5 Common MDM Misconceptions Dispelled

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Introduction: The popularity of MDM solutions

The number of device users is on the rise. For example, GSMA estimates mobile connections alone will increase by 20% from 2020 to 2030, and there will be 5 billion 5G connections by 2030. This development is coinciding with increased technology adoption by organizations worldwide and the rise of hybrid working and hybrid learning. Today’s employees are opting for more flexibility, and organizations face the task of managing devices securely, both in the workplace and out. Education providers, too, are looking at ways to provide immersive learning experiences with devices.

When device numbers, mobile connections, and technology adoption surge, it presents new challenges. Devices and users must be managed securely, data storage has to be secure and comply with regulations, devices and software need regular updates, and organizations have to ensure the safety of devices they own. The adoption of mobile device management (MDM) software is increasing precisely because of these new challenges. Organizations benefit from a comprehensive MDM platform, where admins can oversee a range of device management functions in one place.

Despite their popularity, some organizations are skeptical of MDM platforms and, in some cases, may have certain misconceptions. This blog lists out 5 common misconceptions about MDM related to device fleet size limitations, use of personal devices by employees at work, device security, costs, and workload – and explains how MDM platforms will enable you to address device management challenges in your organization.

1. Smaller device fleets do not need MDM solutions.

MDM solutions manage devices irrespective of the scale of your device fleet. Both large organizations with extensive device fleets and SMEs with smaller device fleets gain multiple benefits from MDM software. Think about it. Whether you use Android or Windows devices, you can choose from a range of device enrollment options, onboard your devices to your device fleet in bulk, convert your devices to kiosk mode, manage the entire life cycles of your apps, and manage your device and app inventory. Plus, regardless of how large or small your device fleet is, you need to integrate with various external software systems such as workflow collaboration, HR, and marketing tools. You also need to ensure safe login and authorization mechanisms for all your device users. This is another area where MDM solutions are particularly helpful. They come with integration features, so you can make use of the API management and identity and access management (IAM) capabilities to integrate with any third-party platform that you use in your organization, enable secure device use, and protect personal data.

Another advantage about MDM solutions is that they are scalable. You may have a smaller device fleet today, but as your organization and team grow, so will the number of devices in your fleet. MDM solutions can accommodate any device type on any operating system; you can scale as you require without worrying about your day-to-day device management concerns.

2. I can’t use a MDM solution because employees and/or students in my organization use their personal devices for work.

One of the many device enrollment options available in a MDM solution is Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Many organizations and education providers are looking at ways to balance device management, data protection, device use, and privacy concerns. By supporting BYOD implementations, MDM software enables you to manage app and data/network usage when employees are using their devices for work. Device admins can create lists of apps that employees can and cannot access so that devices, even personally owned ones, are only used for their intended purposes during work hours. If someone attempts to access an app that’s not allowed for use on a device, it will be blocked or uninstalled. You can block certain apps from using your network and even set data usage limits. There’s an added benefit for device admins in education providers: you are able to restrict network access for younger students and prevent exposure to inappropriate apps and content.

Organizations sometimes think that BYOD results in lower productivity. In fact, BYOD gives your team members a chance to do their work on devices they’re used to working on, and device admins have access to device usage trends with MDM solutions so that you can oversee productivity levels.

3. MDM solutions are not needed when anti-virus software exists.

MDM solutions are entirely different from anti-virus software and used for different purposes. Suppose your devices are misplaced, stolen, or there’s a data breach. MDM tools give device admins a mechanism to erase device data (i.e., remote device wipe), lock devices to prevent use by malignant actors, and even perform a factory reset all while remote. As device admin, you can also make use of geofencing features to set geographic boundaries for your device and set up alerts when the device leaves these boundaries to keep track of corporate device locations constantly.

Other device security features in MDM include data encryption and containerization capabilities to separate corporate and personal data on devices. Furthermore, device admins can integrate with external identity management tools for secure user authorization.

4. MDM solutions add to my team’s workload and are a steep expense.

MDM tools are user-friendly platforms. They prioritize navigation and usability, provide self-guided enrollment, and offer UI tours to help you enroll devices and discover all available features. By using remote access management features such as remote screen sharing for troubleshooting devices, dashboards to understand device functionality patterns, remote configuration and command enforcement to standardize device settings across your organizations, key device management functions such as app and security updates, device and user onboarding, and maintenance are no longer as time consuming as previously thought. 

Furthermore, implementing MDM software is not as costly as you think. Many vendors have cost-effective, cloud-based plans in place based on the number of devices in your organization to help you gain the most from your investment.

5. MDM solutions are limited to devices only.

MDM does not solely refer to device management; it involves security and device compliance policies, device users, and organizational processes. It’s a commitment for the long term, with continuous software upgrades to address device management concerns and technological advancements.


To sum up, MDM solutions play an integral role in device management regardless of fleet size. They provide features for bulk device enrollment, kiosk mode conversion, app lifecycle management, and integration with numerous external software systems. MDM solutions are scalable to accommodate device increases and support any device type on any operating system. Their support for BYOD is indispensable to the modern workplace and education provider, as organizations can manage personal devices used for work by controlling app and data usage for productivity. Features such as remote data wipe, device locking, geofencing, data encryption, and secure user authorization help you address any device misplacement, loss, or theft quickly. Finally, MDM solutions are user-friendly, with capabilities such as remote access management and budget friendly cloud-based plans.

Because MDM solutions are a mainstay in your organization’s performance and growth trajectory, it is important to understand and evaluate their comprehensive feature lists. Learn more about MDM solutions and how you can customize them for your organization here.

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