As organizations embrace the work-from-anywhere future, the need for a simple solution to manage the complex fleet of laptops, tablets, smartphones, and IoT devices, will continue to grow. The benefit of streamlining device management for your distributed team? Long-term (and sustainable) efficiency gains and smarter resource allocation at all levels of the business.
Before you start vetting service providers and embark on the quest for the perfect solution, you should first understand the full scope of device management. Here’s a quick overview why device management isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore, but rather an essential piece of continuous growth.
Staying Secure Across Time Zones
One of the top reasons organizations trade in their “Bring-Your-Own-Device” strategy (BYOD) for a device management solution is security. Personal devices aren’t necessarily kept up to date—users may miss a vital security improvement or accidentally open risky links that could put the entire organization’s cybersecurity at risk.
These concerns aren’t hypothetical; they’re having real-world consequence across the globe. Ransomware attacks grew 150% in 2020 and are on pace to accelerate even further in 2021, representing a new security-first reality for organizations of all kinds. Ensuring every device has the latest in security software, with additional monitoring to react to any illicit access in real time must be a priority.
Not only does device management deliver holistic oversight into employee usage, but also prompts administrators to roll out updates as well, ensuring each piece of hardware has the software needed to remain secure over time. Those updates can be automatically provisioned by IT teams, reducing the need for staff to do so on their own. There are no weak links in a system that is centrally managed across a uniform network of devices that has been provided by the organization’s device management solution.
Great Accessibility, Lower Costs
When it comes to budgeting for devices, organizational leaders are often resistant to upgrades and new solutions due to the high price tag that comes with them. In theory, BYOD means IT departments don’t have to provide the devices themselves, leading to a reduction in spending—but this is rarely the case on paper.
The reality is that these devices are often—at minimum— a generation behind the latest models, lacking in the higher processing power or 5G capability of newer devices. And while a cutting-edge fleet of freshly minted devices may sound like a dream, the fact is that a Device as a Service (DaaS) option can keep costs under control while increasing availability.
With DaaS, teams access the latest devices under one service contract, expanding or reducing hardware allocation with the needs of their teams. Employees can request devices through a self-service portal, helping IT teams to maintain oversight while the service provider handles procurement, provisioning, and replacement, or repair.
This approach offers a streamlined solution to processes to the repetitive, manual processes that are costing your team time—and money. DaaS providers clear the way for greater flexibility for teams working with an array of devices, without increasing the burden on IT staff. Financial managers benefit from the service-based approach to cost allocation, while knowledge workers gain the productivity edge they need to thrive.
Supercharged Service Offerings
By 2022, the total number of mobile devices worldwide is expected to increase to 17 billion—about two billion more than 2021. Wider consumer adoption, the expansion of remote work, and the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) all have their part to play in this substantial increase.
Alongside these new devices come an array of new service options. Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is just one example of a subscription-based approach to connecting devices across time zones and locations, bringing telephony, chat, video and more under one umbrella. To put it simply: Workers can do more than ever from their devices; they just need the right hardware to get there.
Device management in 2022 will build on the current array of tasks and responsibilities handled via mobile devices, with a sharper focus on holistic security and streamlined hardware procurement. Implementing both measures is easier than ever with DaaS, allowing organizations to do more under-budget than ever before—without adding any stress or strain to your bottom line
Ready to supercharge your workforce with device management? Get in touch today to learn how we can help.