The Relationship between Telecom Expense Management and MDM
September 24, 2013
By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor
Access to a mobile device that can also access a corporate network is an important tool for the active employee out in the field. He or she needs access to many of the same things corporate-based employees need, but the level of access to these things can vary according to the employee. Many rely on mobile devices, which in turn demands mobile device management. How does the adoption of such a tool play into the demand for telecom expense management?
The reality is that mobility plays a critical part in the success of small businesses. That same small business likely has to pay close attention to the amount of money spent in any given month or quarter. If the communications strategies and tools put in place don’t support the needs of the organization and continue to drain financial resources, telecom expense management is needed to eliminate unnecessary devices, lines and contracts. It can also be used to correct billing errors and put needed dollars back into the budget.
At the same time, the implementation of the mobile device management strategy is meant to provide access, control and security for the mobile user. With the explosion of bring your own device (BYOD) deployments throughout the corporate environment, IT administrators need a way to ensure those accessing the corporate network and data are authorized to do so. They also need access to the devices with the ability to block risky applications and swipe the memory clean in the event the device is compromised or stolen.
State Tech Magazine offers specific tips to help organizations get the most out of their mobile device management solutions. The first step is to decide which users, applications and devices should be mobilized. Not every business wants everyone in the field to have access to all aspects of the network or the supported data. Putting a plan in place that dictates who can access what and when is an important step in the process to a successful mobile strategy.
It’s also important that IT managers and users receive an education on mobile device management. These solutions are important tools in the mobile environment, but they do have limitations to what they can do. And, they aren’t meant to replace sound management and policy enforcement. Therefore, it’s critical to understand the scope of the solution and where it can’t deliver on expectations.
Whether or not MDM fits into the overall IT management strategy is an important element to consider. Just because employees want to be mobile and corporate wants to launch a BYOD policy doesn’t mean it works with what IT currently has in place. To ensure the benefits of telecom expense management are protected, all involved parties should discuss the opportunities, as well as the limitations as they relate to the current strategies and policies in place.
Finally, to ensure MDM can keep pace with the demand of the telecom expense management strategy, those involved have to consider the evolving nature of MDM. The market as a whole is constantly changing and new innovations are opening up new opportunities, as well as new threats. Without a clear understanding of how this impacts the bottom line overall, success will be hard to achieve.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey