
Mobile Application Management for Enterprise is a must-have for any business looking to streamline their mobile device usage. It allows IT administrators to manage and secure mobile devices, apps, and data within the organization.
With Mobile Application Management, IT can remotely wipe company data from lost or stolen devices, reducing the risk of data breaches. This feature is especially useful for businesses with sensitive information.
Mobile Application Management also enables IT to set policies and restrictions on mobile apps, ensuring that employees only use approved apps for work purposes. This helps maintain productivity and reduces the risk of malware.
By implementing Mobile Application Management, businesses can improve their overall security posture and reduce the risk of data loss.
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What is MAM
Mobile application management (MAM) is software that secures and enables IT control over enterprise applications on end users' corporate and personal smartphones and tablets. It allows IT administrators to apply and enforce corporate policies on mobile apps and limit the sharing of corporate data among apps.
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MAM software also enables the separation of business apps and data from personal content on the same device. This is achieved through various methods, including software development kits (SDKs) and application wrapping, which add code to an app to connect it to back-end MAM software.
Containerization is another approach to MAM, which isolates an app or group of apps from other apps on a device. This creates a secure, managed work profile containing corporate apps and personal data, as seen in Google Android's sandboxing feature.
MAM solutions require access just to particular applications, whereas MDM solutions focus on the entire device. This means MAM is more targeted and flexible, allowing IT administrators to control specific apps without affecting the entire device.
MAM software often includes features such as software delivery, software license management, app configuration, inventory management, and application lifecycle management. These features make it easier for businesses to manage and secure their mobile apps.
The AppConfig Community, formed in 2016, has developed open tools and best practices for configuring and securing mobile apps. Members of the community include major players like BlackBerry, SAP, and IBM, who have created seamless integrations with popular unified endpoint management (UEM) products.
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MAM Capabilities
Mobile application management (MAM) capabilities are essential for businesses to ensure secure and efficient mobile app deployment. Intune offers a range of capabilities to help you get the apps you need on the devices you want to run them on.
Intune provides app management capabilities for various platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows 10/11. You can add and assign apps to devices and users across all platforms.
Here's a summary of app management capabilities by platform:
Intune doesn't provide installing a shortcut to an app as a web link on standard Android Enterprise devices, but web link support is provided for multi-app dedicated Android Enterprise devices.
Intune supports available apps from the Managed Google Play store on Android Enterprise devices, and LOB for AE are supported, but the apps need to be published privately to Managed Google Play.
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MAM Benefits and Challenges
Mobile application management (MAM) provides a more granular way to control and secure corporate data, especially in bring your own device (BYOD) programs.
Implementing MAM can have several benefits, including enhanced data security, improved user experience, simplified management of corporate apps, reduced device management costs, and increased compliance. MAM prioritizes data security within corporate applications, encrypting sensitive information and offering remote wipe capabilities.
MAM solutions vary greatly in features and capability, making it a challenge for IT admins and managers to determine which product to use for their organization's needs. Key considerations include security, app containerization, app catalog delivery, app volume license support, and mobile operating system platforms.
Here are some common MAM product solutions and their features:
Ultimately, choosing the right MAM product depends on an organization's specific needs and requirements.
Benefits of MAM for IT Admins
Implementing Mobile Application Management (MAM) can have several benefits for IT admins. It prioritizes data security within corporate applications, encrypting sensitive information and offering remote wipe capabilities.
MAM allows employees to use their personal devices for work while ensuring corporate data remains protected, striking a balance between security and user convenience. This is especially important in BYOD scenarios.
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MAM can streamline the process of distributing, updating, and managing corporate apps, allowing IT admins to centrally control the application lifecycle and minimize administrative overhead. This is a significant advantage over traditional MDM solutions.
In BYOD scenarios, MAM eliminates the need for full device enrollment and management, reducing the costs associated with MDM solutions. This can lead to significant cost savings for organizations.
MAM helps enforce data security policies and access controls, aligning with industry regulations and internal security frameworks. This is crucial for organizations that need to maintain compliance with various security standards.
Here are some key benefits of MAM for IT admins at a glance:
- Enhanced Data Security
- Improved User Experience
- Simplified Management of Corporate Apps
- Reduced Device Management Costs
- Increased Compliance
Mam Challenges
Determining which MAM product to use for an organization's needs is a major challenge for IT admins and managers.
Security is a top concern, as mobile devices are vulnerable to phishing and malware attacks due to their broad footprint.
App containerization techniques can vary or may not exist at all in some MAM products, such as Microsoft's Intune, which uses Conditional Access policies instead.

App catalog delivery implementation can also vary across MAM products, with some having default public app stores and custom catalogs like Google Play and Apple's App Store.
Not all MAM products support app volume license management, with some requiring specific product versions or editions, such as ManageEngine's Endpoint Central, which only offers License Management in its Enterprise and UEM editions.
Mobile operating system platforms are another consideration, as MAM products vary greatly in the systems they support, and organizations need to factor in what types of mobile operating systems they need to manage.
Here are some key considerations for choosing an MAM product:
- Security: Look for MAM products with robust security features to protect against phishing and malware attacks.
- App containerization: Check if the product uses containerization or alternative techniques like Conditional Access policies.
- App catalog delivery: Consider the implementation of app catalog management and whether it meets your organization's needs.
- App volume license support: Ensure the product supports volume licensing and management for applications.
- Mobile operating system platforms: Check which mobile systems the product supports and whether it meets your organization's needs.
MAM vs MDM
MAM and MDM are two distinct approaches to securing mobile devices in the enterprise environment. While both aim to secure mobile devices, they differ fundamentally in scope and approach.
MAM solutions focus on specific corporate applications, not the entire device. This means they require access just to particular applications, rather than enrolling the entire device into a solution.
Here's a key difference between MAM and MDM in a nutshell:
MDM solutions can provide more comprehensive security, but MAM is ideal for organizations that want to balance security with user convenience in BYOD scenarios.
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Differences Between MAM and MDM
Mobile Application Management (MAM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) are two distinct approaches to securing mobile devices in the enterprise environment. MDM solutions focus on the entire device, not just specific corporate applications.
One key difference between MAM and MDM is the scope of control. MDM requires devices to be enrolled into a particular solution before it can be effective, whereas MAM solutions require access just to particular applications.
Here's a comparison of MAM and MDM:
MAM solutions enforce encryption at the application level only, whereas MDM solutions can provide device-wide encryption. This means that with MAM, data within a specific app is protected, but data on the rest of the device may not be.
BYOD
BYOD is a common scenario where employees use their personal devices for work. This requires a balance between security and user convenience.
Implementing a Mobile Application Management (MAM) solution can help achieve this balance. MAM prioritizes data security within corporate applications, encrypting sensitive information and offering remote wipe capabilities.
In a BYOD scenario, MAM allows employees to use their personal devices for work while keeping corporate data protected. This is achieved through containerization, which ensures work-related data stays in its designated space.
BYOD app management can be complex, but MAM simplifies the process of distributing, updating, and managing corporate apps. IT admins can centrally control the application lifecycle, minimizing administrative overhead.
Here are some benefits of MAM in a BYOD scenario:
- Enhanced Data Security: MAM encrypts sensitive information and offers remote wipe capabilities.
- Improved User Experience: MAM allows employees to use their personal devices for work while keeping corporate data protected.
- Simplified Management of Corporate Apps: MAM streamlines the process of distributing, updating, and managing corporate apps.
- Reduced Device Management Costs: MAM eliminates the need for full device enrollment and management.
- Increased Compliance: MAM helps enforce data security policies and access controls.
MAM Configuration and Management
MAM configuration and management is crucial for ensuring the security and productivity of your mobile workforce. It involves setting app settings and permissions prior to deployment to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access.
To configure app settings and permissions, you can use tools like the AppConfig Community, which defines open approaches to configuring and securing mobile apps. This benefits users with a better out-of-the-box experience and businesses with secure apps that are easy to integrate.
Preconfiguring app permissions and settings can prevent further modification by end users, ensuring that your organization's data is protected. This is especially important for business apps on BYOD devices.
App-only management policies can be used on devices that are not actively managed by your organization, safeguarding corporate data by applying data sharing restrictions to business apps. This is a key feature of MAM solutions like Workspace management from Zoho Workplace.
Workspace management offers a range of features, including device management, app-only management, conditional access, and security management. Here's a summary of some of the key features:
- Device management: advanced
- App only management: Office 365 MAM policies
- Conditional access: Microsoft Exchange and M365 apps
- Security management: advanced OS update management and FileVault
- Asset management: advanced location history, geofencing, remote control
- Content management: distribute, secure, update and revoke
Secure
Mobile application management (MAM) is a crucial aspect of keeping your corporate data secure. MAM solutions can enforce policies and restrictions that safeguard app data, such as encrypting sensitive information and offering remote wipe capabilities.
To prevent data breaches, MAM solutions can also implement data loss prevention policies for corporate apps and workspaces. This includes preventing data sharing between managed apps and unmanaged apps.
One approach to securing app data is through containerization, which isolates an app or group of apps from other apps on a device. This creates a secure, managed work profile containing corporate apps and personal data.
MAM solutions can also restrict backups of corporate data to third-party cloud services and prevent users from installing apps from untrustworthy sources or even various business stores. This helps enforce data security policies and access controls, aligning with industry regulations and internal security frameworks.
Here are some ways MAM solutions can help secure app data:
- Encrypting sensitive information
- Implementing data loss prevention policies
- Preventing data sharing between managed and unmanaged apps
- Restricting backups of corporate data
- Preventing installation of apps from untrustworthy sources
By implementing MAM solutions, you can ensure that your corporate data remains protected, even in the event of a device integrity breach.
MAM Deployment and Distribution
You can automate app distribution based on groups, ensuring employees have the right apps on their devices based on their roles and departments.
To streamline the process, test and deploy updates by managing multiple test channels to check for app stability and compatibility before mass deployment or update.
With a single click, you can deploy all the necessary apps to devices or users, integrating with official app stores for OSs to distribute apps.
You can deploy in-house apps in various formats, including IPA, APK, XAP, MSIX, APPX, APPXBUNDLE, and MSI.
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Lock Down
You can lock down devices to specific apps and functions using the kiosk function, which restricts devices to only authorized apps and device functions.
This approach is useful for industries that require strict control over devices, such as healthcare or finance.
By implementing kiosk mode, you can customize the home screen and ensure that only approved apps are accessible to users.
This can be particularly useful for devices used in public spaces or for employees who need to access sensitive information.
For example, you can restrict devices to only a single app or a designated set of apps, and customize the home screen wallpaper, icon layout, and fonts.
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Automating entry and exit of single-app lockdown based on predefined conditions can also be beneficial.
Additionally, you can run apps in the background to meet dependencies while in single-app lockdown.
Some examples of lock down features include:
By implementing these lock down features, you can ensure that devices are secure and meet specific requirements for your organization.
MAM Single Sign-On and Personalization
Implementing single sign-on for apps can relieve users of password fatigue while securing access to applications.
By setting up a Play Store that contains both store and custom apps for your organization, you can categorize and display different apps for different user groups. This way, users only see the apps they need, making it easier to manage and secure your mobile app environment.
Enforcing Play Protect to scan for malware in installed apps is a crucial step in maintaining the security of your organization's mobile apps.
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Play Store Safety & Personalization
You can set up a Play Store that contains both store and custom apps for your organization, allowing you to categorize and display different apps for different user groups.
Enforce Play Protect to scan for malware in installed apps.
This helps ensure that only trusted apps are installed on company devices.
By doing so, you can prevent potential security threats and maintain a secure environment.
Setting up a customized Play Store also allows you to display different apps for different user groups, which can be particularly useful for organizations with varying job roles or departments.
With this setup, you can easily manage and control the apps that employees have access to, reducing the risk of data breaches or other security issues.
Implement Single Sign-On
Implementing Single Sign-On can relieve users of password fatigue, securing access to applications while simplifying the login process.
By implementing Single Sign-On, you can reduce the number of passwords users need to remember, which can be overwhelming and lead to security risks.
Relieve users of password fatigue while securing access to applications, as Single Sign-On does just that, making it a valuable addition to any organization.
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MAM Options and Vendors
Mobile application management (MAM) has come a long way, with various approaches to managing apps on mobile devices. One of the main challenges is determining which MAM product to use for an organization's needs.
There are several MAM vendors and products available, including Microsoft, VMware, Ivanti, and IBM. Others, such as BlackBerry, Citrix, and MobileIron, remain popular alternatives.
The AppConfig Community, formed in 2016, defines tools and best practices for configuring and securing mobile apps. This benefits users with a better out-of-the-box experience and businesses with secure apps that are easy to integrate.
Some MAM products, like Microsoft's Intune, use Conditional Access policies rather than containerization. This is an important consideration when evaluating MAM products.
Here are some of the major MAM vendors and products:
These are just a few examples of the many MAM vendors and products available. It's essential to evaluate each product's features and capabilities to determine which one best meets an organization's needs.
Next Steps
To get started with mobile application management, you'll need to add an app to Microsoft Intune. This is a crucial step in publishing, pushing, configuring, securing, monitoring, and updating mobile apps for your users.
You can add an app to Microsoft Intune by following the instructions provided in the official list of Microsoft Intune protected apps available for public use.
To manage apps using MAM, you should use Intune in the Microsoft Intune admin center. There are two configurations supported by Intune MAM:
- Intune MDM + MAM: This configuration allows IT administrators to manage apps using MAM on devices that are enrolled with Intune mobile device management (MDM).
- Unenrolled devices with MAM managed applications: This configuration allows IT administrators to manage org data and accounts in apps using MAM on unenrolled devices or devices enrolled with third-party EMM providers.
If you're looking for a more comprehensive approach to mobile application management, consider the different approaches mentioned in the article, such as software development kits (SDKs) and application wrapping, containerization, or device-level MAM.
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