7 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing an MDM Solution

Author: Charter Global
Published: July 6, 2016

Every enterprise is trying to find new ways to connect and network with its employees, partners, vendors, and customers. As the demand for implementing an effective enterprise collaboration tool increases, choosing the right tool can be a challenge.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a key feature in developing and consolidating on the existing IT infrastructure and software protocols. Business enterprises are now heavily relying on MDM platforms to improve connectivity and profitability. If you are looking to launch a new MDM platform or re-engineer your IT mobility strategy, follow these steps .

1. Build a Mobility Strategy

First, your MDM involves assessment of your mobility strategy. If you are opening up the channels to Build-Your-Own-Device, it will require integration with social media and developing an optimized mobile-friendly environment. The mobile strategy should include:

  • Installation of private apps.
  • Distinction between personal and professional usage.
  • Establish enterprise data vaults to curb personal interest.
  • Implement alerts and notification-based communication

2. Ask yourself, “Is it secure?”

Mobile users are looking for new ways to access corporate files from remote locations. Risk assessment is an important step before launching an MDM. It addresses the challenges related to access and security in terms of mobile usage technology.

3. Define Ownership

If you want MDM to be successful, define your enterprise ownership. A company-owned mobile platform provides stronger security with its scalability and flexibility. Devices owned by the employee will require stronger reinforcement when it comes to controlling application use, data storage, and communication surveillance.

4. Number of Devices to be Connected

MDM needs to support all the devices currently in the architecture, and also have enough room for devices likely to be added in near future. Whether you have one device or a thousand to be integrated, an MDM should be scalable.

5. A Hosted Service

Most MDM solutions are cloud-based technologies using hosted server capabilities. If you are running short on time and budget, a hosted MDM solution is a good option. You don’t have to deal with technical troubleshooting and can easily upgrade to the latest versions so there is a reduced cost of operation. If you are planning to develop your own data center, on-premise deployment for MDM offers advanced enterprise capabilities, but may not fit your budget.

6. Customization and Licensing

For a fast-moving business, customized MDM is a key ingredient. If you are making a significant investment in developing a strong mobility strategy, MDM customization allows your IT and data management team to control and monitor enterprise-level information from a single-point window. With licensed customization MDM, an enterprise can scale, slash back and implement security models effectively with the mobile platform.

7. Complete your PoC

Your MDM integration will deliver results after you have completed proof testing through selective cases in an accelerated framework. Check your mobility capabilities in a sandbox environment with critical PoC analysis and pilot.

In a nut shell

The right MDM solution enables an enterprise to drive new strategies in a mobile-friendly environment. It’s important to conduct trials during the testing phase with the MDM solution in your environment so you can observe performance at integration points and see how your employees react to it .