As indispensable information and communication hubs, mobile devices are constantly evolving — smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets are regularly reinvented to accommodate the rising demands of users. These pieces of technology play a big part in everyday processes, especially for individuals and businesses that value accessibility and connectivity. These tools help ease task completion and increase efficiency, resulting in the growing bring your own device (BYOD) trend.
In fact, more employees are using personal devices to connect to their office’s network and access work-related systems or potentially sensitive information. While this inclination makes for reduced equipment costs, it also poses a slew of security risks if not managed properly.
Generally, smartphones and tablets are less secure than laptop and desktop computers. While there are readily available anti-malware applications for mobile devices, they’re nowhere near as comprehensive as those for laptops and desktops. Likewise, mobile devices aren’t always capable of handling these and other privacy protection applications used by businesses. As such, using personal mobile devices could compromise potentially confidential data.
One way businesses can let their employees work with their own devices while ensuring data security is through mobile device management (MDM). MDM is a type of security software that enables a business to keep track of and manage all the devices within its network. It offers numerous benefits, some of which are listed below.
Remote management
With MDM, businesses can monitor and manage mobile devices remotely. Additionally, it allows for administration across all devices on a network, no matter where each device is located. Remote management also makes it possible to revoke or refuse access from certain devices, whether users are on- or off-premises.
Employee freedom and increased productivity
Another benefit of using MDM software is it gives employees the freedom to use their own tools. As personal devices carry familiarity and ease of use, people are likely to complete tasks quickly and efficiently. This can lead to increased productivity so long as the connected devices are managed properly.
Regulated device updates
People often put off software updates for various reasons — sometimes because of extensive updates, other times because the notification popped up at a busy time. However, these updates are essential in keeping devices safe and stable. They often address security concerns, providing solutions or patches to software vulnerabilities.
Unfortunately, employees who hold off on updating their devices can endanger the entire network they’re connected to. Cybercriminals can take advantage of these security holes and gain unauthorized access to potentially confidential information. With MDM, businesses can administer updates and system changes to network devices with just a few clicks, making it easier to protect sensitive data.
Enhanced network security
Perhaps the biggest benefit of MDM is the enhanced network security. In addition to automatically updating devices, MDM can encrypt confidential corporate information and separate personal information and company data. It can also set up measures to lock and erase data from a lost or stolen device. Furthermore, MDM can maintain a list of the software installed in each device and let users know if certain applications are suspicious or off-limits.
Reduced costs and IT needs
The BYOD trend can help businesses save on equipment costs as well as reduce overhead expenses, as it also allows employees to work off-site. This means more resources and manpower could be dedicated to other tasks or projects.
Meanwhile, MDM’s automated nature decreases the burden on IT staff. They won’t have to deal too much with the time-consuming and labor-intensive processes involved in monitoring multiple devices across an entire network.
With MDM, businesses can control and safeguard mobile devices while minimizing business risks as well as support costs. If you’d like to know more about MDM and other related IT solutions, get in touch with one of the top IT companies in Houston — Safebit Solutions. We provide small- and medium-sized businesses outsourced IT services, including security, support, consulting, managed services, and cloud solutions. See what we can do for your business here, or give us a call at 281-502-2582.
