Which MDM for a fleet of 50 devices?

The September back-to-work season: the right time to regain control of your Android fleet

Back-to-work is often an important time for companies. New employees join teams, apprentices start their positions, and certain equipment is renewed. In a few weeks, several smartphones or tablets must be prepared, configured, and handed over to their users.

For a company that manages about fifty Android devices, this period quickly highlights the limitations of manual management. Configuring each terminal one by one, installing applications, applying security settings, and verifying that everything is compliant takes time and mobilizes IT teams. It is often at this point that the question arises: should we invest in an MDM solution?

From 50 devices, needs evolve

A fleet of 50 devices may seem relatively modest. Yet, it already represents a significant volume to administer on a daily basis. Every arrival of an employee, every replacement of a smartphone, or every security policy update involves manipulations that, repeated dozens of times, quickly become time-consuming.

Beyond the time spent on these operations, there is also a risk of inconsistency. Two manually configured devices do not always have exactly the same settings. A forgotten application, a missing restriction, or a less demanding password can create security flaws or complicate the work of users.

An MDM precisely allows these repetitive tasks to be automated so that all devices adhere to the same rules, regardless of the user.

What criteria should you consider when choosing your MDM?

Not all mobile fleet management solutions meet the same needs. For a company with about fifty devices, the goal is not to choose the most complex tool, but the one that will save time while ensuring a good level of security.

Before making your choice, particularly verify that the solution allows you to:

• Rapidly deploy new devices with different management modes
• Manage public, private applications, and web shortcuts
• Secure professional data in case of loss or theft by having the possibility to geolocate the device, lock it, or remotely reset it
• Easily share resources such as contacts or files
• Remotely control your terminals in case of a technical incident

These features cover the majority of needs encountered by SMEs and fast-growing companies.

Ease of use is an often underestimated criterion

When comparing several MDM solutions, it’s easy to be tempted by a long list of features. However, a tool only provides value if it is genuinely used daily.

A clear interface, rapid deployment, and intuitive handling allow IT teams to save precious time. This is particularly true during the September back-to-work season, where several devices sometimes need to be prepared within a very short timeframe. Being able to enroll a smartphone in a few minutes, automatically apply the correct configuration, and immediately hand it over to its user represents a real gain in productivity.

It is also important to choose a solution capable of evolving with the company. A fleet of 50 devices today can quickly reach 100 or 200 terminals in the coming years. The chosen MDM must therefore be able to support this growth without questioning the processes already in place.