What companies should ask when procuring MDM solutions

Enterprise mobility has grown during the past several years to the point where it now occupies a seat at the table of the most important areas within a business. Companies today rely on smartphones and tablets to empower greater productivity and efficiency among the workforce, so getting it right is necessary.

In order to do that, most organizations have at least looked into the possibility of deploying mobile device management solutions - a tool that will track each smartphone and tablet in use by employees, including their operating systems, contracts and data and minutes usage, among other things. Doing so is a big step for the company, as a solution can ensure that costs are controlled and mobility is as effective as possible.

Given the implications for an MDM program, it's important that a company complete the appropriate steps when choosing, purchasing and deploying a new solution. To help with the process, mobility expert Mark Gibbs recently wrote a report for CIO Magazine in which he identified several questions that all companies should ask when implementing MDM.

Answering the questions will allow the organization to choose and leverage an enterprise mobility management solution that fits their unique needs without serving as a hindrance for employees.

Many organizations today may have numerous devices - iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry and Android, just to name a few - in use among employees, and the number of platforms present within a business could grow as mobile technology moves forward. That's why questions about a solution's flexibility must be asked.

What many companies are finding with their infant MDM programs, Gibbs said, is that endpoints present the greatest challenge. There are so many different types of devices and platforms used by employees that the organization must be sure a solution has the capability of supporting them all.

Also, and this is especially important for an organization in a highly regulated industry, the IT department should determine the implications of compliance. The IT administrator must find out if a solution will allow for auditing and meet the reporting standards of both legal and industry rules.

Overall, the enterprise mobility sector remains fluid, and what's the norm today may not be so tomorrow, according to a recent TMCnet report. As a result, the news provider argued that MDM solutions and practices must evolve with the market to lend continued support to companies and their programs.