What Are Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions?

Enterprise Mobility Management is a comprehensive set of tools, policies, and processes to manage an organization’s mobile devices, applications, data, and information. It is a holistic approach that expands on the principles established by Mobile Device Management (MDM), focusing on hardware, applications, and data.

EMM solutions empower IT professionals to manage and support the work-from-anywhere model effectively, offering benefits such as support for different types and forms of devices, corporate data protection and security, regulatory compliance, and remote security updates.

EMM solutions are essential for organizations that have adopted enterprise mobility, enabling them to keep security threats at bay without affecting productivity. They facilitate the management of devices, apps, content, and access. They can block malicious apps, enforce security policies, enable encryption, prevent unauthorized access, and remotely wipe corporate content from lost or stolen devices.

However, implementing EMM also poses significant challenges. These include dealing with the diversity of devices, operating systems, and configurations employees use and balancing security requirements with user experience. Some EMM solutions may impose restrictions or limitations affecting device performance, functionality, or usability.

Despite these challenges, EMM solutions offer numerous benefits. They enhance security, increase productivity, simplify device management, save costs, and improve user experience. They also provide a centralized view of device usage and performance, allowing for resource allocation adjustments and optimizing the use of mobile devices within the organization.

As we know, in today’s digital world, as businesses become more reliant on mobile devices to enhance productivity, the need for robust EMM solutions is increasingly critical. These solutions help organizations manage the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile technology, ensuring data protection and facilitating efficient and flexible work processes.

Benefits Of Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Solutions

Enterprise Mobility Management solutions offer many benefits to organizations, particularly in security, productivity, cost savings, and IT management.

Increased Security

EMM solutions enhance corporate data security by controlling access to corporate and employee-owned mobile devices. They can remove malware, force system updates, block malicious apps, enforce security policies, enable encryption, and remotely wipe corporate content from lost or stolen devices. This helps to prevent data loss and ensure regulatory compliance.

Enhanced Productivity

EMM solutions allow employees to work from anywhere, providing secure access to company data, files, and apps. They facilitate efficient data collection, timely work updates, and collaboration, even when employees are away from the office. Mobile applications enable employees to communicate and access critical business data anytime, increasing productivity.

Cost Savings

EMM solutions help organizations optimize mobile device and application usage, reduce the risk of security incidents, and minimize the costs associated with lost or stolen devices. They can also reduce operational costs by automating IT management tasks like manual device provisioning.

Streamlined IT Management

EMM solutions streamline IT admin workloads, saving time and valuable resources. They allow the IT department to quickly deploy software patches, updates, and upgrades to all connected devices and monitor mobile device behavior. This can help the IT department quickly determine if a device is compromised and limit the access of specific endpoints connecting to the IT environment.

Improved User Experience

EMM solutions provide more flexibility and choice for end users, enabling mobile device access to corporate data on a device of their choosing in a secure manner. This helps end users differentiate between personal and corporate data.

Enhanced Governance and Policy Management 

EMM solutions enable IT departments to implement information security policies and compliance measures. IT administrators can define and enforce rules for device configuration, app usage, and other aspects, enhancing governance and risk management.

Despite these benefits, it’s important to note that implementing EMM solutions can pose challenges, such as dealing with the diversity of devices, operating systems, and configurations that employees use and balancing security requirements with user experience.

How Does EMM Work?

Enterprise Mobility Management is a comprehensive approach that involves people, processes, and technology to manage and secure mobile devices, applications, and services in a business environment.

It is designed to secure corporate data on employees’ mobile devices, whether owned by the company or the employees themselves. EMM works through several key components:

Mobile Device Management (MDM) 

This is the foundation of EMM, focusing on managing and securing mobile devices within the organization. MDM uses profiles installed on each device to manage and secure them. It provides insights into the operating systems, provisioning status, and what devices are in use, by whom, and in which department or business unit.

Mobile Application Management (MAM)

MAM allows the administrator to set policies for specific apps or a subset of apps, controlling particular device elements. This ensures that only approved applications are used for business purposes.

Mobile Content Management (MCM)

MCM controls which applications are allowed to access and distribute business content. This helps differentiate between personal and corporate data and ensures that business data is securely managed.

Mobile Identity & Access Management (IAM) 

IAM allows devices to remain user-friendly while ensuring secure access to company data. It sets policies based on how, when, and where company and app data can be accessed or transferred.

Mobile Security Management (MSM)

MSM focuses on securing the device against threats and maintaining the privacy of data stored on the device.

Mobile Information Management (MIM)

MIM focuses on securing and managing access to corporate data.

Mobile Expense Management (MEM)

MEM helps organizations optimize mobile device and application usage, reduce the risk of security incidents, and minimize the costs associated with lost or stolen devices.

In addition to these components, EMM also involves workflow automation, which automates tasks and processes without human input. This makes completing work faster, more accurate, streamlined, and consistent.

EMM solutions enable service desks and support teams to provide remote support and troubleshooting. They also help organizations enforce information security policies, keep track of phones and tablets, and protect their data.

The specific EMM system that works best for a company depends on the specifics of that company’s mobile device usage, security requirements, and business goals.

Different Types Of Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions 

Enterprise Mobility Management solutions come in various types, each focusing on different aspects of mobile device and application management. Here are the most common types of EMM solutions:

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

MDM is the foundation of any EMM solution. It provides a centralized console to manage mobile devices, enabling IT administrators to enforce security policies, manage device settings, and perform remote actions like locking or wiping a device.

Mobile Application Management (MAM)

MAM focuses on managing and securing enterprise mobile applications. It allows IT administrators to control which apps can be installed on a device, update or remove apps, and manage app configurations.

Mobile Content Management (MCM)

MCM solutions manage and secure access to corporate content accessed from mobile devices. This includes documents, emails, and other data. MCM can enforce policies that control how content is shared and with whom.

Mobile Identity Management (MIM)

MIM solutions ensure only authorized users can access corporate resources from mobile devices. They manage user identities, authentication, and access controls.

Mobile Expense Management (MEM)

MEM solutions help organizations manage the costs associated with mobile communications, including voice, data, and messaging services. They can track usage, enforce usage policies, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Mobile Information Management (MIM) 

MIM solutions focus on securing sensitive data on mobile devices. They can enforce policies that control how data is stored and transmitted, and they can encrypt data to protect it from unauthorized access.

Application Security

These solutions focus on securing mobile device applications, including in-house developed and third-party apps. They can identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities, enforce policies, and protect app data.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP solutions prevent data loss from mobile devices, for example, through leaks or theft. They can control data sharing, prevent unauthorized data transfers, and remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices.

Identity & Access Management (IAM)

IAM solutions manage user identities and control access to resources. They can enforce policies that require strong authentication, manage user credentials, and control which resources each user can access.

Managed Services

These are EMM solutions provided by a third-party vendor that manages and maintains the EMM system on behalf of the organization.

It’s important to note that many EMM solutions combine several components to provide a comprehensive solution for managing and securing mobile devices, applications, and data. Some popular EMM software includes Jamf Pro, Kandji, AirDroid Business, IBM Security MaaS360, and Microsoft Intune.

The Most Important Factors To Consider When Selecting An EMM Vendor

When selecting an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) vendor, there are several important factors to consider:

Understanding Organizational Requirements

The most crucial step is to understand your organization’s specific needs. This includes the types of devices and operating systems you use, the number of devices, and the particular management and security features you require.

Security Features

EMM solutions are primarily about securing mobile devices and data. Look for features like remote device locking, traffic monitoring, data wiping, and geofencing. Also, consider how the solution can help maintain security and comply with relevant regulations.

Scalability and Support for New Technology 

The EMM solution should scale as your organization grows and should support new technologies as they emerge. This includes support for a variety of device types and operating systems.

Vendor Reputation and Customer Satisfaction

Look at the vendor’s track record and their current or past customers’ satisfaction. Customer references can provide valuable insights into the vendor’s reliability and the quality of their customer service.

Cost

The cost of the EMM solution is a significant factor, especially for small businesses with limited budgets. Consider not just the upfront cost but also the total cost of ownership, including ongoing maintenance and support costs.

Support and Customer Service

Consider the level of support the vendor provides. If your business operates around the clock, you may need a vendor that offers 24/7 support. Also, consider whether the vendor provides support in the languages spoken by your team.

Vendor’s Future Roadmap

Look at the vendor’s plans for their product in the future. They should have a roadmap with updates to keep pace with technological changes and the market.

Alignment with Business Goals

The EMM solution should align with your business goals and objectives. This includes technical requirements and strategic considerations like improving productivity, reducing costs, and managing risk.

Regulatory Compliance

The EMM solution should help your organization comply with any relevant regulations. This is particularly important for organizations in regulated industries like healthcare or finance.

Vendor’s Financial Stability

The vendor should be financially stable and capable of providing ongoing support and updates for their product.

Remember, the best EMM solution for your organization will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. It’s essential to thoroughly evaluate each option and consider seeking advice from experts or consultants if needed.

Conclusion 

Enterprise Mobility Management solutions are services and technologies designed to secure corporate data on employees’ mobile devices, enabling employees to work from anywhere. These solutions have emerged to address security risks and assist IT departments in allowing workers to contribute to a successful business mobility strategy. EMM solutions encompass processes, procedures, and technology that help secure mobile devices in a business context. 

EMM is essential as it provides employees choice and flexibility, enhancing job satisfaction and increasing productivity. It also allows businesses to be mobile, with around 47.8% of people stating that business reasons are the drivers of mobile initiatives. 

EMM solutions must address various data and infrastructure usage scenarios, providing safety for corporate data and a comfortable work environment for employees. They include components such as identity management and mobile application management. 

The EMM market is increasing and is expected to reach over $4.5 billion by 2020 and potentially $66.6 billion by 2026. The choice of EMM solution is often based on factors such as pricing, customer support, or UX/UI qualities. 

However, EMM has its challenges. These include the maintenance of different device types and the need for frequent reviews of an organization’s EMM to ensure it works effectively and is appropriately used by employees. Despite these challenges, with proper implementation and management, EMM can significantly enhance an organization’s workflow and productivity. 

In conclusion, EMM solutions are critical to modern business strategies, offering enhanced security, increased productivity, and greater flexibility for employees. As the market continues to grow and evolve, businesses must stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies to maximize the benefits of their EMM strategies.