The escalating challenges in a mobile workplace
Smartphone management is complex, especially when devices are used outside of an office setting. The portability of a mobile device makes it easier to steal. In fact, 4.1 million phones were lost or stolen in 2022—that’s more than 11,000 phones each day.3 And this means that access to a company’s key systems, data, and cloudbased resources are put at risk.
In addition, mobile devices typically connect to more networks, often insecure public networks with higher risks. Research showed the vast majority (90%) of remote workers accessed corporate resources from locations other than their home—the average was five different locations.4 At the same time, organizations often have less visibility of mobile devices, even as employees blur the lines between work and personal device use. Most users don’t consider how connecting to an unknown Wi-Fi network could impact the entire organization.
Mobile device security is just the start. In today’s mobile workplace, IT teams also need to ensure that employees have the mobile connectivity required to work effectively. They need to be sure employees can communicate and collaborate, from virtually anywhere. The ultimate goal is to keep everyone productive while avoiding lengthy downtime.
MDM tools empower IT teams with more oversight and control of a mobile phone fleet—helping them increase security, productivity, and operational efficiency. From a central location, IT staff can deploy updates and manage security with just a few clicks. They can keep sensitive data out of the wrong hands if a device is lost or stolen, and they can continuously back up devices to keep everyone productive if a phone breaks. In fact, Aberdeen found MDM users were 72% more likely to report reduced IT complexity from modernization, and made IT workers 52% more likely to be able to focus on strategic projects.2
To push IT efficiency even further, some organizations are turning to an “as a service” approach for MDM. This way, mobile experts can support users’ smartphone needs, strengthen security, and reduce the overall risk exposure. The IT costs for troubleshooting, repairs, logistics, and bill management are consolidated down to one monthly payment. The result is that in-house IT resources can be better aligned to drive business growth.