How do you compare mobile device management vendors?

1 Define your requirements

Before you start evaluating MDM vendors, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with MDM. What are your business goals, challenges, and use cases? How many devices, platforms, and users do you need to support? What are your security, compliance, and performance standards? What are your budget and timeline constraints? By defining your requirements, you can narrow down your options and focus on the features and functions that matter most to you.

2 Compare the capabilities

Once you have a shortlist of potential MDM vendors, you need to compare their capabilities and see how they match your requirements. To do this, consider aspects such as the deployment model, device support, app management, data management, security management, user management, and reporting and analytics. For instance, does the vendor offer a cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid solution? Does it support the types of devices you use? Does it provide app distribution, security, and updates? What about data encryption, backup, and recovery? Does it offer device authentication and encryption? Can it integrate with your identity and access management systems? Does it provide real-time and historical data on device activity? All these factors should be taken into account when evaluating MDM vendors.

3 Assess the quality

When selecting an MDM vendor, it's important to consider the quality of their products and services. Look for a vendor that is reliable, responsive, and reputable. Customer satisfaction is one key indicator of quality - examine existing customer reviews and how the vendor responds to feedback and complaints. Additionally, assess how easy it is to contact the vendor's support team, as well as their customer retention rate and success stories. Finally, consider the vendor's industry recognition - what awards, certifications, and partnerships have they earned? All of these factors will help you determine if the vendor is the right fit for your needs.

4 Test the solution

The final step to compare MDM vendors is to test their solutions in your environment. Request a free trial, demo, or proof of concept from the vendors and evaluate the solutions based on your criteria. Consider factors such as ease of setup, use, and management; performance, scalability, and integration with existing systems and processes; security, compliance, and reliability; vendor support and service; and value for your investment. By following these steps, you can compare MDM vendors to find the best one for your enterprise mobility needs.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?