Although mobile devices have been around for a long time in some form or another, they have only recently gained widespread acceptance in corporate settings. It’s critical to understand the various challenges that come with managing these devices.
1: Remember the importance of device uniformity.
It is nearly impossible to provide each user with an identical mobile device. Even if every user begins with the same device, manufacturers quickly phase out device models, and you may discover that the devices you purchased initially are no longer available when you require a few more.
Despite this, you should try to keep the number of models in your company as low as possible. The more devices that are in use, the more difficult it will be for your helpdesk to provide them with effective assistance.
2: Use devices that can be completely provisioned.
There are a few server products on the market that can apply various security policies to mobile devices. However, because no global mobile device standard exists, those server products can only manage a limited number of mobile operating systems. I recommend that you only use fully provisionable devices because they can be managed completely.
3: Make certain that users are aware of the policies that govern mobile devices.
There is a lot of room for abuse when it comes to mobile devices. If you don’t have an acceptable use policy in place for company-issued mobile devices, your cellular expenses will skyrocket.
4: Safety is essential.
Since mobile device security flaws were first discovered, many IT professionals have ignored them. Until recently, mobile devices lacked the software and processing power to pose a serious threat. Mobile devices, on the other hand, can now run a wide variety of programs and store terabytes of data on their own. As a result, you must place a premium on mobile device security.
5: Determine whether or not to accept personal devices.
If an employee hasn’t already, it’s only a matter of time before he or she asks you to set up his or her iPhone to receive company email. Make sure you have a policy in place that specifies whether personal mobile devices are permitted to interact with business resources. Because your company lacks the authority to effectively protect and manage non-owned devices, I recommend that you only allow employees to use business-issued devices.
6: Decide ahead of time whether or not you will wander.
Some users’ work functions may be important enough to warrant data consumption even when they are not roaming. For some users, however, it may be preferable to avoid using data while roaming. In any case, roaming charges are not something you should take chances with.
7: Create a plan for dealing with misplaced items.
Many businesses fail to plan for lost or stolen equipment. To be sure, both Exchange Server and System Center Mobile Device Manager include a self-destruct sequence that you can use to remotely delete a lost or stolen device and restore it to factory defaults.
8: Be wary of malware threats.
In the past, malware was not a major concern for mobile devices. Malware attacks on various mobile platforms have been reported in recent months. Make sure to look into the anti-malware solutions available for your preferred mobile platform. Malware may not be a major issue today, but it will most likely be in a year.
9: On a regular basis, assess the impact of mobile devices on your network.
Because mobile devices aren’t physically connected to your network, it’s easy to underestimate the amount of bandwidth and other network resources they consume. As more people use mobile devices, it’s becoming increasingly important to monitor how much of an impact they’re having on your Internet bandwidth and network server resources on a regular basis.
10: Ensure that your employees are comfortable using mobile devices.
Managers may believe that because mobile devices are so common, the helpdesk staff understands how to service them. This is a dangerous assumption to make. You must ensure that the helpdesk staff is properly trained in mobile device support, just as they are in any other type of assistance.
