Mobile Device Management Buyer s Guide

Transcription

1 Mobile Device Management Buyer s Guide An Insider s View of the MDM Market Get to the bottom line on your MDM software decision

2 Introduction The information contained in this document is based on the experience that Avema has developed from working hands-on with all of the major MDM software applications. We manage the day-to-day administration of MDM for many corporate clients, and have also helped hundreds of companies to select the most appropriate MDM software for their requirements. This guide is intended to give the reader an insider s view of the market getting to the bottom line of the key criteria for how most companies decide on MDM software.

3 Shortlist of MDM software There are dozens of companies that sell software in this category, and if you had to evaluate them all, it would be a massive task. Fortunately, there s a practical shortcut, since there really are only four vendors that make up the large majority of actual sales in the market. We ve been involved in the decision process for hundreds of companies, and over 90% of the time, one of these vendors is chosen: AirWatch by VMware, MobileIron, and Citrix XenMobile (formerly Zenprise). These vendors all have significant track records, and offer the important features that buyers want. Good Technology is sometimes considered as an alternative to MDM software. Some vendors are essentially giving away their MDM software in bundles with their other offerings, however many of these never end up being implemented. Other vendors simply lack the marketing and sales success, and will never be market leaders. Buying from MDM providers with insignificant market share is risky, as they are simply not generating enough sales to sustain profitability, and hence, long-term viability. You may suddenly find that support no longer exists, or software updates are no longer provided. With the pace of change in mobile technology, that s an unacceptable risk.

4 What about BlackBerry? BlackBerry released its own MDM software, BES10 enterprise management suite, which is not just for BlackBerry devices. The MDM offers support for Android, ios and soon Windows Phone 8 devices as well. However, early reviews have been lackluster. BlackBerry will need to invest significant development efforts into its MDM software in order to catch up to the leading MDM applications. Considering the delays in product launches and general bad press about BlackBerry recently, many companies question BlackBerry s very survival. Time will tell if BlackBerry will emerge successfully from its financial and commercial challenges.

5 Sandbox vs User Interface Also referred to as a secure container approach, this method requires replacing the device s native applications for , calendar, and contact lists. This means that iphone users, for example, would not be able to read their corporate using the Apple application that comes with the device. This approach is very secure because the corporate data exists only within the sandbox MDM application itself, as opposed to being accessible by other applications. This is also helpful for preventing the use of document viewers as attachments cannot be opened with other applications. This approach can be quite popular with financial services companies as very specific security policies and practices can be implemented. For example, specific encryption methods can be used. The sandbox approach may not sit well with users, since the major reason that they want to use an iphone is for its impressive user interface. Good Technology is the most prominent example of software that uses this approach, and if your security policies require you to use the sandbox approach, then your decision is easy, as Good is the only vendor of any significance in this category.

6 Most analysts are classifying Good as an alternative to MDM software, where MDM preserves the native user experience of the device itself, instead of providing a single trusted application, this approach involves securing the device as a whole. This allows the user to securely use the , calendar, contact and document-editing applications deemed to be most appropriate by the user and the IT department. Since the device s user interface remains the same, employees tend to prefer this.

7 Technical Criteria There are many important technical factors to consider when deciding which MDM provider(s) will be a good fit for your company: Are you planning on supporting specific tablet and smartphone operating systems; if so which ones? Will you be supporting users who bring personal devices into the corporate network (BYOD)? Will these users be subject to different security policies than those using corporately owned devices? Are you looking for a solution that you can host within your corporate network? If so, are you interested in a product that can be run within a virtual machine or within a hard appliance? If virtual machines are preferred, what type of virtualization infrastructure do you currently use? What system are you currently using for corporate , calendar and contacts? For example every solution offers varying support for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes Traveler, etc. The version(s) you are currently running may also affect the functionality. For example Microsoft Exchange 2007 allows for differing functionality within some MDM product than Microsoft Exchange 2003.

8 Are you planning a transition from a locally hosted system to something cloud based? If so which service are you considering? Some MDM services support cloud based systems, others do not. Are you intending to use your MDM software to distribute applications to your users? Are you planning to use commercial applications, or custom ones? Which operating systems will you develop for? Does your current IT disaster recovery policy affect the installation of an MDM service? Are you currently making use of, or do you have plans to use, certificate based authentication to access resources within your network? Which services would you like to authenticate in this manner? Would you like to allow your users to register their own devices? Would you prefer to have the MDM registration process rolled into the device procurement process? Are there any government regulations that you are subject to? How do these regulations impact mobile devices and MDM?

9 How technical is your user base? If your organization is composed of a more technical group you may benefit from having fewer calls to tech support. More technical users may also be more likely to intentionally subvert security policies. Conversely less technical users may require more technical support and may not fully understand the security risks associated with mobile devices. Differing MDM providers are more suited to differing technical levels of users. How many total users will make use of the MDM service you choose? Differences in volume pricing and ability to support various user group sizes will impact your MDM decision. Do you intend to administer your own MDM software? Professionally administrated MDM software is available from some providers. Do you have other internal or external processes involving mobile device procurement or management which will be affected by your introduction of an MDM service? Do these teams have the ability to handle the changes in their process required by some MDM services? Are you interested in an MDM software as subscription or perpetually licensed software?

10 What about pricing? The cost of MDM software varies greatly, generally depending on amount of functionality, hosting options, and the quantity of licenses purchased. In general you can expect to pay somewhere between $25 and $90 per seat for a perpetual license, or between $2 and $5 per seat for a monthly subscription service. Additional fees will also apply for ongoing software maintenance/support, installation services, and training. Pricing is currently fluctuating, as the market grows. Generally, pricing is higher for vendors that offer the most functionality, and that are most favored amongst buyers. Between the vendors on our shortlist, there are some differences in price, however, it depends on your specific requirements and volume.

11 What Should I Expect From Installation? Most MDM software relies on server-side software which acts as a central hub for mobile device communication with other services within the corporate network. The installation of an MDM product can be very complex. Integration with existing network services will need to be established and properly tested; this will require involvement from your IT department. We ve been involved with several companies after they had experienced a failed MDM project, and the software was not properly installed or tested. The software may have been an appropriate choice, however, the attention required on installation was not adequate. As is the case for other network software, professional installation practices, including step-by-step installation checklists should be followed.

12 What Next? This guide should help you to get started in your MDM decision, in selecting a shortlist of software, and determining which criteria are most important to you. Avema s MDM Assessment service is designed to help you make a final selection for an MDM provider, install the software, and train administrators. We will also help you to get the most aggressive price for the software and services, which means that you will also save money. Contact Us Avema Corporation 266 King St. West, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M5V 1H8 Phone: (416) sales@avema.com