Knowledge What Are MDM Security Measures? Explaining Features That Prevent Data Leaks and Key Points for Choosing a Service

MDM is a system that allows companies to centrally manage and operate mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets issued to employees.

It enables the application of security policies, application management, and remote actions in emergencies, facilitating safe and efficient use of mobile devices.

MDM stands for “Mobile Device Management.” By deploying MDM, administrators can remotely apply consistent configurations to many devices without having to set each one individually.

MDM makes it possible to roll out new applications in bulk, send out OS update instructions, and enforce security settings, greatly streamlining IT management tasks.

With the spread of diverse work styles such as remote and hybrid work, mobile devices are used not only in the office but also at home and on the go.

As devices are used more often outside the protected corporate network, the risk of data leaks and cyberattacks increases. Because of this, MDM’s role is becoming ever more important for securing devices regardless of location and protecting sensitive corporate information.

Without MDM, companies are exposed to a variety of security risks.

Below are representative risks that MDM can mitigate, with concrete examples.

Because mobile devices are small and easy to carry, there is always a risk of loss or theft. If customer or confidential information is stored on the device, it may fall into the hands of a third party, potentially causing a serious data breach.

With MDM, remote lock and remote wipe functions allow you to disable a device and delete its data from afar.

Browsing non-work-related websites or installing untrusted applications can open the door to malware such as viruses and spyware.

If infected, not only can data on the device be stolen or destroyed, but the damage can spread across the corporate network. MDM reduces the risk of infection by blocking access to malicious websites and preventing the installation of unauthorized apps.

“Shadow IT,” where employees use cloud services or apps without approval, poses a major security threat. These services or apps may be vulnerable or improperly transmit corporate information externally.

With MDM, you can define a whitelist of applications permitted for business use and prevent the installation and use of other apps.

Employees using corporate devices for personal purposes such as watching videos or playing games not only lowers productivity but also increases security risk.

Additionally, employees taking photos of confidential information with a device’s camera or transferring data via Bluetooth can be risk factors for insider wrongdoing. By leveraging MDM feature restrictions, you can prevent device misuse that violates internal policies.

MDM provides a variety of security features to protect mobile devices from numerous threats. 

Below are seven features that are particularly important:

In the event of device loss or theft, administrators can remotely lock the device to prevent third-party operation (“remote lock”). 

They can also erase all data on the device and restore it to factory settings using “remote wipe,” which is critically important as the last line of defense against data leakage.

Administrators can centrally and flexibly disable specific device functions such as the camera, screenshots, Bluetooth, USB connections, and tethering.

For example, you can disable the camera within areas where sensitive information is handled or prohibit the use of USB storage to prevent exfiltration from devices storing critical data. Settings can be configured to match your company’s security policies.

This enables remote bulk installation and updates of applications required for work. At the same time, you can prohibit the installation of unnecessary or insecure applications.

This approach maintains employee convenience while effectively controlling risks from shadow IT and malware.

This enforces rules for the passcode required to unlock devices. For example, you can set policies such as “minimum 8 characters,” “combine numbers and letters,” and “change regularly,” applying them across all employee devices.

This prevents the use of easily guessed, weak passwords and strengthens basic protection against unauthorized access.

This feature blocks access to phishing sites and malicious websites that host malware.

Restricting access to non-work-related sites can also improve productivity. You can implement blacklist policies (ban specific sites) or whitelist policies (allow only specific sites), depending on your needs.

This collects and monitors logs showing who performed what actions and when.

By tracking OS versions, installed app lists, and configuration change histories, you can detect devices that violate policies and investigate root causes when a security incident occurs. The fact that logs are being collected also serves as a deterrent against insider wrongdoing.

Using GPS, you can determine a device’s current location on a map. This is primarily used when a device is lost, to identify its location and increase the chances of recovery.

Be sure to establish operational rules with employee privacy in mind, such as obtaining location information only when a device is placed in “lost mode.”

Implementing MDM not only addresses individual risks; it also elevates the overall security posture of the organization.

With MDM, you can enforce unified security policies across all corporate mobile devices.

This helps maintain a consistent security level for the organization regardless of differences in employee IT literacy or security awareness. It also eliminates reliance on individual user settings and prevents administrative oversights.

Manually configuring and managing hundreds or thousands of devices is a massive burden for IT teams. With MDM, these tasks can be performed centrally and automatically from a management console.

Streamlining app distribution, OS updates, and configuration changes allows administrators to focus on more strategic work.

BYOD reduces device procurement costs for companies and lets employees use devices they are familiar with.

However, personal devices mix private and business data, making it challenging to balance security and privacy. Some MDM solutions can separate business and personal spaces on a device, managing only business data, allowing BYOD that protects privacy while also securing corporate data.

Selecting the best MDM for your organization requires comparing several factors. Below are key selection points from a security perspective:

First and foremost, ensure the MDM supports the OSs of the devices you want to manage (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, etc.).

This is especially important if you allow BYOD, where a variety of OSs and models may coexist. A multi-OS solution that supports a broad range of devices is preferable.

MDM products differ in their security features.

For example, you might need granular app controls, mandatory web filtering, or integration with antivirus solutions. Clarify your security policy in advance and select a product that meets those requirements.

Many solutions offer free trials, so we recommend testing usability in practice.

MDM comes in “cloud-based,” which uses the provider’s servers, and “on-premises,” which you host inside your organization.

Cloud-based options reduce initial costs and accelerate deployment, while on-premises solutions are easier to customize to your policies. Choose the delivery model that best fits your costs, operational resources, and security requirements.

It is crucial to ensure you can receive timely and accurate support during implementation and operations.

This is especially important if you are implementing MDM for the first time, as you can expect many questions to arise around initial setup and policy design. Confirm in advance whether phone and email support are available (for example, in your desired language), what the response hours are, and choose a vendor you can confidently rely on for smooth operations.

This article explained the security features of MDM and the benefits companies can gain by implementing it.

As mobile devices have become indispensable for business continuity, comprehensive security measures through MDM are no longer merely “recommended” but “essential.”

KDDI Cloud Inventory provides one-stop management of device security processes and a wide variety of cloud-based security features. Contact us to learn more.