Device usage has been on a continuous rise as businesses adopt the latest technologies focusing on automation to boost productivity. Typically, these devices need the best management and security to benefit business interests. Companies use multiple endpoints ranging from mobile phones, tablets, computers, virtual machines, PCs, laptops and desktops for various functions.
In some cases, employees get their own devices and use them at work. Corporate devices are either employee-based or customer-based, depending on the use case. Managing these company-owned devices running on different operating systems is crucial to secure confidential data.
What is Device Management?
Device management is the practice of overseeing and supervising various computing devices utilized within an organization, including laptops, desktops, smartphones, servers, and other network-connected devices.
The tasks involved in device management consist of configuring, securing, monitoring, and updating the devices to maintain their optimal performance, security, and compliance with organizational policies and regulations. In the context of an enterprise, proficient device management is crucial for sustaining productivity, safeguarding confidential business data, and complying with regulatory frameworks.
It simplifies IT functions and reduces IT workload for provisioning, managing, securing and managing mobile devices, all through a single management console. IT admins can get insights on devices and summarize reports on device health and performance by using cloud-based mobile device management software.
Device Management on Different Operating Systems (OS)
Enterprises use multiple devices running on different operating systems, most of which are Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS. Mobile device management or enterprise mobility management providers partner with these OEMs to provide extensive device management features.
MDM/EMM facilitates device enrollment, out-of-the-box provisioning of devices, and pre-configuring devices with required policies and centralized settings that can be controlled from an MDM dashboard. Device management helps streamline IT control across all devices, irrespective of the OS or the type of device.
Most computers and laptops used are either Windows or Mac. Windows and Mac provide a lot of security features of their own. Additionally, when these devices are coupled with an endpoint management software, it provides more granular control to ensure the comprehensive security of the devices. MDM supports the entire device lifecycle and manages a diverse device inventory.
Android Device Management
Android device management is the process of monitoring and controlling numerous Android devices used within an organization. Android is a well-known operating system used on many mobile devices, and MDM providers collaborate with OEMs to provide device management features for Android devices. Device management enables the registration of devices, out-of-the-box configuration, and pre-configuration of devices with necessary policies and settings from an MDM dashboard. An effective Android device management solution aids in streamlining IT control across all Android devices.
MDM solutions provide a holistic approach to managing the lifecycle of devices that includes an array of Android devices. The Android MDM also offers a range of control features for securing Android devices, such as configuring device settings and managing access controls for specific apps.
Windows Device Management
Windows is a common and popular OS for laptops and PCs, and device manager software works best with most versions of Windows. Windows 10/11 enables modern device management modes as these OS versions have inbuilt capabilities that support any MDM solution. Windows device management helps configure Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices as kiosk devices.
Additionally, Windows patch management in an MDM automates OS security updates that include installation, testing, and deployment of patches to ensure the system runs safely and performs the best. Another important feature of Windows device management for computers and PCs is Windows Powershell Scripting, which uses scripting for task automation in the management of devices.
Also Read: Manage Windows Devices With Google Workspace Device Management
macOS Device Management
macOS devices are well-known in the corporate world due to their extended security. An Apple MDM solution enables IT teams to manage and secure mac computers and laptops with easy enrollment, automatic app installation, and a range of macOS-specific security settings. Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP) allows bulk enrollment of devices at an OEM level and provisioning it directly to end users.
Apple Business Manager portal helps deploy these devices, and users can get started with the devices as soon as they receive them. The Volume Purchase Program (VPP) allows the bulk purchase of apps and e-books from the App Store, and it can be easily synced to an MDM dashboard. In addition, the work data settings in an Apple MDM help create containers on macOS devices for efficient BYOD management.
What are the Features of Device Management?
Computer device management apps for computer systems offer many features once IT admins enroll devices into these apps. Following are some important features of device management.
Security Management
MDM helps configure various device management policies that secure corporate device data and prevent data leakages. The security policies protect devices from malware attacks and phishing activities that may compromise corporate data. Also, this feature comes in handy when a device is lost or stolen to wipe a device sensitive data remotely. MDM platform also pushes alert messages to users in case there’s a breach of device security protocols.
Mobile Application Management (MAM)
An MDM allows silent installation or uninstallation of apps on devices from the App Store. Enterprise app management becomes seamless through the Enterprise App store in an MDM. IT admins can configure, update, and push applications from the MDM dashboard to managed computers and PCs. Apps and websites can also be whitelisted or blacklisted, depending on their relevance.
Content Management
Content management is a vital function of Mobile Device Management (MDM) that allows IT administrators to oversee and regulate the content on devices enrolled in MDM. The feature is beneficial in securing corporate data, preventing data leaks, and managing access permissions. IT teams can also regulate access to specific apps or websites, deploy content on mobile devices, and administer app installations and updates. Content management on corporate or employee-owned devices ensures compliance and data security.
Location Tracking
IT admins can set computer devices for use within specific limits. If, in any case, the device is out of set limits, the device will get locked. Settings can be made such that the devices get locked outside the workplace. This feature is an additional safeguard against theft.
BYOD Support
With MDM, IT teams can manage employee-owned personal devices, as some employees prefer to use their own devices for corporate work. The work container or work data settings help separate corporate data and secure the container so that there are no personal data leaks or data sharing. BYOD management helps keep a balance between corporate data security and user privacy.
Kiosk Support
One of the important MDM features is kiosk management. Computer devices can be locked down to a single app or multi-app kiosk mode for different use cases to fulfill dedicated purposes using an MDM. Kiosk mode enables IT admins to run devices on a single app or a set of selected apps with device setting limitations so that users can’t manipulate the devices.
Data Encryption
Data encryption is an essential feature of MDM for devices, whether they are corporate-owned or employee-owned. An MDM solution provides data encryption across all OS platforms so that corporate data remains safe and there’s no risk of mobile data leaks. Computers and laptops need to have data encryption in place to ensure security.
Secure Internet Access
Computer device management allows devices to connect to only secured internet sources and blocks them from using public or private networks that may be harmful. Devices, when open to common networks, may lead to data leakages and also cause malware attacks threatening mobile security.
Device Management for Enterprises with Scalefusion
Scalefusion MDM software is one of the best solutions for end-to-end management and security of computer devices. It makes configuring a device simple, with an easy-to-use dashboard and extensive features to exercise wide control over such devices. Apart from the ones mentioned above, some features that make Scalefusion the best computer device management solution are-
- Reports and Deep-dive Analytics – The Scalefusion dashboard provides information on the entire device fleet of the organization and helps track all devices through a single console. It helps keep a close check on device policy violations while ensuring effective device management.
- VoIP with Remote Cast and Control – Scalefusion MDM allows you to remotely cast device screens and enforce real-time changes to the settings of devices to troubleshoot issues. Computer device management can become cumbersome without this feature, as reaching every device in person is manually intensive. This feature keeps device downtime at bay, ensuring devices work to their full capacity.
- Customer Support – Scalefusion is known for its prompt service and customer satisfaction. The support team ensures customers get round-the-clock assistance and have the best device management experience.
Final words…
Device management is as crucial as the management of all other mobile devices platform, as all corporate devices handle sensitive corporate data. Scalefusion MDM tool provides extensive features and capabilities to manage devices remotely. It is a budget-friendly solution that helps businesses decide and choose the features most relevant to their nature of work. Scalefusion MDM allows the configuration of device settings and enforce policies and helps track the entire device fleet from a dedicated dashboard.
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