Mobile Device Management is any software that allows IT to automate, control, and secure administrative policies on laptops, smartphones, tablets, or any other device connected to an organization’s network.

Employees have become increasingly accustomed to using the device, operating system, and application of their choice. Because of the diversity of mobile devices, IT departments face a unique set of challenges while deploying and connecting internal content and resources. 

Typically, mobile device management deploys an aggregate of corporate guidelines and certificates, on-device configurations, apps, backend software, and hardware to manage end-user devices. The goal of mobile device management is to maximize device support, organizational functionality, and security while allowing a degree of user flexibility, such as the use of BYOD.

Segmentation allows IT departments to seamlessly enforce security settings and compliance for specified users, groups, or geographic locations within an organization. To reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and mitigate risks, including data and security breaches, organizations must implement a robust mobile device management framework. 

Attention to mobile device management has intensified as the use of mobile devices has increased and grown more complex.

Many factors have elevated mobile device management's importance to the C-suite. These include:

• Massive deployment of mobile applications requires tools to protect and manage assets.
• Growing concerns over security breaches stemming from employee mobile device usage.
• Standardization of mobile device management practices and processes.

Since employees now perform many if not most of their duties on mobile devices, organizations require enterprise mobility. Mobile device management facilitates remote work capabilities, tapping into the cloud for data access. 

Employees’ mobile devices have become targets of malware, hackers, and exploitation due to the large amounts of data that is stored and transferred on each device. Organizations recognize their responsibility to secure and protect this data from loss while enabling their workforce to access fundamental resources.

As part of this responsibility, mobile device management delivers critical updates and patches for necessary apps and firmware, not only for functionality but also for security. Device management supports employee work and productivity with real-time data backups.

Too, the focus of mobile device management has turned toward a comprehensive view of device management, including desktops and laptops, and away from an emphasis on mobile platforms.

Mobile device management allows network segregation—dividing the corporate network into subnets. Along with improved performance, network segregation delivers more secure connectivity since each subnet is dedicated to specific needs and functions. Only those with "a need to know" can access specified domains, protecting data and processes from both internal and external intruders. 

Another feature mobile device management offers is application management - delivering an enterprise app catalog to employees. An app catalog is a virtual company "play store" that makes secure and compliant apps available for download. They can be accessed on a restricted basis, bypassing IT installation, and automatically updated with new versions that bolster functionality or security.

A related functionality is application monitoring—packet scanning of I/O requests in real-time across a cloud network. Mobile device management enables IT support to remotely administer devices, either to correct malfunctions or—should a security breach occur—lock and wipe the device of critical data. IT admins can monitor and audit devices for usage patterns and security vulnerabilities as well as balance loads and perform detailed analytics.

If a disaster event occurs, an organization must be prepared to restore backup data across a variety of devices and platforms. Mobile device management facilitates this process, plus restores corrupted or lost data should a system crash.