Mobile
device management is a crucial component of maintaining a stable security
posture, but mobile device management and unified endpoint management tools,
one of the more difficult areas of cybersecurity is one of the most difficult
areas of cybersecurity. The everchanging and growing threat landscape makes
security difficult enough, while the lack of control surrounding mobile devices
poses an additional challenge for security teams and administrators.
Mobile
devices come in various shapes in sizes with equally varying operating systems,
further complicating administrator management. For example, most OS allow for
remote control capabilities, while Apple only permits remote view.
The most
effective way to manage mobile devices and keep networks secure, while avoiding
productivity impediments, is to implement an MDM-UEM solution.
The
solutions not only help ensure security and meet compliance requirements, but
in some cases, they may increase productivity with roles-based access and
automation capabilities. These tools help administrators maintain their
workloads and let end-users freely use their devices while keeping corporate
data within the network secure.
The products
we tested this month successfully balance productivity with compliance and
security by leveraging functionalities such as geo-fencing and remote view and
control. Once one of these solutions has been deployed into your environment,
end-users will be able to use their devices without introducing unnecessary
risk into your environment.
Mobile device management and unified endpoint management
The main
lesson we learned from the mobile device management and unified endpoint
management (MDM UEM) tools we reviewed is that mobile device management is a
crucial component of maintaining a stable security posture. Everchanging and
growing threat landscapes make security difficult enough but being unable to
control surrounding mobile devices poses an additional challenge for security
teams and administrators.
A properly
configured mobile device/endpoint management tool will not only help ensure
security and meet compliance requirements, but in some cases, it may also
increase productivity through roles-based access and automation capabilities
that minimize manual overhead. The tools we reviewed assist with MDM-UEM,
allowing administrators and employees to use their devices freely and safely, but
still maintain the security of corporate data.
There are
many items to consider when it comes to managing mobile devices and unified
endpoints, including installing applications, geo-tracking and geo-fencing.
Securing devices is, quite literally, like trying to secure and manage a moving
target. End users obviously transport their devices from home to work,
sometimes traveling a considerable distance and administrators can’t control
the networks to which the devices connect. Therefore, it is crucial to protect
data with encryption and containerization.
Device
management is further complicated by the variety of operating systems. And administrators
must control corporate-owned devices to protect them when lost or stolen. The proliferation
of IoT and mobile devices in the workplace has birthed an information security niche
that the MDM-UEM solutions we tested this month all seek to address.
Overall,
tools have adapted well to the increase in the number of workplace mobile
devices. End users need to be able to complete work tasks securely, but that
security should never impede productivity. Administrators must be able to
manage corporate-owned devices and containerize personal devices to ensure that
these devices never threaten corporate data. The following MDM-UEM solutions
successfully balance productivity with security. In some cases, they even
enhance the productivity of both administrators and end-users with features
like roles-based access, automation, artificial intelligence and geo-tracking.
Pick of the Litter
VMWare offers several unique features such as: Intelligent hub; role-based access, sandboxing and more. This robust feature-set, overall product performance and free 24/7 support combined in one very competitively priced solution makes VMWare Workspace ONE an SC Labs Best Buy.
The incorporation of Watson, a question-and-answer system backed by machine learning technology, and the vastness of features and configuration options offered makes MaaS360 with Watson our SC Labs Recommended product for this month’s round of reviews.
Check out all the reviews below:
BlackBerry Unified Endpoint Management Q-Series
Hexnode 8.2
IBM MaaS360 with Watson 10.74
Meraki Systems Manager SaaS
MobileIron UEM R64
Sophos Mobile 9.0
VMWare Workspace ONE UEM 1907
