Frequently Asked Questions About MDM Solutions
What Execs and Employees Want to Know
If you had an opportunity to get an additional six weeks of work out of your employees each year, would you take it? According to research from Fliplet, employers experience this extra boost in employee productivity when they are mobile-enabled.
In other words, when you allow your employees to use mobile devices within the workplace, productivity skyrockets.
Is Mobile Device Management Easy to Integrate into My Business?
The same research found that mobile-enabled workers comprise over one-third of the global workforce.
Mobile workplaces are the new normal and this trend is spreading fast, fueling the need for businesses to find a MDM solution and create a clearly defined mobile device management plan in order to secure sensitive information and avoid a data breach or attack.
While the need may be obvious, some executives balk at the possibility of implementing mobile device management (MDM) into their business, for fear of overly complicated solutions or employee pushback. That’s why we’re addressing common MDM concerns amongst executives and employees in this last edition of our blog post series on mobility in the workplace.
Is Mobile Device Management Easy to Integrate into My Business?
While your IT department will handle the initial MDM integration, once the initial rollout is complete, company executives can easily manage the plan.
Via the easy-to-use interface, executives are able to:
- Set restrictions on company and employee-owned mobile devices
- Track data usage and app downloads
- Monitor mobile devices for viruses, malware and more
- Monitor security features integrated into the MDM solution
- Monitor business data on employee-owned devices
How Many Apps can We Allow Employees to Install on Their Work Phones?
Employee access to app downloads is virtually unlimited. Microsoft Office 365 offers enterprise-class apps with built-in security features, including the ability to remotely wipe data and control access.
The Allworx Reach app lets employees easily access their phone directory and integrate features like 3-way calling into their mobile device.
Ultimately, incorporating a mobile device management plan into your workplace does not in any way restrict apps or limit performance abilities.
Should we Use Company Phones, Employee Phones or Leave it Up to the Employee?
There are benefits to both company-owned and employee-owned devices in the workplace. This decision is dependent on the size of your business and the needs of your organization.
However, employees often prefer to use their own devices. With our MDM solution, security is not a concern because execs have total control; from wiping business data from employee phones (when necessary), to revoking access to company accounts in the event the device is lost or stolen – and more.
Opting for company-owned devices ensures you never miss out on potential business due to client calls placed to previous employees. In addition, you can ensure all employees are on the same operating system – no iOS/Android/BlackBerry squabbles! All company devices can be kept up-to-date with the latest technology, ensuring your business communication system remains problem free.
MDM solutions make mobile devices in the workplace not only practical and security-conscious; it also helps your workforce stay connected and productive when they’re not at the office.
The choice ultimately comes down to the specific needs of your business. Not every employee needs to remain connected to the office via a smartphone or tablet, but for those who do, it can make sense for a business owner to purchase and maintain their own mobile devices.
For small businesses or those with employees who don’t handle sensitive company information, the cost-savings and flexibility of a BYOD (bring your own device) policy might just be too good to ignore.
What Employees Want to Know about MDM Solutions
Is my Personal Data Really Private?
Maintaining an ‘open door’ policy ensures employees feel comfortable with company access to their mobile devices.
Your IT department can explain (and even show employees) exactly which data your business is able to access, ensuring their personal data remains private.
Are There Data Usage Restrictions?
Companies can specify their mobile device management policies to restrict data usage based on context or other factors (i.e. international roaming devices, time of day, etc.). The level of data restriction depends on your businesses’ MDM policy.
What Happens if I Leave the Company?
A mobile device management system makes it easy for a business to segment personal data from business information. Here’s how this works…
Data is compartmentalized in a way that, should an employee leave the company, the employer’s MDM solution allows them to wipe ONLY work related data/email from the device, while leaving ALL personal data completely untouched.
Business Continuity Support and Resources
BYOD Without MDM = Security Risks
Establishing a mobile device management policy is no longer optional in today’s mobile-connected business environment.
Creating a MDM plan for your business not only helps protect company data – statistics show it significantly improves employee productivity too.
Need a Mobile Device Management plan for your Business?
To understand more about integrating a MDM solution into your Milwaukee area business, give our Ontech Systems support team a call at (262) 522-8560.
Alternatively, you can connect with us online, or request a Free Network Discovery. Through our Free Network Discovery assessment, our techs will evaluate your network, offer solutions to your most pressing issues and identify potential vulnerabilities – at no cost or obligation to you.
Our technicians are highly qualified and experienced in mobile device management solutions. We’ll handle all the details, answer all your questions and ensure your BYOD-friendly workplace is safe and secure.