Mobile device management

Mobile device management (MDM) is an industry term for the administration of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. MDM is usually implemented with the use of a third party product that has management features for particular vendors of mobile devices.

Overview

MDM functionality can include over-the-air distribution of applications, data and configuration settings for all types of mobile devices, including mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, ruggedized mobile computers, mobile printers, mobile POS devices, etc. Most recently laptops and desktops have been added to the list of systems supported as Mobile Device Management becomes more about basic device management and less about the mobile platform itself. MDM tools are leveraged for both company-owned and employee-owned (BYOD) devices across the enterprise or mobile devices owned by consumers.[1][2] Consumer Demand for BYOD is now requiring a greater effort for MDM and increased security for both the devices and the enterprise they connect to,[3] especially since employers and employees have different expectations on the type of restrictions that should be applied to mobile devices.[4]

By controlling and protecting the data and configuration settings for all mobile devices in the network, MDM can reduce support costs and business risks. The intent of MDM is to optimize the functionality and security of a mobile communications network while minimizing cost and downtime.[5]

With mobile devices becoming ubiquitous and applications flooding the market, mobile monitoring is growing in importance.[6] Numerous vendors help mobile device manufacturers, content portals and developers, test and monitor the delivery of their mobile content, applications and services. This testing of content is done real time by simulating the action of thousands of customers and detecting and correcting bugs in the applications.

Implementation

Typically solutions include a server component, which sends out the management commands to the mobile devices, and a client component, which runs on the handset and receives and implements the management commands. In some cases, a single vendor may provide both the client and the server, in others client and server will come from different sources.

The management of mobile devices has evolved over time. At first it was necessary to either connect to the handset or install a SIM in order to make changes and updates; scalability was a problem.

One of the next steps was to allow a client-initiated update, similar to when a user requests a Windows Update.

Central remote management, using commands sent over the air, is the next step. An administrator at the mobile operator, an enterprise IT data center or a handset OEM can use an administrative console to update or configure any one handset, group or groups of handsets. This provides scalability benefits particularly useful when the fleet of managed devices is large in size.

Device management software platforms ensure that end-users benefit from plug and play data services for whatever device they are using. Such a platform can automatically detect devices in the network, sending them settings for immediate and continued usability. The process is fully automated, keeps a history of used devices and sends settings only to subscriber devices which were not previously set, sometimes at speeds reaching 50 over-the-air settings update files per second. Device management systems can deliver this function by filtering IMEI/IMSI pairs.

Device management specifications

Over-the-air programming (OTA) capabilities are considered a main component of mobile network operator and enterprise-grade mobile device management software. These include the ability to remotely configure a single mobile device, an entire fleet of mobile devices or any IT-defined set of mobile devices; send software and OS updates; remotely lock and wipe a device, which protects the data stored on the device when it is lost or stolen; and remote troubleshooting. OTA commands are sent as a binary SMS message. Binary SMS is a message including binary data.[8]

Mobile device management software enables corporate IT departments to manage the many mobile devices used across the enterprise; consequently, over-the-air capabilities are in high demand. Enterprises using OTA SMS as part of their MDM infrastructure demand high quality in the sending of OTA messages, which imposes on SMS gateway providers a requirement to offer a high level of quality and reliability.

Use in the enterprise

As the bring your own device (BYOD) approach becomes increasingly popular across mobile service providers, MDM lets corporations provide employees with access to the internal networks using a device of their choice, whilst these devices are managed remotely with minimal disruption to employees' schedules.

SaaS versus On-Premises solutions

Present day MDM solutions offer both Software as a Service (SaaS) and on-premises models. In the rapidly evolving industry such as mobile, SaaS (cloud-based) systems are quicker to set up, offer easier updates with lower capital costs compared to on-premises solutions which require costly hardware, need regular software maintenance, and incur higher capital costs.

For security in Cloud computing, the US Government has compliance audits such as Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) which cloud providers can go through to meet security standards.

In addition, FedRAMP is the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. This program is an innovative policy approach to developing trusted relationships between Federal agencies and cloud service providers. The program is designed to be compliant with FISMA.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ What is mobile device management? - a definition from Whatis.com
  2. ↑ A comprehensive article on mobile device management
  3. ↑ Glenn Ford. "Cybersecurity HQ". Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Ellis, Lisa, Jeffrey Saret, and Peter Weed (2012). "BYOD: From company-issued to employee-owned devices" (PDF). Telecom, Media & High Tech Extranet: No. 20 Recall. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "BYOD Requires Mobile Device Management". Information Week.
  6. ↑ "A Playbook for Fighting Apple and Google". Reuters. 15 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "What Is OMA DM?".
  8. ↑ "Binary SMS". Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "FedRAMP - CIO Council". CIO Council. Retrieved 19 December 2014.

External links