Cybersecurity

What is Mobile Device Management?

Quick answer

Software, known as MDM, that lets an organization configure, secure, and monitor the phones, tablets, and laptops used for work.

Mobile Device Management, explained

Mobile device management tools allow IT teams to enrol devices, push security settings, install and update approved apps, require screen locks and encryption, and wipe data remotely if a device is lost or stolen. Many tools also manage laptops and are part of broader unified endpoint management platforms.

For example, a home healthcare company that gives tablets to visiting nurses can use MDM to ensure each tablet has a passcode, runs only approved apps, and can be erased if left behind at a patient's home. For personal devices used for work, organizations often manage only a separate work profile, leaving personal apps and photos private. MDM supports zero trust policies by letting access decisions consider whether a device is healthy and compliant.

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