RMM vs MDM software, which one is the best for you? Flexible working arrangements have become the norm for organizations. While this has significantly improved business productivity, IT departments and managed service providers (MSPs) must now keep track of a variety of endpoint devices, including mobile devices. In fact, mobile devices are rapidly becoming integral to business operations. A study published in the MDPI journal shows that 70% of businesses have seen an improvement in everyday work operations thanks to the use of mobile devices in the workplace.
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) offer various tools and functionalities that allow businesses to keep up with an increasingly distributed workforce.
In a study by Cybersecurity Insights, 49% of organizations with unmanaged mobile devices had no idea if their devices had been compromised by malware, while 22% had confirmed that unmanaged devices that accessed business resources had been compromised by malware. RMM and MDM software allow IT teams and MSPs to ensure their endpoint devices remain secure and protect business data. In addition, RMM and MDM software optimizes endpoint device performance, leading to a marked improvement in an organization’s overall IT efficiency.
What is RMM software?
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software refers to a suite of tools that enable IT teams and MSPs to monitor, manage, and maintain IT assets such as laptops, mobile devices, networking devices, and other endpoints. By using RMM software, IT administrators can ensure that the endpoint devices in their IT environment remain high-performing and up-to-date.
Types of RMM software
There are two types of RMM software:
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On-premises RMM
On-premise RMM software is hosted via physical hardware located within the premises of an organization. Because of the hardware infrastructure needed, the installation of on-premise RMM requires more time and investment. In addition, the physical infrastructure requires more costly maintenance and specialized expertise. This also makes these legacy RMM solutions more difficult to scale with business growth as hardware must be added to them.
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Cloud-based RMM
Cloud-based RMM software is hosted via the cloud, allowing any user within the organization to access the platform from anywhere through a web browser. These solutions can be more cost-effective as they are scalable and do not require the expenses and upkeep required by physical infrastructure.
Key functions of RMM software
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Real-time monitoring and alerts
RMM tools offer full visibility of all the devices in an IT environment, allowing IT teams and MSPs to track performance, network traffic, device health, and more. In addition, alerts can be set up to notify technicians if there are any anomalies or issues, allowing them to swiftly resolve problems.
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Patch management
Automated patch management capabilities allow IT administrators to push out the latest updates and deploy any missing patches for operating systems or software. These updates can also be scheduled to reduce disruption to users. With an RMM, IT teams and MSPs can ensure that devices regularly receive the latest security patches and updates for optimal performance.
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Remote access
Some RMM software solutions offer remote access tools that enable technicians to securely connect to remote endpoints and gain full control over them to troubleshoot and resolve any issues. IT support teams can improve ticket resolution times and provide quick support, reducing any downtime.
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Reporting
With RMM software, users are able to generate reports that can provide insights into system performance, security status, and compliance.
What is MDM software?
Mobile Device Management (MDM software can be used to monitor, manage, and secure an organization’s mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, regardless of whether they are company-issued or bring-your-own-device (BYOD). By utilizing an MDM solution, businesses can ensure that their mobile fleet is secure, compliant with organizational policies, and properly configured.
Why do businesses need MDM?
There are many reasons why your business needs an MDM solution. A major benefit of utilizing MDM software is that it simplifies the management of mobile devices at scale, making it easier for IT teams to keep mobile devices functioning optimally and securely.
In remote or hybrid work environments, end users access sensitive corporate data from their mobile devices. An MDM software protects sensitive data and corporate resources through encryption and robust device controls.
In addition, mobile devices are just as vulnerable as laptops and desktops when it comes to malware and other cyberattacks. MDM software solutions offer robust security tools such as encryption and remote wiping of compromised devices. In fact, a survey done by Finances Online shows that 86% of organizations employing MDM software find that they can ensure that corporate data and applications remain secure.
Key functions of MDM software
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Device provisioning and enrollment
IT teams and MSPs can automate enrolling devices into the management system, whether they are corporate-issued or BYOD. This process is often automated and straightforward to ensure quick integration of new devices.
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Security policy enforcement
MDM software allows organizations to enforce corporate policies on mobile devices. This can include encryption settings, application usage restrictions, and compliance with corporate policies and regulatory standards such as HIPAA.
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Application management
MDM application management enables IT teams and MSPs to deploy, update, and manage applications on enrolled devices. This includes deploying required software, whitelisting approved apps, blacklisting unauthorized apps, and uninstalling software.
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Data protection
MDM tools provide robust security features such as remote wipe and lock capabilities for stolen or lost mobile devices. This ensures that no sensitive data can be accessed by malicious or unauthorized users.
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Remote device monitoring
An MDM software provides users with full visibility of their mobile fleet, allowing IT professionals to act quickly when any issues or security threats are detected. Furthermore, continuous monitoring of device health and status allows IT professionals to ensure optimal device performance, battery life, storage usage, and network connectivity.
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Profile management
For Android devices, MDM solutions enable users to implement work and personal profiles to ensure that corporate data remains protected while the users’ personal data remains private. This feature allows them to segregate the corporate and personal data for Android BYOD devices.
What are the similarities between RMM and MDM software?
RMM and MDM software share some overlapping features when it comes to monitoring and managing endpoint devices.
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Remote endpoint management
Both RMM and MDM are indispensable tools for supporting hybrid or remote work environments. They provide users with full visibility of their IT environment and multiple tools to manage endpoint devices, regardless of where they are located.
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IT automation
It is common for RMM and MDM software to offer automation tools that streamline IT workflows. An IT automation solution reduces manual workloads, freeing up IT administrators to focus on more strategic tasks.
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Enhanced security
Both types of solutions include security features designed to protect devices and data. For example, RMM often includes antivirus and anti-malware tools, while MDM focuses on encryption and secure access controls.
What are the differences between RMM and MDM software?
While both RMM and MDM software streamline device management processes for IT teams and MSPs, there are some key differences between the two types of software. Generally, RMM software offers a broader scope of IT management tools focused on standard devices such as laptops and desktops.
In contrast, MDM software specializes in features that allow users to monitor and manage their mobile fleet. Since mobile device usage in the workplace is a more recent phenomenon, RMM software tends to integrate more with other IT operations management tools.
Here are some of the specialized functions that are exclusive to RMM and MDM software:
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Network monitoring
RMM software can offer network monitoring tools that allow IT administrators to keep track of devices with real-time network polling, providing them with network performance metrics. In addition, RMM software allows users to monitor and manage networking devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and printers.
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BYOD Management
BYOD policies refer to employees using their personal devices to access corporate resources. MDM software is specially designed to answer the needs of BYOD policies at scale in a way that RMM cannot. For Android MDM software, this can include MDM containerization features such as the creation of profiles that can segment mobile device usage to protect an end user’s personal privacy and also sensitive business data.
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Device enrollment and provisioning
While both RMM and MDM can provision devices, MDM offers more granular control over mobile device provisioning with zero-touch enrollment processes, such as Android Enterprise Enrollment.
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Application management
While RMM solutions can handle software deployment and patch management, an MDM software suite of tools is more specifically suited to mobile applications. With MDM software, users are able to blacklist and whitelist applications or utilize containerization to separate personal applications from business-specific ones.
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Kiosk management
MDM kiosk management is another feature exclusive to MDM software. It allows IT teams to manage and set mobile devices to kiosk mode which limits these devices to specific applications of functionalities – this is often used for retail point-of-sale, education, and healthcare systems.
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Mobile device security
A study conducted by the Federal Communications Commission said that 1 out of 10 people whose devices were lost or stolen experienced confidential business data being compromised. An MDM software provides tools that allow IT professionals to remotely lock or wipe a compromised mobile device.
Choosing between RMM vs MDM
Generally, MDM software might not be as necessary for organizations that do not have a significant number of employees who use their mobile devices to securely access corporate resources.
However, as more businesses adopt mobile device usage and BYOD policies, organizations may find that having both RMM and MDM solutions is more than worth the investments. After all, RMM and MDM software are vital for IT teams and MSPs to maintain a high level of security and efficiency for their IT infrastructure.
Having two separate solutions can be costly and also make IT operations more complex as IT professionals will have to constantly switch between the two platforms. Fortunately, there are endpoint management solutions that offer both RMM and MDM solutions.
The benefits of combining RMM and MDM in one solution
By integrating RMM and MDM capabilities, IT teams and MSPs can utilize a comprehensive suite of IT operations management tools, ensuring that no device or asset is left unmonitored and unsecured. Furthermore, a solution with RMM and MDM features provides a single pane of glass where users can view and access their entire IT environment, improving operational efficiency. This unified approach simplifies IT operations, allowing consistency across devices and speeding up workflows.
Combining RMM and MDM also significantly improves the security posture of an IT environment and allows organizations to comply with industry regulations. This is because a solution that offers both RMM and MDM capabilities allows for consistent security policies across all devices, which lowers the risks of having different frameworks across different endpoints.
RMM and MDM with NinjaOne
NinjaOne is an ideal solution that consolidates RMM and MDM software into a single, Comprehensive Endpoint Management platform. Ranked #1 in RMM on G2, NinjaOne is a cloud-native solution that allows IT teams and MSPs to monitor, manage, update, and secure all their Apple and Android devices alongside Windows, macOS, and Linux from a single pane of glass. NinjaOne also allows businesses to simplify their technology stack by offering both RMM and MDM capabilities in a single solution while also being able to easily scale to meet the evolving demands of growing businesses without the need to invest in additional software.
NinjaOne stands out as a comprehensive RMM and MDM solution that is not only easy to navigate but also quick to adopt since it does not require intensive training or expertise for users to make full use of its features. Whether you’re an MSP or an IT department, NinjaOne can boost your IT operational efficiency and secure your remote devices. Try NinjaOne for free or watch a demo to see how you can better manage and secure your devices.
