How do you ensure your mobile devices and applications meet regulatory standards?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, compliance is not just a regulatory requirement; it’s a critical aspect of safeguarding your business’s reputation and ensuring its longevity.

For SMEs in the UK, managing compliance effectively can be a daunting task, especially with the rise of remote work and the proliferation of mobile devices.

This is where MDM & MAM, backed up with Microsoft InTune comes into play.

As a business, encompassing the right Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) solution will provide you with a comprehensive approach to managing mobile devices, applications, and information within your organisation.

It focuses on application, content, and identity management on the devices, as well as addressing security and multiplatform support.

These solutions provide a robust framework to ensure compliance across various regulations and standards.

Here are the top ten ways Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) help SMEs with compliance:

1. Data Protection and Privacy to Protect Corporate Data

One of the foremost concerns for any business is protecting sensitive data. MDM and MAM solutions enable you to enforce data encryption on all mobile devices, ensuring that sensitive business and customer information is protected.

For instance, an accounting firm can use MDM to encrypt client financial data stored on employees’ tablets, thereby complying with GDPR requirements without affecting personal data.

2. Remote Wipe and Lock

In the unfortunate event that a device is lost or stolen, MDM allows you to remotely wipe or lock the entire device.

This feature is crucial for compliance with data protection laws, as it prevents unauthorised access to sensitive information.

For example, a law firm can quickly wipe a stolen smartphone containing confidential case details, ensuring compliance with legal data protection standards.

3. Application Control

MAM solutions provide the ability to control which applications can be installed and used on business devices through app protection policies.

This helps in preventing the use of unapproved apps that might compromise security and compliance.

For instance, a healthcare provider can restrict employees from downloading unapproved health apps that might not comply with HIPAA regulations.

4. Policy Enforcement

MDM and MAM solutions allow businesses to enforce company-wide policies on all devices. This includes password policies, access controls, and usage restrictions.

For example, a financial services firm can enforce strong password policies and two-factor authentication on all devices accessing their network, ensuring compliance with FCA guidelines and protecting company data.

5. Compliance Reporting

MDM solutions provide detailed reporting capabilities, which are essential for demonstrating compliance during audits.

These reports can show that all devices are encrypted, all policies are enforced, and any security incidents are logged and addressed, ensuring the protection of corporate data.

For instance, an SME undergoing a GDPR audit can present MDM compliance reports as evidence of their data protection measures.

6. App Security and App Protection Policies

MAM allows businesses to secure business applications by wrapping them in security policies that protect data both at rest and in transit.

This ensures that sensitive information accessed through corporate apps remains protected, regardless of the end user's location or device.

For example, a consultancy firm can ensure that its project management app encrypts data and uses secure connections, complying with client confidentiality agreements.

This means limiting the risk of confidential client information being leaked and potentially destroying a business's reputation.

MAM also enables organisations to secure corporate data without affecting personal data and apps on the device, providing a more granular approach to securing and managing the applications and data on a mobile device. This is possible across both IOS and Android devices with Microsoft InTune.

7. Access Management

MDM and MAM solutions provide tools for managing and restricting access to corporate resources. This ensures that only authorised personnel can access sensitive information, crucial for compliance with various industry standards.

For example, an engineering firm can use MDM to ensure that only certified engineers have access to project plans and proprietary information.

Additionally, MAM allows secure work tasks to be performed on personal devices, ensuring data separation between personal and corporate data without requiring complete control over the physical device.

Therefore, managing corporate-owned devices remotely has never been easier with InTune app protection policies.

8. Content Filtering

Content filtering capabilities allow businesses to restrict access to inappropriate or non-compliant websites and content.

This is particularly important for maintaining compliance with industry regulations and internal policies.

For instance, a marketing agency can use MDM to block access to non-business-related sites during work hours, ensuring productivity and compliance with company policies.

Additionally, MDM helps protect both personal and corporate data by filtering content that could compromise data security.

9. Location Tracking

MDM solutions often include location-tracking features that help businesses keep tabs on company devices.

This can be crucial for compliance with laws and regulations regarding data location and device management.

For example, a logistics company can use MDM to track the location of corporate-owned devices, such as company smartphones, and ensure they are being used within approved geographical areas.

10. Automated Updates and Patching

Keeping devices and applications up to date with the latest security patches is essential for compliance.

MDM and MAM solutions can automate this process, ensuring that all devices across various operating systems are running the latest, most secure versions of software.

For instance, a retail company can use MDM to automatically push updates to all point-of-sale devices, ensuring compliance with PCI DSS standards.

MDM/MAM & Compliance

Incorporating Microsoft InTune, the cloud-based, unified endpoint management platform, alongside a comprehensive MDM and MAM solution, into your SME’s IT strategy is a proactive step towards achieving and maintaining compliance.

These tools not only help in safeguarding sensitive data but also streamline the enforcement of policies and regulations across all devices.

By leveraging the capabilities of this, businesses can manage desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices comprehensively, mitigate risks, enhance security, and ensure compliance with ease.

Are you ready to take the next step in securing your business’s compliance?

For more information regarding how you can help keep your business devices and data compliant and secure with remote working employees, check out our blog here!

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