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The Mobile Equation: EMM = M(D+A+I+E)M = Safe (BYOD+COPE+LDD) + Productive(users)

The Mobile imperative facing most IT organizations today goes beyond a single device type or use case. The looming BYOD dilemma is real but not the only challenge that needs to be addressed. A real EMM solution is required to keep the modern workforce safe and maximize productivity. The Ideal comprehensive solution will also include secure email, documents, collaboration, support, legacy apps, an app ecosystem, plus tight integration with web apps, windows apps/desktops and the company Active Directory system. Understanding the current acronym soup may help to solve the equation.

EMM – Enterprise Mobile Management – The overall system(s) that an organization uses to manage and secure mobile users and devices. 

MDM – Mobile Device Management provides the ability to push apps to devices, remove apps, and remotely wipe devices selectively ( for corp apps/data ) or completely. In addition most MDM solutions provide the ability to white list and black list apps plus manage policy provisioning including certificates and the life cycle of the device. MDM is typically appropriate for corporate owned devices and can be considered overkill for BYOD. Although MAM alone has limitations when it comes to tasks like certificate management and the ability to remove corporate apps vs disabling. 

MAM – Mobile App Management typically includes securing apps through a wrapping process done by an enterprise or ISV. Also included is an Enterprise App Store to deliver the designated apps to authorized users. Some MAM systems also provide a virtual ”Container” by securely linking together wrapped apps and data associated with them while preventing corporate data passing to personal apps. This is also referred to as a Duel Persona solution. 

MIM – Mobile Information Management sometimes referred to as DLP Data Loss Prevention is focused on the data management and security. Often this is combined with an MDM or MAM solution and a data storage solution like Box or ShareFile. MIM is is and essential feature of a comprehensive mobility strategy. Mobile tasks like viewing a document and then “Open-In” should only operate with corporate MAM “wrapped” apps and not a personal app like Dropbox losing control of corporate data. 

MEM – Mobile Expense Management is appropriate for corporate owned devices and enables control such as data plan management preventing excessive roaming charges. 

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device is now well known challenge in the industry but the answer should not be anything goes. At a minimum a MAM/MIM solution needs to be enabled to assure corporate data is not lost or compromised. It’s interesting that many organizations are starting with BYOD as exceptions for executives, then leading to broader BYOD support as well as the execs deciding that they will now buy iPads for the entire sales force ( or other group ) which leads to COPE. 

COPE – Corporate Owned Personal Enabled is a growing category for devices like the iPhone which is rapidly adopted as a corporate issued phone as well as the iPad for tablets. For knowledge workers that don’t want to carry around a second personal device, it is appropriate that IT enable COPE with appropriate device controls. Employees need to agree to a personal device usage policy which many will gladly do given the “time slicing” most employees now practice between work & play, especially when mobile. 

LDD – Locked Down Devices issued and owned by the organization for limited tasks are still a valid segment of the mobile enterprise. In fact many organizations are replacing paper/clipboard type tasks with tablets plus many organizations need devices to be shared among employees, these devices should be locked down to minimize support and management costs. For these devices an MDM solution is most appropriate along with MAM and MIM if required.
For an organization to deal with all of the mobile use cases and potential point solutions it is becoming more obvious that a holistic solution is appropriate.

Eva Koutná, Channel Development Manager, Eastern Europe, Citrix Systems