Mobile Device Management Guide for Small Business
Security Concerns:
One of the most significant dangers of BYOD for small businesses lies in the realm of security. When employees use personal devices for work purposes, it opens a potential gateway for unauthorized access, data breaches, and malware attacks. Small businesses may lack the robust security measures required to safeguard sensitive company information on a diverse range of devices.
Data Leakage and Loss:
BYOD introduces the risk of data leakage and loss, as employees often store company data on their personal devices. In the event of a lost or stolen device, sensitive information could end up in the wrong hands, posing a severe threat to the confidentiality and integrity of business data.
Compliance Challenges:
Many industries have strict regulatory compliance requirements concerning data protection and privacy. Implementing BYOD in a small business environment may make it challenging to ensure compliance with these regulations, exposing the business to legal consequences and financial penalties.
Device Fragmentation:
The diversity of devices used in a BYOD environment can lead to fragmentation issues. Small businesses may struggle to ensure that their applications and services work seamlessly across various operating systems and device types, potentially hindering productivity, and collaboration.
Lack of Control:
With personal devices in the mix, small businesses often have limited control over the hardware and software configurations of employee devices. This lack of control can impede the implementation of security measures and hinder the ability to troubleshoot technical issues efficiently.
Employee Productivity Challenges:
While BYOD aims to enhance employee productivity, it can sometimes have the opposite effect. Mixing personal and work activities on the same device may lead to distractions and reduced focus, impacting overall work efficiency.
Increased IT Workload:
Small businesses may not have the resources to manage the increased IT workload that comes with supporting a variety of devices and platforms. This can strain IT departments and divert their attention from other critical tasks, affecting the overall operational efficiency of the business.
For this reason, many small businesses implement a Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) solution, such as Microsoft Intune
What Is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?
Mobile Device Management, or MDM, are a category of software solutions that monitor, manage and secure mobile endpoints, such as phones, tablets, laptops and even IoT devices. Using an MDM solution gives IT administrators the ability to enrol devices, control device configuration, protect data and manage the compliance of devices. As most MDM solutions are cloud-based, these mobile endpoints can be managed remotely, and therefore are beneficial for any businesses that have remote or hybrid employees.
What Is Mobile Application Management (MAM)?
Mobile Application Management, or MAM, are a set of software solutions and features that allow businesses to manage the applications on end-user mobile devices. MDM and MAM work together to enable IT administrators to control and secure organisational data, which is essential for any business with a BYOD program. MAM solutions also simplify update and patch management, which reduces an organisation’s cyber risk.
There is a lightweight MDM solution that is built into Microsoft 365 Business (Basic, or Standard). It provides basic MDM capabilities, such as the ability to:
- Wipe devices
- Set passcodes
- Require encryption
- Install apps
Microsoft Intune MDM is a more comprehensive MDM solution that is only available within Business Premium or via the standalone plan, Enterprise Mobility + Security. It provides a wider range of MDM capabilities, such as the ability to:
- Wipe devices
- Set passcodes
- Require encryption
- Install apps
- Configure device settings
- Manage mobile apps
- Restrict access to corporate data
Intune also integrates with other Microsoft solutions, such as Azure Active Directory (AAD), to provide a more comprehensive security solution.
Intune is most effective when it is used with a Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solution, as the alerts from the MTD solution can block access to corporate data and allow access after the threat has been remediated. Microsoft has a powerful MTD solution, Defender for Endpoint, which connects flawlessly with Intune, but there are also connectors for most common MTD solutions, such as Check Point Harmony Mobile, Sophos Mobile and Symantec Endpoint Protection Mobile.
Many features within Intune improve both productivity and security posture. For example, employees can use Windows Hello for Business instead of passwords. This allows employees to use PIN or biometrics, such as fingerprint or facial recognition to sign into devices and applications more quickly and easily.
Similarly, with Intune, IT administrators can enable Single Sign-On (SSO) using Azure Active Directory. SSO can save employees considerable time as they only need to authenticate once, and they have access to all applications and systems necessary for work.
Manage Applications
Mobile Device Management is only half of the story, as IT administrators also need to be able to manage applications to ensure all users have the applications they need to work effectively, and they are up to date to decrease the risk of a cyberattack. Microsoft Intune also has tools to add and assign apps, configure app settings, update apps and more.
Conclusion
While BYOD offers undeniable benefits in terms of flexibility and employee satisfaction, small businesses must approach its adoption cautiously. The dangers associated with BYOD, including security risks, compliance challenges, and potential productivity issues, cannot be overlooked. To mitigate these risks, small businesses should implement clear policies, invest in robust security measures, and consider solutions such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) to strike a balance between flexibility and security. By understanding and addressing the dangers of BYOD, small businesses can harness the advantages of mobile technology without compromising the integrity and security of their operations. Microsoft Intune can be set up on personal devices in a manner that ensures that employees retain their privacy whilst giving IT administrators enough control to protect the company
Microsoft Intune Vs. The Competition
There are several Mobile Device Management and Mobile Application Management solutions on the market. Some of these include Hexnode, Jumpcloud, Miradore, and NinjaOne. For many businesses, Intune has more than enough features and functionality to meet all requirements, however, some other solutions have fewer features but also cost less. Similarly, some competing solutions, such as NinjaOne, work well as an addition to Microsoft Intune, rather than a replacement.
How We Can Help
Whilst Microsoft Intune is one of the market leaders in the MDM and MAM space, it may not be the right solution for your business. That’s where the expertise of a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is helpful. Working with an MSP, like ourselves, gives you access to a team that can assess your requirements, and select and implement the right MDM and MAM solution for your team.
We can also provide ongoing support to ensure your business is getting the most out of the solution.
If you want to find out more about the MDM and MAM capabilities of Microsoft Intune and other alternatives, contact us today and we will be happy to help.