What are the most common EMM challenges for large organizations?

1 Device diversity

One of the main challenges of EMM is dealing with the diversity of devices that employees use to access corporate resources. These devices may vary in terms of operating systems, versions, features, security levels, and ownership models. EMM solutions need to support different device types and configurations, while ensuring compliance with security standards and policies. To address this challenge, organizations should adopt a unified endpoint management (UEM) approach that can manage and secure multiple device categories from a single console.

2 Data protection

Another challenge of EMM is ensuring the protection of sensitive data that is stored or transmitted on mobile devices. Data breaches, theft, loss, or unauthorized access can have serious consequences for the organization's reputation, finances, and legal obligations. EMM solutions need to provide data encryption, backup, remote wipe, and access control mechanisms to prevent data leakage or compromise. Additionally, organizations should implement data classification and segmentation policies to limit the exposure of critical data on mobile devices.

3 User experience

A third challenge of EMM is balancing the user experience with the security and management requirements. Employees expect to use their mobile devices for both personal and work purposes, and they want a seamless, convenient, and flexible experience. However, some EMM solutions may impose restrictions or limitations that can affect the device performance, functionality, or usability. EMM solutions need to provide a user-friendly interface, self-service options, and customization features to enhance the user satisfaction and adoption. Moreover, organizations should communicate the benefits and expectations of EMM to their employees and solicit their feedback.

4 Compliance and regulation

A fourth challenge of EMM is complying with the various laws and regulations that govern the use of mobile devices in different industries and regions. These regulations may include data privacy, security, retention, and disclosure rules that apply to specific types of data or transactions. EMM solutions need to enable organizations to monitor, audit, and report on the compliance status of their mobile devices and data. Furthermore, organizations should stay updated on the changing regulatory landscape and adjust their EMM policies accordingly.

5 Integration and scalability

A fifth challenge of EMM is integrating and scaling the EMM solution with the existing IT infrastructure and business processes. EMM solutions need to work seamlessly with the organization's network, cloud, applications, identity, and security systems, without causing conflicts or disruptions. EMM solutions also need to be able to handle the increasing number and complexity of mobile devices and data, without compromising the performance or reliability. To overcome this challenge, organizations should choose an EMM solution that is compatible, flexible, and scalable, and that can support their current and future mobility needs.