Bring inventory devices into MDM: Possibilities for Android
MDM (Mobile Device Management) is a software for managing and securing mobile company devices. If companies decide to use an MDM, they often also have to purchase new devices. But what happens when existing devices are to be integrated into MDM? In this article, you will learn how to integrate Android devices into MDM quickly and correctly.
Options for integrating existing Android devices into an MDM
Basically, the way in which existing devices can be integrated into an MDM depends on how they are used. There are different models for Android & iOS:
- Use as a pure company device (COBO)
- The device was purchased by the company and may also be used privately (COWP)
- A private device is also used for work (BYOD)
All of these variants require different procedures, which we explain in the following sections.
Integration of company-only devices (COBO) into MDM
Since a lot of important data, documents and contacts are stored on company devices – especially if they have been “in service” for several years – it is important that everything is backed up first. To do this, perform a backup. With many Android devices, you can do this directly via Google. You will then find all data in the Google Cloud.
You must then reset the device, which will delete all data from the device. Unfortunately, the integration of company devices does not work without a complete reset. Only when the device is completely reset can it be registered as an Android Enterprise device and thus be fully managed by the MDM.
Each MDM will always proceed a little differently. With MobiVisor, there are two methods for registering a device as a pure work device: via QR code or via Google.
COWP: Company devices that are also used privately
Even with existing devices that are to be integrated into the MDM, it is often the case that they are not used exclusively for professional purposes, but also for private use – for the benefit of employees.
In order to integrate the devices into the MDM, it is also necessary to reset them first. However, instead of selecting ‘For work only’ during setup, you must select ‘For work and private’.
Integrate existing private devices into MDM: BYOD
Sometimes employees are also allowed to use their own devices for work. The risk of mixing private and business data is naturally high here. It is therefore also a good idea to integrate these into MDM in order to at least protect the work area.
The procedure for Android devices is also very simple here: just download the MDM app, the user activates the Admin profile, which sets up a second profile – the workspace – on the device. This area can then be managed by logging the user into MDM. A detailed description of the process can be found here.
