In an increasingly digitalized business world, the balance between flexibility and security is becoming a major issue for companies. Employees are looking for more flexible working environments, with the possibility of using their personal or professional devices for dual purposes.
However, this flexibility must not be at the expense of the security of the organization’s sensitive data. This is where mobile device management, also known as MDM, comes in, as a fundamental tool for reconciling these two aspects.
The importance of the employee experience in a digital environment
The employee experience covers all the interactions an employee has with the organization, including the mobile technologies they use on a daily basis. A positive experience improves employee satisfaction, productivity and retention.
Mobile devices play a central role in this dynamic, as they enable employees to access essential information and tools such as applications, anytime and anywhere. An optimized mobile experience facilitates real-time collaboration, task management and internal communication, which is particularly important for hybrid or on-the-go teams.
In this dynamic, two main approaches are emerging to manage the use of mobile devices used for personal and professional purposes: BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and WPCO (Work Profile on Company-Owned).
Two approaches for optimum flexibility: BYOD and WPCO
BYOD is an approach that allows employees to use their personal devices to access company resources. This strategy has a number of advantages: employees work with terminals they are familiar with, and they don’t have to bother with two devices, which improves their comfort and productivity. In addition, companies can reduce costs by avoiding the purchase of additional equipment.
WPCO, on the other hand, involves providing employees with company-owned devices, while allowing their personal use. This model offers employees greater flexibility, as they can use a single device to manage both their professional and personal activities, avoiding the hassle of juggling several pieces of equipment. This model, like BYOD, is part of a dynamic of flexibility and mutual trust between the organization and its employees.
These two approaches, while having distinct specificities, can coexist within the same company. The right MDM solution can customize device management according to the chosen model, offering an ideal balance between freedom for the employee and security for the organization.
How MDM reconciles flexibility and security
Mobile Device Management (MDM) software enables companies to remotely manage and secure the mobile devices used by their employees. Whether smartphones, tablets or rugged devices, MDM gives organizations the ability to administer devices, protect business data and ensure compliance with policies.
MDM solutions offer several essential features: they enable centralized management of applications, allowing them to be installed, updated or deleted remotely. This ensures that every device has the applications it needs to run its business. Data security is also at the heart of MDM software, with features such as password management, Internet filtering and the ability to remotely lock or wipe a device in the event of loss or theft.
MDM providers offer several management modes, including management modes for BYOD and WPCO devices. For BYOD devices, there’s the “Work profile”, which creates a dedicated space for business activities on the employee’s personal device. This enables the company to manage business data without accessing personal information, thus guaranteeing data protection while respecting privacy.
Similarly, as part of WPCO, there is the “Personal profile on work device” mode, which creates a secure container on work devices that can be used for personal purposes. Unlike the work profile, it offers greater control for the company. With this mode, IT administrators can, for example, configure VPNs, manage the delay of Android updates or personalize the device screen by adding a wallpaper. Whether BYOD or WPCO, the business container can be remotely wiped by the company, to protect sensitive data.
In conclusion, mobile device management is today a strategic lever for combining employee experience and the security of sensitive data. Whether BYOD or WPCO, the right MDM solution is essential to ensure an optimal balance. With TinyMDM, companies can set up a simple, secure and flexible management system that serves both their employees and their security needs!
6th of March 2025