Summary:
This blog explains how unmanaged mobile devices can weaken business security, disrupt operations, and add hidden costs. It also demonstrates how Mobile Device Management (MDM) offers the framework needed to safeguard information, manage apps, and maintain team productivity. Lowry Solutions, with nearly 50 years of experience, works directly with businesses to set up MDM, keep an eye on devices, and make sure every gadget stays safe and reliable throughout its life. The goal is simple: let companies get the most out of their mobile tools without worrying about what could go wrong.
Table of Contents
Employees are mobile. Data is mobile. Cyber threats are mobile. And without control, every single device can act as an unlocked door into your network.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is no longer an optional “add-on.” It’s the backbone of secure, flexible work. When properly implemented, MDM not only safeguards your data but also maintains optimal operations regardless of the number of devices in the field.
Mobile Device Management (MDM): What Is It
MDM is all about visibility and control. It enables businesses to:
- Track the health and use of devices in real time.
- Push updates, patches, or new apps remotely.
- Enforce security policies on all devices.
- Lock or wipe devices immediately if lost or stolen.
The differences between MDM and previous approaches are striking. To secure information, conventional IT used VPNs and anti-virus programs. Although those applications are still beneficial, they were created for fixed desktop machines plugged into offices and not mobile phones used in coffeehouses, airports, and factory floors. Anti-virus software can identify malware, but it is helpless to stop employees from pilfering a worker’s phone. A VPN can encrypt traffic, but cannot stop someone from downloading harmful software.
MDM fills these gaps by consolidating control. With an effectively implemented MDM solution, IT administrators don’t merely react to issues; they detect risk before it becomes a problem.
For Zebra customers, this is more than checkboxes for security. Zebra complements MDM with tools that streamline deployment and introduce intelligence:
- StageNow makes it almost painless to set up devices. IT managers can enroll and provision thousands of Android devices by scanning a barcode or tapping NFC. This saves rollout time from hours to minutes.
- VisibilityIQ Foresight goes beyond warnings to give dashboards proactive insights, such as which devices are performing poorly, which batteries are nearing the end of their useful lives, or where downtime risk is highest.
- Zebra Managed Services take the day-to-day weight off IT teams. The service runs around the clock, handling monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting so devices stay in working order. Instead of stretching internal staff thin, the responsibility shifts to a trusted partner. Businesses working with Lowry Solutions gain access to this support along with the experience needed to keep operations moving without interruption.
Ultimately, MDM is the “what,” but Zebra with Lowry delivers the “how.”
The Business Risks of Unmanaged Devices
If not managed, any phone, tablet, or handheld device that links to business networks poses a danger. Devices left unattended may violate industry standards, leak data, or provide opportunities for hackers. Because of this, MDM is now required rather than optional.
Hidden Vulnerabilities in Personal Apps
It doesn’t take a sophisticated hack to compromise a business. A weak password on a personal app—like social media—can expose work logins stored on the same phone. Without MDM, IT has no way to isolate or contain that threat.
Lost or Stolen Devices
When a device disappears, so does the data on it. The difference between a breach and a non-event often comes down to one feature: remote wipe. Many top-notch MDM-ready devices can be locked, tracked, or erased when missing.
Compliance Pressure
From HIPAA in healthcare to PCI DSS in retail, industries now require strict device control. MDM provides the audit trails, access logs, and security standards needed to pass compliance checks with confidence.
What an Effective MDM Strategy Looks Like
An effective MDM strategy does more than monitor devices. It creates a structure where people can work freely, company data is safeguarded, and IT personnel maintain control without having to battle fires all the time.
Work and Personal Data Separation
Combining personal and professional apps creates needless risks. By creating separate storage environments, MDM makes sure company records are safe even in the case of a compromise involving a personal account.
Secure App Management
MDM prevents malicious software from gaining a foothold by managing what can be installed. Devices can be configured to download only approved software and automatically receive updates.
Remote Device Control
IT can immediately step in case of a misplaced phone or tablet. Sensitive information is kept safe from thieves by features like remote locking, deleting, and deactivating.
Alerts and Monitoring
When unusual activity occurs, such as an illicit program download or a device going over permitted limits, custom alerts notify management to fix problems immediately.
Real-Time Device Tracking
MDM platforms offer the most recent data on the whereabouts and capabilities of devices. Quick preventative actions, like locking down a device if it seems compromised, are made possible by this transparency.
Unified Endpoint Oversight
MDM gives IT complete platform insight by centrally managing scanners, laptops, tablets, and even Internet of Things devices through a single system.
Location Controls and Geofencing
Geofencing policies provide an extra layer of security. When a device leaves a defined boundary, automatic actions, alerts or security locks, are triggered to prevent theft or abuse.
Remote Troubleshooting
Help desk staff don’t necessarily require the device in front of them. They can identify issues, implement solutions, and keep employees busy without costly downtime thanks to remote viewing and interactive control.
Dashboards and Performance Insights
Teams may quickly review important data instead of sifting through reports. Decision-making is accelerated and improved by well-designed dashboards that highlight KPIs, device health, and danger areas.
Beyond Security—The Real Payoff of MDM
Information protection is not the only function of mobile device management. It helps employees use their devices safely and streamlines IT work.
Productivity Without Compromise
Employees can work on devices they know, while IT sets rules to keep company data safe. This way, work continues without interruptions.
Application Control
IT can automatically update and delete apps as needed, but only enable authorized apps. If a device is misplaced, it can erase apps and company data remotely.
Monitoring and Reports
IT can monitor data and app activity, track device use, and assess performance. Alerts can let the team know if something out of the ordinary occurs. This keeps expenses under control and helps avoid issues.
Reducing IT Workload
Updates, fixes, and configuring new devices are examples of routine processes that can be automated. While devices remain safe and current, IT can focus on other responsibilities.
Security Management
MDM helps in protecting business data. It can encrypt devices, demand passwords, and lock or erase them if stolen or lost. It also maintains software updates and monitors odd activity, such as suspicious app installs or logins.
Works on Any Device
You can manage phones, tablets, and PCs running Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android with MDM—teams with members who use many devices for work benefit from having everything under control.
Where MDM Delivers the Biggest Impact
When mobile devices go unmanaged, real problems follow. Here’s where MDM matters, and the numbers show why.
Healthcare
In U.S. healthcare, most reported breaches involve lost or stolen devices. About 68% of incidents stem from missing laptops, phones, or flash drives, not hackers. That puts MDM at the center of securing patient data.
Manufacturing & Warehousing
The financial industry warns that 25% of data breaches are caused by lost or stolen mobile devices. Even without detailed numbers, it’s obvious that leaving scanners and tablets unsecured in a warehouse can lead to serious mistakes.
Retail
At checkout, every mobile POS is a target. Reports show mobile malware, especially trojans aimed at banking, has surged. In the U.S., banking trojan attacks rose 3.6-fold in 2024, from about 69,000 to nearly 248,000 incidents. That makes secure POS systems vital.
Finance
U.S. banks are some of the most targeted: 109 banking institutions faced mobile malware threats in 2023, more than any other country. A compromised device can expose sensitive customer data, making MDM a must-have.
Field Services
Devices in the field are easy to lose, and expensive when they vanish. Across industries, 54% of large enterprises report data breaches due to lost or stolen devices. That kind of risk makes remote lock and wipe features critical.
Why Organizations Choose Lowry Solutions
Mobile devices at work are commonplace and can hold personal and professional data. Corporate apps and login credentials are protected from hazards connected to personal use via mobile device management (MDM). It allows IT to monitor devices, manage actions, and encrypt data without interfering with daily operations.
Key Features
- Notifies managers right away when devices require maintenance.
- Utilizes a single administration tool across all devices.
- Offers dashboards for monitoring performance, usage, and possible security risks.
- Enables IT to prohibit unapproved apps and approve those for use.
- Allows IT to wipe, lock, or disable lost or stolen devices.
Reliable Setup and Support
MDM tools need proper deployment and ongoing management to work effectively. Experienced teams can handle setup, monitor devices, and ensure each device is secure and accounted for. This reduces pressure on internal IT teams and keeps operations running smoothly.
Lowry Solutions has been involved in asset monitoring and enterprise systems for many years. We are capable of managing and deploying MDM solutions over an extended period of time. To prevent disruptions, its staff works with dependable partners like Zebra, Honeywell, and SOTI and provides round-the-clock support. When Lowry Solutions manages deployment and management, businesses can be sure that their devices are secure, monitored, and properly accounted for.
Lowry Solutions
The Trusted Leader in Mobile Device Management
Unmanaged devices create real problems: lost data, higher costs, and compliance risks. Mobile Device Management gives your team control, protects sensitive information, and keeps employees working without interruption.
Companies are now constantly under pressure to maintain high security, increase output, and save expenses. Having a strong IT strategy now requires managing mobile devices. By transforming every gadget into a tool that improves operations rather than interferes with them, Lowry Solutions can assist companies in becoming proactive rather than reactive.
Lowry Solutions has been assisting businesses in managing technology. Our proven approach ensures your mobile devices remain secure, reliable, and fully supported across every stage of use.
Partner with Lowry Solutions and see how the right MDM strategy can reduce risk, cut hidden costs, and keep your workforce productive wherever they are.
FAQs
Yes. MDM keeps private information apart from business information. While work apps, email, and documents can be controlled in a safe location, personal photos, conversations, and documents are untouched.
The largest component is licensing, which is often billed per user or device. Beyond that, expenses are determined by the number of devices you are in charge of, the level of security you require, and the degree of integration you desire with your existing systems. Support and training also contribute to the total. Lowry Solutions assists customers with outlining these expenses in advance to ensure that budgets are transparent and surprise-free.
Yes. Most MDM platforms are built to scale, so you can start small and expand as your workforce or device count increases. Lowry Solutions helps clients choose solutions that won’t box them in later, so the system can grow along with the business.
All main platforms are supported by the majority of MDM systems. While the specific features may differ slightly amongst Apple, Android, and Windows, the fundamental tools—such as data security and app management—are universal. Lowry Solutions helps you match the appropriate platform with the devices that you use most frequently.
The amount of customization you require and the size of your device fleet will determine the rollout. Setting up a smaller group can be easy and usually involves only enrolling devices and implementing MDM security policies. Larger companies may need phased deployment and training. Lowry Solutions supports both approaches, ensuring the system is running smoothly without disrupting daily work.
