For many teams, device management begins as a set of manual workarounds. A new hire joins, and someone assembles a laptop. When an employee leaves, access is removed as much as possible. Security tools are added over time. The system works—largely because people are paying close attention.
Until it doesn’t.
As organizations grow, the cracks become harder to ignore. A customer asks for a security review. A device is lost. Leadership wants clearer answers about what’s protected and what isn’t. The informal approach that once felt manageable no longer holds up.
Even teams with experienced security professionals don’t always start with MDM. In practice, we usually see adoption happen at one of two inflection points:
In every case, the underlying issue is the same: you can’t secure what you can’t control.
Once in place, MDM becomes the foundation that other security tools rely on to enforce policies and maintain device trust over time.
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Mobile device management (MDM) gives teams positive control over their device fleet - the ability to configure, monitor, and secure endpoints before anything goes wrong.
With MDM in place, you no longer have to guess which devices are in use, who is using them, whether they're secure, or if security policies are being followed. Every laptop, desktop, and mobile device is accounted for, configured to your standards, and continuously compliant.
Specifically, the right MDM solution enables you to:
Proactivity is at the heart of positive control – you’re able to move from reacting to problems after the fact to managing with full visibility and the power to take action instantly.
Despite its growing adoption, MDM is still often misunderstood.
MDM is a lightweight, policy-driven control layer. It automates device setup, enforces security standards, and enables remote troubleshooting - all without getting in the way of users.
MDM isn’t employee monitoring software. It doesn’t track keystrokes or collect personal data. It’s not a rigid lockdown system that restricts productivity.
In short, MDM is infrastructure, not surveillance. It exists to secure the device, without shackling the person behind it.
Most compliance frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and NIST do not name MDM as an explicit requirement, but the criteria and outcomes expected make it a functional necessity. For example:
These aren’t theoretical checkboxes - they are operational expectations. Without MDM, meeting them reliably is difficult to impossible. With MDM, they become routine.
Once MDM is in place, it becomes the foundation for other tools to execute and orchestrate their core functions. Security frameworks expect organizations to control and monitor devices, but most security tools can’t do that on their own.
Take Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), for example. EDR solutions like CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are designed to monitor devices for threats, but they assume the device is already configured properly. If the agent fails to install, loses a critical permission, or is removed entirely, it often happens silently. Without MDM, these gaps go unnoticed, leaving you with a false sense of coverage.
MDM closes that gap. It provides the reach, permission structure, and orchestration layer for agents to deploy and run. It gives security teams visibility into which devices are protected, which aren’t, and why.
This same principle applies to other controls like identity enforcement, Zero Trust policies, or automated patching. These tools rely on real-time device data to make decisions. If that data is missing, outdated, or incomplete, those decisions can’t be trusted. MDM provides the source of truth that makes them work reliably.
Beyond security, MDM allows new hires to receive preconfigured devices out of the box, lets teams deploy apps remotely, and reduces time spent troubleshooting configuration issues. It ensures that departing employees can be offboarded quickly and securely, with access revoked and data wiped if needed.
These capabilities reduce overhead, improve consistency, and give IT teams the tools they need to manage devices at scale - whether they’re supporting 20 endpoints or 2,000.
The right MDM tool sets the foundation for effective security by aligning with your environment today and supporting its evolution over time. When evaluating options, start with your operating systems. Your MDM should align with the devices your team actually uses. For Mac-heavy fleets, Jamf provides deep, native control. For Microsoft environments, Intune is a strong option built directly into the ecosystem.
Beyond platform fit, look for an MDM solution that can:
Teams that start with tools that are too lightweight often end up redoing the work later—migrating devices, rebuilding policies, and revalidating controls. Planning for scale early can prevent months of rework as security expectations increase.
Just as important as the tool itself is how it’s implemented. MDM only delivers value when devices are enrolled, policies are consistently applied, and gaps are identified and addressed instead of overlooked. A thoughtful rollout turns MDM from a one-time setup into a control you can rely on every day.
Zip Security helps teams operate MDM and other foundational controls consistently over time. By sitting above existing tools, Zip makes device posture visible, keeps policies enforced as environments change, and reduces the manual effort required to maintain a strong security baseline.
Book a demo today.
In a work environment, MDM should not be turned off unless your IT team instructs you to do so. Device management enables organizations to enforce basic security controls, such as encryption, passcodes, and remote wiping, in the event a device is lost or stolen. Disabling it can remove those protections and may violate company policy.
For personal devices not connected to an employer or school, MDM is typically not present unless it was intentionally installed.
MDM should only be removed when a device is no longer associated with an organization — for example, after an employee leaves or a company-owned device is being reassigned.
In managed environments, usually IT department handles removal as part of a formal offboarding process. This ensures access is revoked correctly and company data is removed without affecting personal information.
Most compliance frameworks don’t explicitly say “you must use MDM,” but they do require outcomes that are very difficult to achieve without it — such as consistent device security, access revocation, and verifiable enforcement of policies. In practice, MDM is one of the most reliable ways to meet those expectations.
