What is Office 365 Mobile Device Management?

Here at ESP Projects, we have been listening to our customers and exploring lots of your questions.  Today let’s explore “what is Office 365 Mobile Device Management?” 

What is it?

Out of the ‘box’, Office 365 will allow any device to log into it, whether this is a computer in the office with security governed by your server, or an end user’s mobile device.

Once connected these devices may have access to a whole gamut of Office 365 data and systems. MDM can be used in conjunction with Conditional access to block devices that do not meet specific security criteria from accessing your Office 365 platform.  It will therefore allow you to control the flow of data that is usually outside your reach.  It will allow you to enforce password requirements, and to remote wipe organisational data from the device if lost or stolen.

How Does it work and some of the functionalities of Office 365 Device Management…

ESP login to your 365 portal and configure some policies that help to protect you.  For example, ensuring that only passwords are required on the device, the level of security a device must reach, and of course the ability to remotely remove organisational data. The end user experience differs slightly across devices and use cases, but this does help enable safe BYOD strategies for your organisation along with greater data governance.

Here are some key aspects and functionalities of Office 365 Mobile Device Management:

Device Enrollment.

Office 365 MDM enables administrators to enroll mobile devices into a management system. This can be done through various methods, such as user-driven enrollment, bulk enrollment, or automatic enrollment when a device accesses corporate resources.

Policy Management.

Administrators can define and enforce security policies for enrolled devices. These policies can include requirements for device passcodes, encryption settings, and app restrictions. You can configure policies based on device platforms (iOS, Android, Windows) to ensure compliance with security standards.

Remote Wipe.

In the event a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, administrators can remotely wipe corporate data from the device to prevent unauthorized access. This helps protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

App Management.

Office 365 MDM allows you to manage and secure the apps that users can install on their devices. You can specify which apps are allowed or blocked, ensuring that only approved apps are used for accessing corporate resources.

Conditional Access.

Conditional access policies can be configured to grant or deny access to Office 365 services based on the device’s compliance with security policies. For example, you can require that devices meet specific criteria (e.g., up-to-date OS, passcode protection) before granting access to email or documents.

Monitoring and Reporting.

Office 365 MDM provides monitoring and reporting capabilities, allowing administrators to track the compliance status of enrolled devices and identify potential security issues or policy violations.

Multi-Platform Support.

It supports a variety of mobile device platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows, making it suitable for organizations with diverse device ecosystems.

Integration with Azure Active Directory.

Office 365 MDM is closely integrated with Azure Active Directory, which helps in managing user identities and access to resources in a unified approach.

How do I use it?

Implementation will involve the reworking of some of your mobile devices including mobiles and laptops. Following configuration some mobiles may work in a slightly different method where organisational apps and data are concerned, with additional profiles created to keep data separate.

Benefits to your business:

Compliance

Adhering to best practices means you stay ahead of the game for Mobile device security and flexibility of working.

Peace of Mind

Your organisation can feel comfortable in the knowledge that mobile devices, especially BYOD, pose less of a security risk.

Reporting

Greater reporting over who, and what is accessing your Office 365 platform, along with better controls to minimise your risks.

Summary

Office 365 MDM is particularly valuable for businesses that need to maintain a balance between productivity and security. Especially, when employees use their own devices (BYOD) or when mobile devices are used for work-related tasks. It provides a centralised and efficient way to manage and protect corporate data on mobile devices. While allowing employees the flexibility to use the devices they are most comfortable with.  If you would like to know more why not book a 30-minute teams with us today!!