Key points
- What is MDM Strategy: A mobile device management (MDM) strategy defines how IT enrolls, configures, secures, and monitors smartphones and tablets in the workplace.
- Benefits of MDM: MDM provides several benefits to IT teams and MSPs, including remote support, device tracking, policy enforcement, compliance, and reduced security risk.
- Maintaining MDM Best Practices: An MDM strategy must be regularly updated to align with company goals, compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR), and evolving security threats.
- How to Build an MDM Strategy: A successful MDM strategy starts with defining business objectives, selecting the right MDM or UEM solution, establishing governance policies, and integrating with existing IT management tools.
- Integrating MDM with Endpoint Management: Combining MDM with RMM or Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions provides centralized visibility, automates device management, and improves security across all endpoints.
Mobile device usage continues to grow every year, with many devices utilized for both work and personal use. According to Pew research reports, 91% of adults own a smartphone as of November 2025. This large number of mobile device users is proof that there is a need for a centralized management tool for such devices.
Mobile device management (MDM) is a software tool that enables IT teams to manage smartphones and tablets used within a business. MDM can be a valuable addition to your toolset, especially if you have an efficient MDM strategy in place.
To build one, organizations must develop a clear framework that addresses business goals, IT requirements, and compliance needs. Before you dive in, see Mobile Device Management Strategy: Steps & Tips video for a hands-on look.
Avoid the most common MDM mistakes when developing your MDM strategy.
What is an MDM strategy?
An MDM strategy fills this gap by standardizing how organizations enroll, configure, restrict, and remotely manage mobile devices in the workspace. A plan in place means you’ve already decided what to manage, who is responsible, and when to act.
Why is an MDM strategy important?
According to BYOD statistics, 67% of employees use personal devices at work, and 87% of companies depend on them, creating a gap that drives BYOD risks and costs. The growing number of mobile devices is creating more complex IT environments, driving the need for a centralized management tool.
Executing an MDM strategy has many benefits, which include:
| Benefit | Description |
| Better support of devices | Enables remote actions like deploying updates and controlling applications with minimal effort |
| Tracking and remote lock/remote wipe capabilities | Tracks lost devices and enables remote lock or wipe to protect essential work data |
| Increased compliance with company regulations | Enforces company regulations on mobile devices through work container management |
| Strengthened security of intellectual property | Enforces restrictions and configurations to protect critical data and contain workplace information |
| More cost savings | Reduces expenses from lost devices, minimizes data breach risks, and lowers IT labor costs through improved efficiency |
An effective MDM strategy reduces operational risk, supports employee productivity, and delivers measurable cost savings by ensuring consistent oversight. For modern, distributed workforces, this approach is essential for protecting assets and maintaining long-term operational resilience.
How to create a successful MDM strategy
When building a mobile device management strategy, IT leaders should align technology decisions with both business and compliance requirements. A strong strategy ensures consistent device security, reduces risk, and simplifies administration.
1. Define company objectives
Start with business goals: What do you need MDM to achieve?
Common objectives include safeguarding sensitive data, enforcing compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, or ISO 27001, supporting remote work, and streamlining device provisioning. Your MDM strategy should map directly to these outcomes.
2. Select the right MDM or UEM solution
Modern solutions often extend beyond mobile devices. Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platforms integrate mobile device management with desktop, laptop, and server control, creating a single pane of glass for IT teams.
Choose a solution that fits your environment and integrates with identity management, security, and ITSM tools.
3. Address ownership models
Your strategy must adapt to different device ownership scenarios:
- Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
- Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE)
- Corporate-Owned, Business Only (COBO)
Your strategy must adapt to device ownership scenarios: for BYOD, apply containerization to separate corporate and personal data while enforcing business policies. For COPE, balance IT control with user flexibility, typically managing the full device but allowing personal apps. For COBO, enforce strict control over the entire device to ensure security for sensitive roles or regulated industries.
4. Define use cases
Different devices require different policies. For example, kiosks or shared devices may need single-app lockdown, while knowledge workers’ smartphones need access to productivity suites, secure email, and VPN configurations. Clearly document these use cases and assign policies accordingly.
5. Integrate with other IT management tools
Extend your MDM strategy by integrating with tools such as Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM), identity access management (IAM), and endpoint security solutions. This ensures centralized visibility and consistent enforcement across all IT assets.
6. Establish governance and compliance policies
Define who is responsible for device enrollment, monitoring, and incident response. Use MDM reporting features to verify compliance and audit readiness. Automate policy enforcement to reduce reliance on end-user behavior.
7. Plan for continuous review
MDM strategies are not static. Regularly reassess whether your current controls address evolving business needs, new compliance requirements, and emerging security threats. Adjust device restrictions, reporting, and integrations as needed.
4 tips for maintaining your MDM strategy
An MDM strategy is never stagnant and must be consistently reassessed to determine whether it is effectively meeting the company’s needs. Consider whether your strategy is keeping your mobile devices in check and your business data secure.
1. Understand what MDM can/cannot do
MDM is a powerful tool for managing remote mobile devices, but you must understand its capabilities. MDM supports the performance of phones, tablets, and other similar devices within your organization. It also enhances the security of your business’s IT environment through requirements like passcodes and remote lock/wipe, which prevent the exfiltration of data.
2. Determine which mobile devices will have access
Your organization needs to decide whether and which devices are allowed access to work information.
Also, make sure that your IT department is fully aware of who has access to certain business data. Keeping track of who has access to information is an important part of mobile device management.
3. Consult MDM reports
MDM reports can help you see which parts of the management process are working well and identify what could be improved. Review it consistently and look for ways to improve aspects, such as stricter or clearer device policies.
4. Use a solution that integrates with your existing IT tools
Instead of having to consult multiple software solutions to get a holistic view of your IT environment, look for an MDM tool that can merge with the tools you already have. Plus, adding MDM to your toolset will give you a more complete solution.
Enroll, patch, manage, and track mobile devices without switching tools.
Using MDM in your organization
MDM is necessary within businesses to protect information and assets. A well-thought-out MDM strategy can be the difference between haphazardly managed mobile devices and strictly monitored ones.
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