What is Mobile Application Management (MAM)?
Mobile Application Management — or MAM — is a solution that enables organisations to manage mobile applications on their employees’ devices without controlling the entire device. It provides granular control over the applications used for professional purposes and ensures that company data remains secure.
The concept of MAM focuses on the management of apps whilst preserving the privacy of employees’ personal data. Organisations can ensure that only authorised mobile applications are used and that sensitive company data is protected.
Why is MAM so important for organisations?
In today’s mobile working environment, mobile devices and apps are an integral part of daily business processes. Mobile Application Management gives organisations the ability to maintain control over the applications installed on these devices without intruding on employees’ privacy.
Managing mobile applications is essential for ensuring data security and preventing the loss of sensitive information. MAM solutions allow organisations to monitor, update and even remotely delete apps if a device is lost or no longer in use.
The differences between MAM and MDM
The difference between MAM and MDM (Mobile Device Management) lies in the scope of control. Whilst Mobile Device Management controls the entire device, Mobile Application Management focuses solely on the applications.
With MDM, organisations can control the entire device — including the operating system, apps and security policies. MAM, by contrast, enables the management of individual applications and their data without affecting the employee’s personal information.
The combination of MAM and MDM provides a more comprehensive solution for organisations that wish to manage both the device and its applications.
How does MAM support data security?
Data security is one of the primary reasons organisations turn to Mobile Application Management. By managing apps, organisations can ensure that sensitive data and information are not shared without authorisation or stolen.
MAM solutions enable the implementation of security policies for specific mobile applications, ensuring that only authorised devices can access company data. Organisations can also monitor and control the exchange of business data between apps.
A MAM strategy can help organisations implement security features such as encryption, authentication and secure communication.
What mobile applications can be managed?
With Mobile Application Management, organisations can manage a wide range of apps used for business purposes. This includes both internal applications and publicly available apps installed on employees’ mobile devices.
An organisation may, for example, control the use of business apps such as email clients, calendars or communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Slack. Policies can also be applied to personal apps to prevent company data from being compromised.
By monitoring and managing these apps, organisations can ensure that all applications comply with their security policies.
Benefits of Mobile Application Management
Using Mobile Application Management offers organisations several key benefits:
- Security: Protection of sensitive data through strict security policies and the ability to remotely delete apps.
- Control: Organisations retain oversight of all apps used on mobile devices and can manage them centrally.
- Efficiency: Automated management and deployment of applications enable straightforward configuration and installation of apps.
MAM helps to boost employee productivity by giving staff quick access to the apps they need without compromising the organisation’s security requirements.
MAM in BYOD scenarios: challenges and solutions
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is common practice in many organisations. Employees use their own mobile devices for work purposes, which can give rise to security risks. MAM offers a solution here by allowing organisations to control only the business apps, without needing to access employees’ personal information.
In BYOD scenarios, MAM enables organisations to ensure that all applications comply with company policies without restricting employees’ personal use of their devices.
What is Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)?
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) is a more comprehensive solution that encompasses both MAM and MDM. EMM enables organisations to manage and secure not only apps but also employees’ devices, data and communications.
With EMM solutions, organisations can control both business and personal devices without violating employee privacy. It provides a centralised platform for managing all mobile devices within the organisation.
How do you implement a MAM strategy?
Successfully implementing a Mobile Application Management strategy involves several steps:
- Needs assessment: The organisation should first determine which mobile applications need to be managed and what security policies are required.
- Software selection: The appropriate MAM software must be chosen to meet the organisation’s specific requirements.
- Integration: The MAM solution must be integrated into existing systems and applied to employees’ mobile devices.
- Training: Employees must be trained to understand the new applications and security policies.
With the right implementation of a MAM strategy, organisations can both ensure the security of their data and improve overall efficiency.
Key takeaways
- Mobile Application Management (MAM) enables organisations to manage and secure mobile applications.
- MAM focuses on apps, whilst Mobile Device Management (MDM) controls the entire device.
- MAM provides a solution for BYOD scenarios by managing only business apps and protecting employees’ personal data.
- Organisations can significantly improve security by implementing MAM and applying security policies to mobile apps.
- Implementing a MAM strategy requires planning, training and the selection of appropriate software.