Organizations are increasingly dependent on mobile devices to communicate, collaborate, and manage data. Their power in the palm of your hands.
Literally, From your smart phone, to your pad, these handheld gadgets are a necessary part of your life. But scammers continue to capitalize on the shift to mobile. That’s where MDM and MAM step in. Both of the solutions are built to mitigate the dangers associated with mobile data, yet they are not the same thing. Knowing when to use MDM vs MAM can provide critical direction in your security strategy around mobile.
In this post we will explain the main differences between MDM and MAM, describe how they fit in the mobile security equation and help you understand in what cases each should be implemented. By the end, you will have an understanding which allows you to make an informed decision about what approach is best for your organization’s specific security requirements.
Understanding Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Mobile Device Management (MDM) provides an all-encompassing solution to manage and secure the mobile devices which are used by employees. In general it consists of; device tracking, remote wipe, enforcing encryption, and managing policies. MDM solutions make sure that the devices are secured, no matter what apps or data they interact with.
MDM operates by permitting administrators to determine and control various device settings and security features. These can include ensuring that strong passwords are being enforced, VPNs are in place, updates are being managed, and only certain apps can be installed on these devices. The basic purpose of MDM is to ensure the general security of the device, the data maintained on the device and any communication on the device.
One of the main advantages of MDM is that it ensures a central consistent method for IT personnel to oversee, manage and execute security policies across all the devices in an organization. This is especially critical for organizations that employ a mobile workforce to ensure all devices — whether they be company owned or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) — are in compliance with security requirements.
Mobile Application Management (MAM) Explained
Mobile Application Management (MAM) addresses only the management of mobile apps that employees use to access company information. Whereas MDM focuses on how to lock down the whole device, MAM looks at the applications on the device, specifically how those apps are utilized for work.
MAM solutions enable IT to manage, secure and control mobile apps delivered to employees’ devices, thus achieving separation of personal and corporate data. This is especially helpful in a BYOD setting in which employees work on personal devices. MAM allows companies to divide corporate apps and data from personal apps and data, thus protecting work information and preserving staff privacy.
Through MAM, admins can manage which apps can be installed on a device, keep apps updated and apply policies that are specific to the app. Data encryption, app-specific data access controls, and the capability to remotely wipe corporate data from an app are typical features of MAM products.
MDM Vs MAM: What’s The Difference?
While both MDM and MAM are essential for mobile security, they differ in their approach. MDM is holistic to the device, MAM to the individual apps and how they interact with data. To help you understand the difference, let’s simplify the main differences across these two terms:
Scope of Management
MDM is more inclusive, working with the overall mobile device. It controls settings, configurations, and security polices of the device. MAM, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with apps that are in use on the device, restricting what apps can be used, who can use them, and how they manage their security configurations.
Device Control
Here the company will have full access to the device with MDM. This ranges from enforcing security policies, like whether a password is needed, to limiting what the user has available as features and even having the ability to disable the device, should it be lost or stolen. MAM, on the other hand, only controls the app and app settings. It is unable to enforce policies that apply to the entirety of a device.
Personal Devices
MDM works well for treating company owned, company-issued devices where the company wants complete control over the device. In BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments, MAM is typically the better choice, as you won’t have to manage the entire device – only the app (as opposed to intruding on an employee’s personal data or privacy). Personal apps are not affected by MAM; MAM is only applied to apps that are work related.
Security Focus
MDM is mainly for keeping a device safe, i.e. mandating encryption, making sure it is not jail broken and general adherence to security policies. MAM, meanwhile, is designed primarily to protect the apps—and the data those apps contain or transport—meaning your corporate data remains secure even if the device gets owned.
When is the right time to add MDM into your security plan?
MDM is great for when you need complete control of all of your mobile devices. If you’re deploying devices in the field, and those devices are employee-owned, then MDM is your way to ensure the device is secure, in compliance, and protected against outside threats.
Here are few cases where you should use MDM:
Company Devices: If your company supplies employees with company-owned mobile phones or other devices, you must have MDM for applying security policies, implementation of remote wiping, and allowing all the device to be encrypted.
Complete Device Control: If you have to manage device settings, such as Wi-Fi settings, VPN connections and app distribution, the MDM solution will deliver the central control necessary to enforce security policies.
Employee Monitoring In business that need to keep tabs on device usage and enforce hard rules (education, healthcare, finance to name a few), MDMs provide an excellent set of tools that allow rules be obeyed and personal data to be kept in a safe place.
Lost, Stolen Devices: MDM enable you to control the removing of data from lost or stolen devices, preventing the leaking of the business sensitive information.
When you Should Use MAM in your Security Strategy
MAM is best for companies that focus on helping ensure that mobile applications and the data the apps access are secure. MAM is most beneficial in BYOD or when employees use their personal devices for work.
So when do you know it’s time to put MAM to use? Here are a few situations:
BYOD Only Organizations: If your organization is a pure play BYOD, MAM is the best alternative. It allows you to fit and secure work-only apps and to keep personal apps and data untouched.
App-Level Security: For cases where securing just the apps that contain sensitive data is more desirable than the entire device, MAMcomprises the capabilities to secure the apps, implement security policies, and manage the use of the app.
Work/personal data separation: With MAM, it’s possible to have a secure work place on a personal device by keeping the company’s data separate from personal data. This distinction is very important to keep this privacy so that no business secret will be in danger.
App Lifecycle Management: If your company builds or owns custom mobile apps, you may need MAM to manage apps over their lifecycle. Everything’s easy with MAM Installs; updates, and even the uninstall can all be carried out securely by MAM.
Combining MDM and MAM to One Comprehensive Security Strategy
In reality, the way forward isn’t selecting one or the other — it’s implementing both in a single mobile security solution. Using the best of both solutions together allows us to provide comprehensive protection for businesses and their on-the-go employees whether those employees are using company-owned or their personal smartphones.
For instance, a company might deploy MDM to manage and secure devices on a broad scale while utilizing MAM to control and secure apps, when used to access corporate data of a sensitive nature. This strategy of layering ensures complete security over mobile devices, as well as the flexibility and scalability for businesses of any size.
Conclusion:
When deciding whether to opt for MDM over MAM, however, deciding largely depends on your organization’s specific needs, as well as the type of mobile devices your employees utilize and how much control you need. MDM is the best option for businesses that want to have control over all the devices in the organization and MAM is ideal for protecting mobile applications in a BYOD context.
Ultimately, it’s a customized approach that holds the key to safeguarding against mobile data liabilities. Knowing the differences between MDM and MAM, you can develop a mobile security strategy that keeps your business secure and your workforce mobile. Either solution will be applicable, but deploying one or both will also give your organization a huge leg up by helping you to secure mobile devices and applications so you are not exposed to losing company sensitive information in this digital world today.
