The financial services sector is rapidly adopting mobile technology to engage with customers through field verifications and remote onboarding.
While these mobile apps offer unprecedented flexibility, they introduce significant IT complexity. Managing a fleet of devices securely and consistently is a major challenge, especially in a regulated industry.
This is where a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution becomes essential, ensuring compliance, reducing risk, and streamlining the oversight of a widely distributed mobile workforce.
1 Common Device Management Challenges in Regulated Industries
Field agents are using mobile devices more than ever to collect signatures, verify IDs, and provide services directly to clients. However, managing these devices at scale presents a host of IT challenges that can lead to security vulnerabilities and operational headaches.
One of the biggest concerns is device misuse or off-policy behavior. Without proper controls, agents might use company devices for personal tasks, leading to distractions and potential exposure to malicious apps.
This is often tied to inconsistent security configurations, such as a camera or microphone being turned off when it's needed for client verification, which can result in non-compliance.
Another major risk is data leakage through unauthorized use of USB ports or SD cards, which can be a primary vector for malware or data exfiltration.
Furthermore, lost or stolen devices are a constant threat, as they can expose sensitive client data to unauthorized individuals. IT teams often lack real-time visibility into the location or usage of these devices, making it difficult to monitor activity, enforce policies, and quickly respond to incidents.
The combination of these factors makes managing a large fleet of mobile devices a significant security and compliance burden.
2 How an MDM Solution Solves These Challenges
A comprehensive MDM solution provides a centralized platform to address these common issues, giving IT administrators the control they need without hindering agent productivity.
- By using kiosk mode, devices can be locked down to a limited set of pre-approved apps and features, preventing misuse and focusing agents on their core tasks.
- App permission enforcement ensures critical functions like the camera and microphone remain active for identity verification, guaranteeing compliance with internal policies.
- To prevent data leaks, an MDM can disable USB ports and SD card usage entirely, closing off a major security loophole.
- In the event a device is lost or stolen, remote control capabilities allow IT to instantly troubleshoot issues, lock the device, or even remotely wipe all data to protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.
- Geofencing provides an additional layer of security by monitoring device location and defining usage boundaries, alerting administrators if a device leaves a designated area.
This continuous policy enforcement ensures that every device in the field maintains consistent security settings, providing peace of mind and simplifying compliance audits.
3Managing Android Devices in the Field: Use Case
A financial technology company, deployed a fleet of HONOR Android devices to its field agents. These agents used a custom app to help clients with digital banking services, including submitting documents and signatures for new credit card applications and bank accounts.
Before implementing AirDroid Business MDM solution, the company faced significant compliance risks and operational inefficiencies.
After implementing AirDroid Business, they gained the necessary control and visibility over its distributed device fleet.
The company leveraged features like Kiosk Mode to restrict devices to only the custom app, preventing misuse.
They also used remote policy enforcement to ensure the devices' cameras and microphones were always active for client verification, and they disabled USB and SD card access to prevent data leaks.
With remote control and geofencing capabilities, the IT team could troubleshoot devices from afar and track their locations, ensuring both security and compliance.
This not only improved security but also boosted agent productivity and gave the company greater peace of mind.
4 Final Words
If your organization manages a fleet of mobile devices in the field—especially within the financial sector or other regulated industries—enforcing security and policy at scale is a non-negotiable part of your strategy.
An MDM solution is no longer a luxury; it’s a critical piece of your IT infrastructure. Don't wait for a compliance issue or security breach to act. We invite you to see how a solution like AirDroid Business can transform your mobile operations, protect your data, and empower your remote teams.
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