How to Use MDM for Rugged Device Management? What Devices are Supported?
Introduction
The inclusion of mobile media devices in workplace management has become inevitable. Rising familiarity with mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops has pushed enterprises to utilize them to boost business performance through increased efficiency and productivity.
However, harsh and insecure network environments are the biggest enemies of mobile devices. If your business involves an extreme environment with dust, high temperatures, excessive shocks, water, or the potential for large drops and else which forces to use rugged devices, a unified device management solution is essential to keep things in the right place. Like Mobile Device Management software, it will ensure reliability through robust devices and comprehensive one-stop control.
1What are the Supported Rugged Devices
First, let’s understand what is rugged device and its management.
A rugged device can be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or IoT device designed to withstand challenging environmental conditions. MIL-STD (Military Standard) and the IP (Ingress Protection) tests determine the degree of device ruggedness.
Rugged devices are most used in logistics & warehousing, retail, construction, engineering, healthcare, hotel, and manufacturing industry for recording, measuring, contacting, and other commercial uses.
Overall, a rugged device management system will provide live data transmission from all devices scattered across different locations, provide comprehensive control, facilitate in-depth monitoring, and improve security. It will make devices tolerant against hardware and software failure, ensuring no impact of downtime occurs. Enterprises can use MDM or UEM software to monitor and manage rugged devices in a console after enrolling devices.
So, what rugged devices are available to use MDM solutions?
MDM across Operating Systems
Slightly different, but most MDM solutions are available to use on Android and Windows rugged devices. Rugged devices based on iOS are also available but rare due to the restrictive customization.
1Android
Due to its easy-to-use and familiar interface, rugged Android handheld devices have gained the market. A typical Android device has good battery life and computational power to handle workplace management applications.
Samsung, Motorola, and Panasonic are major players in Android rugged devices market. And MDM tools are able to manage their products.
1Windows
Due to its encryption features, touch-friendly interface, and capability to connect various peripherals, Windows rugged devices are ideal if your work requires high computational power and data management. Commonly, enterprises will choose from brands like Getac, Dell, Zebra, Panasonic, Lenovo, and Honeywell. Whatever the brand is, MDM for Windows devices can help with monitoring and controlling.
Source: Samsung
MDM on Device Types
Ruggedized mobile devices have been highly applied in numerous industries. It's not surprising that MDM tools keep up with the management need. The following devices are supported:
1Rugged Smartphones
Smartphones are the most convenient form of a rugged handheld device, and they can be an Android-based or Windows-based phone with a mobile device management system installed. Manufacturers can add peripherals such as a fingerprint scanner, extended battery, and dedicated stylus with smartphones to make them more work-oriented.
2Rugged Smartphones
Tablets have a large display, making them ideal for remote working. Workers can rapidly access its front and back-facing cameras to review work at construction sites and production facilities, or, for meetings and pictorial record keeping. And the IT department can monitor and control all the data by applying rugged device management solutions.
3Rugged Laptops
Rugged laptops are high computational capability devices with big batteries, reliable screens, high IP ratings, MIL-STD certification, and highly rubberized bodies. They can come with a pre-installed Windows OS and MDM software that gives more control to the employers.
4Others
Rugged wearable devices; rugged handhelds such as PDA, RFID Readers, barcode scanners, and data collectors are also workable with MDM.
28 Key MDM Features for Rugged Device Management
Opting for an MDM solution for your rugged device is the best solution for your organization. These features enhance productivity in the workplace.
1Kiosk Mode
If you want to specify what can and cannot be used on a rugged device, for example, apps and browsers, Kiosk mode will suit your need. The IT department can pre-configure a whitelist and backlist for apps and websites to restrict device usage through the MDM software.
2Policy
MDM tools implement policy across all organizational devices to improve security for both devices and the data in them. Some of the best approaches for rugged device management include remote wiping, strong password management, upgradation of software, restricted connection to unknown networks, frequent data backup, disallowing file transfer and camera, etc.
3Geofencing
It's a location-based tracking feature that offers by the MDM solution for rugged handheld device management. From a single dashboard, operational managers can monitor, track, analyze and receive real-time location info from thousands of devices.
4Monitoring
Monitoring individual devices scattered across the map without a unified solution is tedious and time-consuming. Remote monitoring is an essential feature for rugged device management. It provides a direct insight into the device's health by logging online/offline status, battery status, storage capacity, cellular data usage, network connectivity, and others.
5Remote control
Remote control allows accessing devices from a PC with administrative rights regardless of places and time to perform operations, such as remotely view screens, lock or wipe devices, transfer files, troubleshoot errors, etc.
6AMS
You can deploy a set of apps to specify users through a single MDM software. If there is a company-owned app that you want to staged roll out and force installation, AirDroid Business Application Management Service can make it happen.
7Alerts
Organizations can set up customized alerts using the MDM software if the device performance is degrading or a breach of security occurs. The device management tool will inform the issue immediately and help to reduce downtime, and provides real-time critical activity monitoring to enhance productivity.
8Inventory management & user management
As more and more ruggedized devices and members bringing into the organization, bulk operation and permission distribution become a hurry. MDM gives a centralized console to relieve stress.
3How to Manage Rugged Devices
An organization with thousands of rugged devices can manage them from one place through a MDM solution. Before taking the steps required for driving a rugged device, you should take device availability and OS compatibility into consideration.
Here, we will take AirDroid Business for instance. Let’s start practicing.
Step 1: Deploy rugged devices to Airdroid Business
After you have signed up for AirDroid Business, you will enter the admin console. You can perform rugged device management through the console.
First of all, you need to add corporate rugged devices to the MDM console. Now the admin can use two methods to perform device enrollment: 6 Times Tap and Enrollment via USB.
Step 2: Preconfigure Policy or Kiosk Mode
When in the admin console, navigate to the Admin Console >> Policy & Kiosk section to configure device settings for your organization.
Choose Policy if you want to set up rules to limit device usage that are directed against the device system.
Or, you can set up a kiosk mode file to limit usable applications and websites as well as enable single-app Kiosk mode.
Step 3: Preset Alerts and Auto Workflows
The rugged device owner can set specific automated actions to improve security and enhance monitoring. In AirDroid Business, you can use Geofencing together with Alerts and Auto Workflows.
Track device location in Geofencing. Then setup triggered condition and workflow in Geofence Mgmt to implement actions automatically.
Step 4: Monitor devices and users
AirDroid Business allows easy monitoring of all the devices and user account details. It offers Data Usage Report, Device Inventory, Account Activity, and Applications.
4Benefits of Using MDM for Rugged Device Management
Performance
MDM reduces unnecessary clutter and keeps the rugged device working at its full potential in one place.
Monitoring
Rugged devices are expensive equipment that needs to be maintained and monitored. An MDM software can remotely access devices and keep eye on their run status. Administrators can check the device's health information periodically. Moreover, they can control the rugged device if necessary.
Security
Information is the biggest asset of any organization, and employees may intentionally or unintentionally transmit confidential data through their devices. An MDM software for rugged device management will implement a strong password policy and block user access to prevent potential information loss.
Troubleshooting
While the IT department actively monitors the devices, they can immediately take action to fix issues by remotely accessing the rugged device's screen.
FAQs
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