all the permissions and the device is enrolled.
3. QR code-based enrollment
QR code configuration is a quick and easy way to enroll your Android devices into Scalefusion MDM. Administrators can create QR codes through the Scalefusion dashboard and distribute them to end users. IT admins can create and apply device usage policies (known as device profiles) to the devices and generate a QR code for device enrollment.
After distribution, users can download the Scalefusion app from the Google Play Store and scan the QR code. Once the QR code is scanned, users need to accept the required permissions and complete the setup. This type of enrollment allows administrators to skip the entire process of entering/sharing credentials or license keys and cuts down enrollment time.
4. IMEI/Serial number-based Enrollment
IMEI/Serial number-based enrollment enables you to enroll Android Enterprise devices in bulk efficiently. IT admins can upload a CSV file containing the IMEI or serial numbers, along with the associated group or profile and device names for each device.
Alternatively, devices can be added individually by entering the IMEI or serial number and details, including device name, group, profile, license, and enrollment method. End users then need to install the Scalefusion app on their devices, grant the required permissions, and complete the setup process.
5. ROM-based Enrollment
ROM-based enrollment integrates Scalefusion MDM directly into the device firmware during manufacturing, embedding the Scalefusion MDM client and settings into the ROM. When the device is powered on for the first time, it automatically connects to the Scalefusion server and is enrolled on the Scalefusion dashboard without user intervention.
This method ensures devices are pre-configured with security policies and restrictions via the Scalefusion app. It allows for seamless updates and management, ensuring devices stay compliant with organizational standards. ROM-based enrollment simplifies device replacement and scaling, making new devices business-ready.
6. Samsung KME-based Enrollment
Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME) is an automated EMM enrollment tool that streamlines the enrollment of Samsung Knox devices into Scalefusion MDM. Samsung Knox’s integration with Scalefusion allows you to roll out policy configurations and automatically enroll devices in bulk easily.
IT admin configures the devices by assigning them a profile. This enables employees to use the business-ready pre-configured devices, enhancing productivity.
7. BYOD Enrollment
BYOD enrollment in Scalefusion allows employees to enroll and provision their devices without the intervention of IT admins. Allowing employees to use personal devices helps companies boost productivity and achieve net cost savings.
Users can be invited via email, where they enroll their devices using their corporate email ID and complete verification through OTP authentication. Alternatively, companies using Microsoft Entra ID can invite users from their Office 365 accounts, allowing self-enrollment via QR code or email.
For those using Google Workspace, Scalefusion enables user import and self-enrollment of devices. This ensures seamless integration of employee-owned devices into the company’s management system.
Get Multiple Android Enrollment Options with Scalefusion
An MDM solution like Scalefusion offers multiple Android device enrollment options and an extensive feature suite to manage and secure everything Android. Most importantly, Scalefusion supports BYOD enrollment, which helps containerize personal and corporate data. This enhances corporate data security without compromising employee privacy.
Get in touch with our experts and avail a free demo to witness the Android device enrollment and management capabilities of Scalefusion. Sign up for a 14-day free trial.
References
1. StatCounter
