mobile device management - MDM

MDM is short for mobile device management.

What is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?

Mobile device management (MDM) is a type of security software used by an IT department to monitor, manage and secure employee's mobile devices that are deployed across multiple mobile service providers and across multiple mobile operating systems being used in the organization.  Mobile device management software is often combined with additional security services and tools to create a complete mobile device and security management solution.

The Gartner research firm defines mobile device management as "a range of products and services that enables organizations to deploy and support corporate applications to mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, possibly for personal use — enforcing policies and maintaining the desired level of IT control across multiple platforms."

Mobile Device Management Solutions

Most mobile device management solutions provide organizations with end-to-end security —  meaning the mobile apps, network and data used by the mobile device (in addition to the mobile device itself) are managed by an organization's IT department with a single mobile device software product.

Some enterprise MDM solutions combine mobile security and expense management in a single product. Depending on the vendor and what specific features it supports, you can typically expect mobile device management software to contain some or all of the following features:  management and support of mobile applications, mobile policy management, inventory management, security management and telecom service management.

BYOD and Mobile Device Management

The widespread proliferation of consumerization of IT means more personal consumer computing devices — such as smartphones, laptops and tablets — are brought to the workplace by employees for use and connectivity on the corporate network. The phrase BYOD (bring your own device) has become widely adopted to refer to these employees. Today's category of mobile device management software is one way that an organization can deliver secure mobile solutions to its BYOD workforce.

Recommended Reading: Webopedia's BYOD, consumerization of IT and security software definitions.

MDM is also short for master data management.