Understanding the Differences Between MDM, EMM, and UEM

The Power of Comprehensive Device Management

Nowadays, many organizations offer location flexibility to their employees. However, one growing concern with remote working options is the productivity of the employees and the security of company data. Therefore, there is an increasing need to manage company-owned devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets especially when there is sensitive data involved. The volume of sensitive company data transferred across endpoints is growing continuously and so devices need to have some kind of security management to safeguard company data while increasing the productivity levels of its employees. This can be done with the help of endpoint management software.

To prevent any breach of data that can greatly impact the company, companies need to invest wisely in mobile device management software to secure and unify their devices. The scenario in mobile management software is ever-evolving and organizations must consistently seek out better management options to ensure optimal security.

MDM, EMM, UEM - mobile device management's power trio. Different scopes of control, crucial differences to know. MDM controls devices, EMM manages apps and data, and UEM integrates all endpoints. Choose wisely based on your business needs

Differences between MDM, EMM, and UEM software

In the business world, there is a lot of talk going on about MDM, EMM, and UEM. These are mobile management systems that help in device deployment, configuration, monitoring, securing, and ongoing support. If you are new to it, you are more likely to get confused among these. Here are a few pointers to help you understand enterprise mobility management software.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) Software

Mobile Device Management or MDM software was the first endpoint management software to hit the market shortly after the launch of the first smartphones.

MDM allows companies to manage and secure corporate or employee-owned Android mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. As the name suggests, MDM tools are focused exclusively on mobile devices and provided controls like email configuration and VPN settings through a remote management protocol. The devices can be locked, tracked, and monitored remotely from the mobile device management dashboard.

Mobile Device Management Software also helps in performing real-time monitoring and reporting of devices, enforcing the company's security policies and the use of VPN connections between the device and the enterprise server, and applying policies to restrict the usage and success of certain features, applications, or websites, enforcing strong passwords for access to mobile devices, preventing any unauthorized access to the device through the remote lock option and in avoiding any unsecured Wi-Fi and BlueTooth connections.

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Software

Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions (EMM) are used for managing mobile devices, apps, websites, and data for enterprises. An EMM has security and management features and is often paired with mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) solutions.

As mobile device management solutions mobile device management solutions functioned at the device level, it became difficult to overcome the challenges that come about with BYOD (Bring Your Device) or CYOD (Corporate Owned Personally Enabled) policies in organizations. These devices often have sensitive corporate data on the employees devices that have been secured without compromising their privacy. This is where EMM solutions came in. In addition to MDM, enterprise mobility management solutions offer mobile app management, mobile content management, mobile security management, mobile expense management, and containerization.

Mobile Application Management (MAM): MAM solutions are a more targeted solution for application management. It allows companies to control the applications and data associated with it instead of the whole device. This way they can deploy and update in-house and play store apps over the air. MAM solutions allow for in-depth management of apps that restrict downloading of malicious apps, configuring and removing apps that do not align with the company policies and can even force devices to work in a purpose-specific mode.

Mobile Content Management (MCM): MCM solutions help in the remote distribution, management, and collaboration of enterprise content. Content can be managed through MCM and secure access to important documents can be granted. Encryption can be mandated to protect the data stored on the device, preventing any unauthorized access to the data.

Mobile Security Management (MSM): MSM is similar to MDM and uses the best practices to secure mobile devices. In addition to its security features, it uses strong security solutions to provide application and data protection. For application-level security, it uses kiosk mode to restrict unwanted apps. The IT admin can also analyze and audit information regarding all the apps installed on the devices. They can also enforce device disk encryption, strong device password, and blacklist insecure websites.

Mobile expense management (MEM): MEM is used by enterprises to track all mobile communication expenses and audit mobile data usage; IT admins can use it to set up data usage limits and also restrict network connectivity once this limit is reached. They can also enable app-wise data usage restrictions.

Containerization: Containerization is vitally important in cases where the devices have both work and personal data. It helps in separating work-related content from personal data by keeping them in separate encrypted containers. So along with securing corporate apps and data, it ensures that organizations cannot in any way interact with the employee's data on the device

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Software

TUnified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions have been in quite high demand in recent years as the number of devices and applications used in enterprises increased. The aim of using UEM is to provide a single platform to manage all devices and applications regardless of their operating systems, location, or form factor. UEM allows businesses in endpoint management of laptops, mobile phones, tablets, PCS, printers, and wearables using a single, comprehensive solution

UEM solutions incorporate the capabilities of both enterprise mobility management and mobile device management solutions and can be used for mobile device management, mobile application management, mobile security management, mobile content management, mobile expense management, kiosk management, and more. It also has business integrations that help in boosting employee productivity and can manage any kind of business scenario from BYOD to CYOD

The benefits of using UEM are many but the most critical is the ability to reduce the complexity of IT management. With UEM solutions, IT admins can manage all their devices and apps from a single console than use multiple tools to manage each type of device or application. This saves time as well as reduces any potential errors.

Finding the Perfect Fit: Which solution is right for you?

This depends on your specific needs. If you only need to manage mobile devices, an MDM solution may be enough. If you need to manage mobile devices as well as the apps and data on the devices then Enterprise Mobility Management Solutions would be a better fit. And if you want to manage all kinds of endpoint devices in your enterprises then UEM will be best for you.

After knowing the above difference, it can become quite easy to determine the right solutions for your mobile mobility management solution. When choosing a solution, it is important to consider your specific needs and choose a solution that grows with you.

No matter which one you plan to go with, Team LimaxLock is here to clear all your queries and help guide you