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Working from home is here to stay and many people do work from home, even when they’re office bound. These team members frequently want to use their own devices, which potentially blends personal usage with corporate data and resources. You may have heard of bring your own device (BYOD), which is the mobility management that best describes this concept. BYOD requires IT teams to obtain real-time visibility and control while respecting personal boundaries.
Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are turning to Android device management to implement an effective BYOD strategy. Below, we’ll describe what Android EMM is, how it enables a BYOD approach, and the unique features that make it a worthwhile investment.
What Is Android EMM?
Android enterprise mobility management (EMM) enables IT to enroll, provision, track, troubleshoot, and secure BYOD and corporate-owned (COD) Android devices remotely.
IT and security teams leverage Android EMM to monitor devices in real time, reducing the chances of data theft and leakage. Admins use an EMM console to register Android devices, install the Android Device Policy app, and set up Managed Google Play.
Android Enterprise Recommended providers meet an advanced set of enterprise requirements. Android Device Policy, a policy controller that’s built into Android, pulls management policies from your approved EMM provider and automatically applies it to every device.
Managed Google Play serves as a private app store. IT admins set deployment options and policies such as web app publishing, private app publishing, app organization, and public app search. BYOD users will only be able to install organization-approved apps on work profiles. Users will notice a clear separation between their personal use and business apps/data.
JumpCloud is an approved EMM provider, and can manage all devices from a centralized administrative console. It supports Apple products, Android, Linux, and Windows PCs.
How Does Android EMM Work with BYOD?
IT and security teams have to find ways to embrace BYOD policies while maintaining the same level of org-wide security. Android EMM helps by keeping work data secure and separate from personal data, safeguarding company resources and data. Containerization of Android gives IT admins significant flexibility to handle BYOD scenarios by deploying a core set of policies that are best for their organization(s). Corporate-owned devices may be fully managed.
Some common Android EMM configurations include:
- Enforcing password policies and other compliance-related activity such as defining lock screen policies or encryption
- Securing apps in the work profile with a VPN
- Restricting access to business-sanctioned apps in the Google Play Store
- Configuring work app settings and permissions
- Remotely wiping a stolen or compromised device
- Providing anti-malware protection from Google Play Protect
What Are the Features of an Android EMM?
The best Android EMM solutions come with several distinct features, including remote enrollment, profile and app management, security settings, and audit reports. Referring to this list when evaluating potential Android EMM providers will help ensure that your IT team has a say over how BYOD and COD devices are used, configured, and secured.
Profile Management
Another key function of Android EMM is profile management. As soon as a device is enrolled, corresponding permissions and settings configured in the EMM server will automatically apply to the device. IT admins can control Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, camera, and browser settings at a profile level, boosting an organization’s overall security.
App Management
Admins also have to pay attention to the types of apps employees use on their corporate or personal devices. With an Android EMM solution in place, IT teams can deploy public or private apps in bulk, manage app permissions, and blacklist apps that aren’t allowed or are from unknown publishers. Custom reports can flag suspicious activity (more on that below).
Security Management
Probably the single biggest concern with BYOD policies is maintaining security. Android EMM makes installing updates and security software easy while restricting user access to company data. For security purposes, IT admins may use Android EMM to:
- Remotely lock devices
- Wipe repurposed devices clean
- Erase confidential data on devices that are lost or stolen
- Create alerts for questionable activity
- Deploy malware and phishing software
The best EMM platforms have flexible APIs, allowing admins to connect new devices to existing security infrastructure such as identity and access management (IAM) platforms. This makes it possible to unify IT infrastructure versus having to invest in integrating separate spot solutions.
Containerization for BYOD
Companies have little to no control over a user’s behavior on their personal profile, and risky behavior could have detrimental consequences to company security. But Android EMM solutions segregate a device’s personal and work data — a process referred to as “containerization.” That way, if the personal profile on a device is compromised, the device’s work profile can still be locked down to preserve company data.
Audits and Reports
Continuous monitoring is an essential component of an airtight security program. But keeping track of multiple devices in multiple locations can present a challenge for IT teams. Android EMM solutions often have built-in auditing capabilities that surface any persistent issues or red flags. In a BYOD-driven environment, organizations can take advantage of these reporting features to assess their device fleet by model, app usage, location, and more.
Android EMM Solutions with JumpCloud
IT teams must be able to monitor and manage the risks associated with BYOD efficiently with minimal employee disruption. Android EMM makes this possible, helping IT teams manage app, profile, and security settings from miles away, boosting security and employee satisfaction.
JumpCloud’s cross-platform device management, which includes Android EMM, makes this possible. IT teams can manage app deployments, profile, and security settings remotely, boosting security and employee satisfaction. Admins can use JumpCloud’s unified cloud-based console to control laptops, mobile phones, and desktops from a single platform, regardless of device OS. JumpCloud Android EMM combines identity, access, and device management into one intuitive platform, centralizing and strengthening customers’ security infrastructure.
JumpCloud Android EMM makes it possible for IT teams to quickly configure, test, and distribute Android devices. This boosts productivity and streamlines onboarding while employees get the resources they need when they need them — without interfering with personal use.
Check out our recent post to learn more about Android EMM solutions, or sign up for a trial of JumpCloud today.
