MDM tools have many functions, ranging from onboarding features to device security controls. To identify the software that best suits their needs, IT teams should investigate their possibilities.
Enterprise IT must include mobile device management, but administrators must have the appropriate resources to deal with the particular difficulties presented by gadgets like smartphones.
Administrators can use mobile device management software to streamline management procedures. With so many products and features to consider, choosing the right tool can be challenging.
Over the past few years, a number of management tool classifications have changed. These days, these tools typically belong to the following groups:
- MDM covers both BYOD and corporate-owned mobile devices.
- Software applications on business mobile devices are the focus of mobile application management, or MAM.
- Client workstations are addressed by client management tools (CMT).
- Corporate-owned resources can be accessed by mobile users using enterprise mobility management (EMM).
- All endpoint management responsibilities are bundled into a single tool by unified endpoint management (UEM).
While each of these categories has unique characteristics, they also share numerous similarities. Initially, administrators managed PCs and mobile devices using different technologies. The majority of tools available now are UEM, which unifies all these features on a single platform. For instance, organizations may find it difficult to locate a product designed specifically for MAM, yet MAM tools and functionalities are included in larger platforms. Therefore, for their MDM approach, IT might frequently use products that are officially categorized as UEM or EMM.
What characteristics ought to be present in an MDM tool?
MDM tool feature sets concentrate on managing and deploying the physical device, which administrators may do from a centralized corporate interface. Most of these capabilities have a remote control function for remote support access, and they allow IT to distribute software, patches, and upgrades. Everything from lifecycle management to troubleshooting can be covered by MDM capability. However, while comparing MDM products, enterprises should give priority to a few important criteria.
Setting up and implementing
IT teams may provision, enroll, and deploy devices for both new and existing users who have changed jobs with the aid of MDM software. Through policy, mobile device management can also assist with software patches and upgrades for those devices. To make management easier and more responsive, IT should be able to form logical groups with identical operational activities through flexible provisioning and deployment features.
Encouragement
A product must provide knowledgeable, timely assistance for end users and IT personnel in order to sustain daily operations. Unproductive users take the place of offline systems, resulting in lost revenue. Those systems can be swiftly brought back online and expenses can be decreased by a vendor with an effective support system.
Another essential component of workforce support is a remote access tool. This enables support personnel to make changes to the broken system by connecting directly to it. Not all remote assistance tools are made equal; some are very slow, don’t function well, or can’t modify the distant system. Be sure you evaluate customer service using trial support incidents to understand how it functions in practice.
Analytics and Reporting
Reports on important data are necessary for administrators to assess the IT environment’s operational features. Each organization’s primary environmental indicators are unique. Only restricted, rigid reporting is offered by certain products. Others offer reports that can be customized using user-specified formats, queries, and dissemination strategies.
Analytics, when combined with reporting, provide priceless information about the performance of monitored devices. Metrics like device productivity, downtime, and deployment and provisioning efficiency may be included in this data. To make it simple to get started, an MDM system should also allow configurable metrics, such as templates.
Management of applications
The deployment of new apps, as well as updates and patches for software that is currently in use, are all covered by the app management component of MDM. The app management features of an MDM product must allow IT to install apps on users’ own devices in BYOD settings while preserving data security and accessibility.
Management of clients
Hardware management duties are aided by CMT characteristics. An MDM product might, for instance, provide a centralized console for network device management. Device compatibility for all endpoints and operating systems should also be handled by the CMT component. Depending on the company, endpoints may consist of:
- desktops and laptops running Linux, Mac, and Windows.
- Android, iOS, and ChromeOS tablets and smartphones.
- IoT devices such as printers and scanners.
Hardware providers have left certain businesses with legacy CMT tools. These outdated tools must be integrated into the MDM platform, even taking their place completely. When assessing a new product, IT administrators should also test this detail.
The following are additional essential MDM features:
- incorporation. IT should be able to use common tools and APIs to integrate devices into the corporate environment.
- Scalability. Over time, the MDM platform should be adaptable enough to accommodate an expansion in the number and configuration of monitored devices.
- Usability. MDM ought to offer a satisfying user experience. Businesses should look at a product’s overall usability and usability features, including a handy dashboard for routine operations. Administrators can assess an MDM’s usability by looking at user reviews, albeit this is very subjective.
- management of security. Businesses should choose an MDM platform with robust cybersecurity features to protect against malware and other threats. IT may install and update antivirus software and mobile security policies via MDM.
Seven MDM tools to think about
As more tools are made accessible, it might be challenging to find a good MDM supplier. Some tried-and-true solutions that have been around for a lot longer have more maturity and scope than several that have just emerged in the last year or so. Some relatively recent tools, however, have promise and should also be taken into account.
Based on industry research on MDM products that work with the Windows, Android, and Apple ecosystems, the following list was selected. A G2 overview of products and user reviews, Gartner surveys, and other lists of MDM products served as the basis for the author’s analysis. Instead of being ranked, this list is presented alphabetically.
Workspace on Google
One choice to think about for easy Android management is Google Workspace. It comes with a variety of endpoint management feature sets, including the Google Admin console. Many reviews praised the platform’s device registration and provisioning features, while others highlighted its scalability, integration, and customer assistance. Overall, people give Google Workspace low grades for Windows and macOS implementation but excellent marks for user experience. The fact that administrators have to sift through numerous layers in order to locate certain settings is another frequent complaint.
The majority of Google’s price plans are included in the Frontline, Business, Enterprise, or Essentials editions. All of the Business editions have a 300-user restriction and are geared toward small to medium-sized businesses. The following plans make up the business tier:
- issue of Business Starter. With an annual plan, this plan costs $6 per user per month; with a flexible pricing plan, it costs $7.20 per user per month.
- edition of Business Standard. With an annual plan, this plan costs $12 per user per month; with a flexible pricing plan, the cost is $14.40 per user per month.
- edition of Business Plus. With an annual plan, this plan costs $18 per user per month; with a flexible pricing plan, the cost is $21.60 per user per month.
Hexnode UEM
Businesses seeking a seasoned, well-known management solution may choose Hexnode, a product with a long history of success. Hexnode’s provisioning and registration options, together with its customer support capabilities like remote assistance, were praised. The platform is notable for its robust reporting features, which allow administrators to implement policies by grouping individuals and devices. However, according to several reviews, it’s pricey for the capabilities it offers and performs poorly on Apple and Windows devices.
For its several plans—Express, Pro, Enterprise, Ultimate, and Ultra—Hexnode does not specify price ranges. It does provide a free 14-day trial for all plans. IT managers should ask the vendor for a quote in order to learn more about the costs.
Jamf Pro
Two well-known MDM providers, Jamf and Kandji, only sell Apple products. Because it allows administrators to utilize Apple’s built-in security capabilities, this focus is beneficial.
The enterprise-level MDM platform in Jamf’s software stack is called Jamf Pro. Although it has excellent customer ratings for client management and assistance, reviewers claimed that it was hard to use, had a steep learning curve, and had a bad user interface. Features that have received positive reviews include the ability to conduct test enrollments and instantly deploy apps and configuration updates to sizable groups of devices. This makes it possible to respond to security patches quickly.
Jamf Pro costs $3.75 per device per month for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS devices and $7.89 per device per month for macOS devices under Jamf’s commercial pricing model. The annual prices for each device under the education pricing model are $9 and $18, respectively. Device minimums do apply, according to Jamf Pro’s website, although it doesn’t specify how many.
Customers can combine Jamf Pro with other Jamf products under the Business or Enterprise plans to access additional features. Jamf Business requires a minimum of 25 users and charges $14.34 per user per month. Jamf Enterprise has a minimum of 25 users or 50 devices and requests a quote.
Jamf Now, the entry-level version of Jamf Pro with fewer sophisticated features and connectors, is another option for smaller businesses. There is no minimum number of users required, and the monthly cost is $4 per device.
Kandji
Kandji for MDM is another option for Apple administrators. User satisfaction with this product is high, according to reviews. Users especially appreciated the straightforward single pane of glass for management and the seamless connection with external goods. Another benefit of Kandji is its ease of use, which is one area in which it performs better than Jamf Pro.
Reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with Kandji’s pricing strategy, citing the exorbitant costs of management laptops in comparison to mobile devices. For pricing details, however, businesses need to ask the seller for a quote. There is a 14-day free trial available on Kandji.
Endpoint Central by ManageEngine
ManageEngine Endpoint Central has been a market leader in MDM for another well-established and well-liked product. This tool provides outstanding patch management capabilities and performs well in terms of scalability, customer support, and ease of use. Additionally, the remote assist feature is easy to use and efficient, making it easier for administrators to handle support issues. In terms of analytics and complicated initial setup, ManageEngine fared worse.
Up to 25 endpoints can be managed using ManageEngine Endpoint Central’s free version; the cost of the additional editions increases according to the number of devices managed and other variables. These plans include up to 50 devices for a starting price:
- edition for professionals. The annual cost of this plan’s on-premises variant is $795, or $1,987 with a perpetual license. The annual cost of the cloud version is $1,045 ($104/month).
- version for enterprises. The annual cost of this plan’s on-premises variant is $945, or $2,362 with a perpetual license. The annual cost of the cloud version is $1,245 or $124 per month.
- edition of UEM. The annual cost of this plan’s on-premises variant is $1,095; a perpetual license costs $2,738. The annual cost of the cloud version is $1,395 or $139 per month.
- edition with security. The annual cost of this plan’s on-premises variant is $1,695, or $4,238 for a perpetual license. The annual cost of the cloud version is $2,045 ($205 per month).
The vendor’s stand-alone MDM product, ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus, is another option for administrators. This alternative is solely appropriate for managing mobile devices, despite being just as dependable and easy to use. Mobile Device Manager Plus provides a 30-day free trial and a free edition, just like Endpoint Central. The following are included in paid plans:
- standard edition. While the cloud version of this plan starts at $1.28 per device per month, the on-premises version starts at $9.90 per device annually.
- version for enterprises. While the cloud version of this plan starts at $2.38 per device per month, the on-premises version starts at $17.90 per device annually.
NinjaOne
NinjaOne is now among the most well-regarded products in the MDM market, despite being a little unknown just a few years ago. NinjaOne’s scalability, usability, device provisioning and deployment, customer service, and reporting were all praised by users. The platform’s great visibility to all endpoints and remote assistance tools are further well-liked features that make patch administration dependable and seamless.
NinjaOne offers a 14-day free trial as well as a monthly payment plan based on the device. The vendor’s website is the only source of additional pricing details.
Scale-fusion
Scalefusion is another new player in the MDM industry. This framework works particularly well for third-party and existing system integration. It received high marks from reviewers for app management, analytics, security management, and usability. Numerous people also emphasized how simple it is to deploy, enroll devices, and enforce policies because the UI allows you to manage numerous devices from a single location.
There are several disadvantages with regard to cost. There are no options for monthly payments, and the initial setup can be expensive. Instead, an annual payment must be made upfront. Nevertheless, Scalefusion charges a lot less than many of its rivals. There is also a 14-day free trial available. The pricing plans listed below are available to customers:
- Essentials: This package is invoiced annually and costs $2 per device per month.
- Growth: This plan is invoiced annually and costs $3.50 per device every month.
- Enterprise. This plan is invoiced annually and costs $5 per device per month.
- Business. This plan is invoiced annually and costs $6 per device each month.
Since 1983, Gary Olsen has been employed in the IT sector. He has authored two books on Active Directory and was on Microsoft’s Windows 2000 beta support team for Active Directory from 1998 to 2000.