Android Enterprise is Google’s built-in framework for securely managing Android devices used for work. It gives EMM/UEM platforms standardized controls for enrollment, apps, security policies, work profiles, fully managed devices and dedicated devices across company-owned and employee-owned deployments.
Key Takeaways
Android Enterprise is Google’s framework for managing Android devices and work applications in business environments.
- Support for Flexible Models: Different deployment models support BYOD, company-owned devices, WPCO/COPE, and dedicated-device use cases.
- Administrative Workflows via EMM: EMM platforms such as Scalefusion provide the administrative workflows for enrollment, policy configuration, and managed app distribution.
- Separate Work and Personal Data: Work profiles help separate managed work apps and data from personal content where the deployment model supports it.
- Scale Your Provisioning: Provisioning options such as QR-code and eligible zero-touch enrollment help organizations deploy corporate-owned Android devices at scale.
Businesses may need to manage employee-owned smartphones, work-only corporate devices, company-owned devices that also permit personal use, and dedicated frontline endpoints. Each scenario requires a different level of IT control. Android Enterprise is Google’s framework for managing Android devices and work applications across these environments. It combines management capabilities built into Android with APIs and Google services that EMM platforms use to enroll devices, apply supported policies, distribute managed applications, and separate work from personal data where the management model supports it.
What Is Android Enterprise?
Android Enterprise is Google’s framework for managing Android devices and work applications in organizational environments.
- Android Enterprise evolved from Google’s earlier workplace-management initiatives to provide stronger separation and management of work data on Android devices.
- It provides standardized management APIs, platform capabilities, and Google services that compatible EMM platforms use as a common foundation for managing supported Android devices.
- It is not a standalone administrative console; EMM platforms provide the workflows and interface through which IT teams configure and apply supported Android management capabilities.
- The framework can be used across supported Android smartphones, tablets, rugged devices, and other purpose-built Android endpoints.
Android Enterprise vs MDM: What’s the Difference?
Android Enterprise and MDM are not the same thing. Android Enterprise is Google’s framework for managing Android devices in business environments, while an MDM/UEM solution such as Scalefusion uses Android Enterprise capabilities to let IT teams enroll, configure, secure, monitor, and manage those devices from a centralized console.
| Android Enterprise | MDM / UEM Solution |
|---|---|
| Google’s enterprise framework for managing Android devices. | Management platform used by IT teams to manage and secure devices. |
| Provides enterprise management APIs, policies, enrollment capabilities, and managed Google Play integration. | Uses Android Enterprise capabilities to apply policies and perform device-management tasks. |
| Developed and maintained by Google. | Developed by MDM/UEM vendors such as Scalefusion. |
| Provides management modes such as Work Profile, fully managed, and dedicated-device management. | Lets admins configure and manage supported deployment models through a centralized console. |
| Provides the underlying Android enterprise-management capabilities. | Performs day-to-day tasks such as app deployment, policy enforcement, device restrictions, monitoring, and remote actions. |
| Focuses specifically on the Android ecosystem. | May manage multiple operating systems in addition to Android, depending on the MDM/UEM platform. |
| Does not function as an organization’s standalone MDM administration console. | Provides the administrative interface used by IT teams to enroll and manage devices. |
| Works with compatible EMM/MDM/UEM solutions to manage enterprise Android devices. | Integrates with Android Enterprise to extend management capabilities to corporate-owned and employee-owned Android devices. |
How Does Android Enterprise Work?
The exact setup depends on the management platform and deployment model, but a typical Android Enterprise workflow includes enterprise registration, management-platform configuration, device enrollment, policy application, and managed work-app distribution.
- Registration: An organization completes Android Enterprise registration through its chosen EMM using a supported account or email-based registration method.
- MDM Integration: The resulting environment is linked to an Android MDM solution to centralize administrative controls.
- Managed Google Play Setup: IT administrators configure Managed Google Play to approve, publish, and deploy essential business applications.
- Device Enrollment: Devices are enrolled into the MDM platform using modern methods like QR codes, or zero-touch enrollment for eligible corporate-owned devices.
- Policy Enforcement: Administrators apply supported security and configuration policies, such as password requirements, app restrictions, connectivity settings, and device controls, depending on the management mode and device.
- Ongoing Monitoring: After enrollment, the chosen EMM can expose supported device, policy, application, and compliance information through its administrative console.
Android Enterprise Management Modes Compared
Android Enterprise supports multiple deployment strategies to fit specific business needs, privacy requirements, and hardware ownership types.
| Feature | BYOD / Work Profile | COPE / WPCO | Company-Owned / Fully Managed | Dedicated / Kiosk Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device Ownership | Employee-owned devices used for both personal and work activities. | Company-owned devices that employees can also use for personal purposes. | Company-owned devices intended primarily for business use. | Company-owned devices deployed for a specific task or business purpose. |
| Management Scope | IT manages the work profile and corporate apps and data without managing the personal profile. | IT manages corporate apps and work data while applying supported device-wide policies. | IT has extensive control over the entire device, including apps, settings, restrictions, and security policies. | IT controls the entire device and restricts access to approved apps and functions. |
| Work Profile Support | Yes. A separate work profile isolates business apps and data from personal content. | Yes. Separate work and personal profiles coexist on the company-owned device. | No. The entire device is managed by the organization. | No. The device is configured for dedicated business use. |
| Employee Privacy | Personal apps, files, photos, and other personal information remain outside organizational management. | Personal and corporate data remain separated while IT retains greater device-level control than with BYOD. | Limited, since the organization manages the complete device. | Not applicable because the device is not intended for personal use. |
| Application Management | IT can distribute and manage applications within the work profile. | IT manages work applications while personal applications remain in the personal profile. | IT can install, configure, update, restrict, or remove applications across the managed device. | Devices can be restricted to a single application or an approved set of applications. |
| Security Controls | Corporate security policies are primarily applied to the managed work environment. | Work-profile security policies plus supported device-wide restrictions can be enforced. | Organization-wide security policies, device restrictions, network configurations, and application controls can be enforced. | Strict device and application restrictions can be applied to prevent unauthorized usage. |
| Enrollment Options | User invitation, email-based enrollment, or QR code enrollment. | Supports methods such as 6-tap QR enrollment, Android zero-touch enrollment, and Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment (KME). | Supports multiple corporate enrollment methods, including QR code and other automated provisioning options. | Corporate enrollment methods can be used before configuring the device for Single App or Multi-App kiosk operation. |
| Remote Data Removal | IT can remove the managed work environment and corporate data without managing the employee’s personal content. | Corporate management and work data can be removed while maintaining separation from personal information. | The managed device can be remotely wiped when required. | The dedicated device can be remotely managed or wiped as required. |
| Best For | BYOD programs, hybrid workplaces, and employees using personal Android devices for work. | Organizations providing corporate phones while allowing employees limited personal use. | Corporate employees, field workers, frontline teams, rugged devices, and shared business devices. | POS terminals, digital signage, self-service kiosks, logistics devices, inventory systems, and other dedicated endpoints. |
Why Was Android Enterprise Introduced?
Prior to the introduction of Android Enterprise, deploying Android devices in corporate environments was a fragmented and complex undertaking.
- Earlier Android enterprise management often relied on manufacturer-specific capabilities, which could produce different management experiences across device models and vendors.
- Older Device Administration approaches also provided a more limited management model than modern Android Enterprise deployments.
- Google introduced Android Enterprise to address these management inconsistencies by providing a standardized framework for workplace device, application, and data management.
Who Can Use Android Enterprise?
Android Enterprise is relevant to organizations managing Android devices used for work, including employee-owned phones, company-owned work devices, company-owned devices that permit personal use, and dedicated endpoints used for specific business tasks. It is particularly relevant where organizations need to manage a mix of employee-owned, company-owned, and purpose-built Android endpoints.
Why Is Android Enterprise Needed?
Android Enterprise resolves several critical enterprise hurdles related to device provisioning, data security, and unified application management.
- Standardized Management: Android Enterprise provides a standardized management foundation for workplace Android deployments while allowing specific controls to vary by device, Android version, management mode, and OEM capabilities.
- Enhanced Security: Supported security controls include password policies, work-data or device lock/wipe actions, and platform security mechanisms that help organizations protect managed data.
- BYOD Support: The implementation of Work Profiles keeps managed work apps and data separate from the user’s personal profile.
- Large-Scale Deployment: Provisioning methods such as QR-code and eligible zero-touch enrollment can reduce manual setup steps when deploying corporate-owned devices at scale.
Key Features of Android Enterprise
Android Enterprise provides management capabilities for work profiles, managed applications, security policies, device provisioning, and dedicated-device deployments.
- Work Profiles: Work Profiles create a separate managed profile for work apps and data on employee-owned or eligible company-owned devices, keeping them separate from the personal profile.
- Managed Google Play: Lets IT teams approve and publish work applications through their EMM and deploy approved apps to supported managed devices.
- Advanced Security Controls: Android security mechanisms such as Verified Boot help verify the integrity of the device’s boot software, while supported management policies can enforce password, restriction, lock, and wipe controls.
- Flexible Device Enrollment: Android Enterprise supports provisioning methods such as QR-code enrollment and, for eligible corporate-owned devices, Android zero-touch enrollment.
- Dedicated Devices: Organization-owned Android devices intended for a specific business purpose. They can be restricted to one app or a defined set of apps for workflows such as kiosks, digital signage, point of sale, or frontline operations.
What Is Android Enterprise Recommended?
Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) is a Google-led program that identifies Android devices and enterprise solutions that meet Google’s defined requirements for security, manageability, deployment, and enterprise use. The program helps organizations choose Android products that have been tested and validated against Google’s enterprise standards.
Android Enterprise vs. Android Enterprise Recommended
While Android Enterprise is the foundational management framework built into the operating system, Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) is a distinct validation program led by Google.
- Program Definition: Android Enterprise Recommended is Google’s program for identifying business devices and solutions that meet defined enterprise requirements. It is not a management mode, operating system, or deployment strategy.
- Hardware Validation: For devices, Android Enterprise Recommended defines requirements across areas such as hardware, provisioning, security-update support, OS updates, and enterprise usability.
- Solution Validation: The AER program also covers qualifying enterprise solutions and partners that meet Google’s defined program requirements. Organizations should check Google’s current program criteria when evaluating an EMM or service provider.
- The Difference: Android Enterprise provides the tools for management, whereas the AER program identifies business devices and solutions that meet Google’s defined enterprise requirements.
How to Get Started with Android Enterprise Using Scalefusion
Scalefusion integrates with Android Enterprise to manage supported company-owned and employee-owned Android deployments. Depending on the management mode, IT teams can use Scalefusion for enrollment, policy configuration, and managed app distribution.
- Scalefusion provides support for managing BYOD, COPE, fully managed, and dedicated devices.
- For supported Android deployments, Scalefusion can configure network settings and certificate-based enterprise Wi-Fi. For example, its documented enterprise Wi-Fi workflow supports Android 13+ WPCO/COPE and BYO devices.
- Scalefusion supports QR-based enrollment, zero-touch provisioning for eligible corporate-owned devices, and Managed Google Play workflows for deploying approved work applications.
FAQs
1. Is Android Enterprise free?
Yes. Android Enterprise features are built into supported Android devices and do not require an additional license fee from Google. However, organizations typically use Android Enterprise through an EMM or UEM platform, and that management software may have separate licensing or subscription costs.
2. Is Android Enterprise the same as MDM?
No. Android Enterprise is Google’s framework of built-in enterprise management features, while MDM or UEM software is the platform IT teams use to configure and manage those features. An MDM solution uses Android Enterprise capabilities to enroll devices, deploy apps, apply policies, and enforce security controls.
3. What is the difference between Android and Android Enterprise?
Android is Google’s mobile operating system, while Android Enterprise is a set of business management and security features built into Android. Android Enterprise adds capabilities such as Work Profile, fully managed device management, managed Google Play, app distribution, policy enforcement, and remote management for workplace devices.
4. What is Android Device Policy?
Android Device Policy is Google’s device policy controller used by EMM providers that integrate with the Android Management API. It applies organizational policies to managed Android devices, configures Work Profiles or fully managed devices, reports compliance information, and helps users address requirements such as password changes or operating-system updates.
5. Which devices support Android Enterprise?
Android Enterprise features are generally available on Play Protect-certified devices running Android 5.0 or later. Specific management modes can have additional requirements; for example, full device management is supported on Android 6.0 and later. Google also identifies devices meeting higher enterprise requirements through the Android Enterprise Recommended program.
6. What is the difference between Work Profile, fully managed, and dedicated device modes?
A Work Profile separates business apps and data from personal content, making it suitable for BYOD and some company-owned devices. Fully managed mode gives IT broad control over an organization-owned device. Dedicated device mode is designed for company-owned devices restricted to specific purposes, such as kiosks, POS systems, or frontline workflows.
