A good place to start is not with the devices at all, but with people who manage and use mobility. With MDM, IT mobility leaders can work directly with each business application to identify the best mobile business model, select the needed platforms, and evaluate the user community.

Large IT organizations are well aware of mobility issues such as applications, encryption, security, mobile policies and mobility benefits. A robust, easy to use smartphone management system for this environment will enable the existing team to deploy MDM without need for additional staff.

Smaller IT organizations have a different dynamic. While the risk of security or data breaches can be even more critical, resources are often limited to a single individual who serves as both strategic adviser and front line support responder.

Whether the organization is large or small, a good test for any proposed MDM is whether a one-person management and support team could effectively employ the proposed solution.

When mobile devices are company controlled, the user experience can be simplified and customized. The only applications provided are those that are needed. Security policies prevent unsafe activities and exposure of sensitive data. Each group can receive specific devices, software, data authorizations and policies. Common groupings for software, settings and policies are established and stored for repeatable use.

A well-implemented smartphone management system ensures that each user obtains the right software and access to data, policies and support. Recovery from problems is as simple as reinstalling over the air, anytime and anywhere. Demands for support are drastically reduced. When support is necessary, problems are resolved quickly and easily.

The anytime, anywhere interconnection of people, devices and communications is critical to success in today’s complex organization. Personal computers are used ubiquitously to access services including email, calendar, contacts and unified voice mail.

Over the past few years, accessing these services on smartphones has become extremely desirable. As that demand as proliferated, millions of loosely controlled devices walk into companies each day and are a security risk.

Most companies have standardized on a core method for accessing these key services and are using either Microsoft Exchange or Notes Domino. Successfully connecting to Microsoft Exchange requires numerous settings within Microsoft Exchange and Active Sync to allow for a mobile device to synchronize with the Exchange server and receive e-mails, calendar and contact information.

Smartphone management enables the correct settings to be set in a policy and enforced on each device at installation. Email works first time, every time, and the user is not expected nor allowed to alter settings.

With MDM, the server identity, frequency of email delivery, roaming options, peak time options and the rest are established only once. After that, every install automatically applies the settings to the device. There is no time spent supporting the individual user in setting up the device. Email, calendar and contacts are fully functioning from day one and can be reinstalled in a few minutes after any failure. Savings are realized immediately with reductions in IT support and lost time by executives and knowledge workers in the field.

Most users already have job or business specific applications on their mobile PCs. The user expectations are that similiar applications will be available on smartphones. Vendors like Microsoft (CRM), Siebel and SalesForce provide out-of-the-box mobile clients for smartphones.

In addition other, company-specific smartphone applications may need to be developed internally or with partners. As the number and types of applications increase, the more likely it is that the company will limit the number of fully supported smartphone platforms. For example, companies that rely on the Microsoft platform may likely decide to develop internal line of business applications only for Windows Mobile smartphones. Once the optimal client for a line of business application is selected and customized, central administration can it roll out to all appropriate groups in a matter minutes.

A complete central management solution enables IT managers and the business to make decisions about the following:

• The number of participants in each line of business is dictated by the user and business requirements but is not limited by installation/configuration support overhead
• Determine what level of security is required
• Determine what applications will be visible and enabled on the smartphone
• Restrict user access to settings, directories, SD cards, the Internet, attachments, and other options if desired
• Automatically provision user rights and security certificates to the smartphones
• Establish security settings and policies preventing unauthorized actions (For example, set up Bluetooth security to enable headset use but disable Bluetooth data use)
• Automatically set up the Installation and configuration of smartphone to VPN server
• Automatically gather and maintain updates of smartphone device information and resource inventory
• Centrally administer and design disaster recovery and data protection policies

Many simplistic MDM solutions require complex scripting, support only email, or do not provide sophisticated interfaces to Active Directory or Bluetooth management. These limited solutions result in added support costs and increased risks when users are not fully up to date and secure. Bottom line: when customer data is brought down to the phone, the potential problems are magnified and organizational costs and risks can increase. Central smartphone management controls costs and minimizes risks.

For organizations that are still pre-configuring individual devices and providing them to users, the savings from central management and provision over the air will provide a rapid breakeven on the investment.

Every organization benefits from MDM. Here is a list of the key beneficiaries of MDM and what each of them cares about most:

A good place to start is not with the devices at all, but with people who manage and use mobility. With MDM, IT mobility leaders can work directly with each business application to identify the best mobile business model, select the needed platforms, and evaluate the user community.

Large IT organizations are well aware of mobility issues such as applications, encryption, security, mobile policies and mobility benefits. A robust, easy to use smartphone management system for this environment will enable the existing team to deploy MDM without need for additional staff.

Smaller IT organizations have a different dynamic. While the risk of security or data breaches can be even more critical, resources are often limited to a single individual who serves as both strategic adviser and front line support responder.

Whether the organization is large or small, a good test for any proposed MDM is whether a one-person management and support team could effectively employ the proposed solution.

When mobile devices are company controlled, the user experience can be simplified and customized. The only applications provided are those that are needed. Security policies prevent unsafe activities and exposure of sensitive data. Each group can receive specific devices, software, data authorizations and policies. Common groupings for software, settings and policies are established and stored for repeatable use.

A well-implemented smartphone management system ensures that each user obtains the right software and access to data, policies and support. Recovery from problems is as simple as reinstalling over the air, anytime and anywhere. Demands for support are drastically reduced. When support is necessary, problems are resolved quickly and easily.

The anytime, anywhere interconnection of people, devices and communications is critical to success in today’s complex organization. Personal computers are used ubiquitously to access services including email, calendar, contacts and unified voice mail.

Over the past few years, accessing these services on smartphones has become extremely desirable. As that demand as proliferated, millions of loosely controlled devices walk into companies each day and are a security risk.

Most companies have standardized on a core method for accessing these key services and are using either Microsoft Exchange or Notes Domino. Successfully connecting to Microsoft Exchange requires numerous settings within Microsoft Exchange and Active Sync to allow for a mobile device to synchronize with the Exchange server and receive e-mails, calendar and contact information.

Smartphone management enables the correct settings to be set in a policy and enforced on each device at installation. Email works first time, every time, and the user is not expected nor allowed to alter settings.

With MDM, the server identity, frequency of email delivery, roaming options, peak time options and the rest are established only once. After that, every install automatically applies the settings to the device. There is no time spent supporting the individual user in setting up the device. Email, calendar and contacts are fully functioning from day one and can be reinstalled in a few minutes after any failure. Savings are realized immediately with reductions in IT support and lost time by executives and knowledge workers in the field.

Most users already have job or business specific applications on their mobile PCs. The user expectations are that similiar applications will be available on smartphones. Vendors like Microsoft (CRM), Siebel and SalesForce provide out-of-the-box mobile clients for smartphones.

In addition other, company-specific smartphone applications may need to be developed internally or with partners. As the number and types of applications increase, the more likely it is that the company will limit the number of fully supported smartphone platforms. For example, companies that rely on the Microsoft platform may likely decide to develop internal line of business applications only for Windows Mobile smartphones. Once the optimal client for a line of business application is selected and customized, central administration can it roll out to all appropriate groups in a matter minutes.

A complete central management solution enables IT managers and the business to make decisions about the following:

• The number of participants in each line of business is dictated by the user and business requirements but is not limited by installation/configuration support overhead
• Determine what level of security is required
• Determine what applications will be visible and enabled on the smartphone
• Restrict user access to settings, directories, SD cards, the Internet, attachments, and other options if desired
• Automatically provision user rights and security certificates to the smartphones
• Establish security settings and policies preventing unauthorized actions (For example, set up Bluetooth security to enable headset use but disable Bluetooth data use)
• Automatically set up the Installation and configuration of smartphone to VPN server
• Automatically gather and maintain updates of smartphone device information and resource inventory
• Centrally administer and design disaster recovery and data protection policies

Many simplistic MDM solutions require complex scripting, support only email, or do not provide sophisticated interfaces to Active Directory or Bluetooth management. These limited solutions result in added support costs and increased risks when users are not fully up to date and secure. Bottom line: when customer data is brought down to the phone, the potential problems are magnified and organizational costs and risks can increase. Central smartphone management controls costs and minimizes risks.

For organizations that are still pre-configuring individual devices and providing them to users, the savings from central management and provision over the air will provide a rapid breakeven on the investment.

Every organization benefits from MDM. Here is a list of the key beneficiaries of MDM and what each of them cares about most: