SkieWhat does MDM stand for in business?
MDM stands for mobile device management. In business it means software that lets a company control the phones and tablets it gives to staff: which apps are allowed, which websites open, what happens when a device is lost, and where it is. The company sets the rules once and the devices follow them.
Mobile device management is the practice, and also the name of the software, that sets rules on company phones and tablets from one dashboard. The rules usually cover apps, web access, security settings, location and what to do when a device is lost.
On Android the strongest form of MDM uses device owner mode. The management app is set up as the owner of the device at first start, so Android itself enforces the rules and the user cannot remove the app or switch the protections off. A weaker form works at app level, where the management app asks for permissions and can be stopped or uninstalled. Skie uses device owner mode.
In a business, MDM answers a few plain questions. Can staff install games on a work phone? What happens to customer data if a phone is left in a taxi? Can we tell that a field phone is still switched on at the customer site? Is the device still on the latest rules? A good MDM gives you a yes, a no or a clear alert for each.
MDM is not the same as monitoring messages, and it is not a spy tool. Skie does not read private messages, call logs or record audio or video, and it has no hidden mode. The device shows that it is managed.
If you are new to this, start with the what is MDM explainer, then decide which devices and which team you want to try it on first.