Mobile Application Management, commonly known as MAM, is a strategic approach backed by software tools used by businesses to manage the lifecycle of mobile applications on their employees’ devices. It has significantly emerged as a vital component of enterprise mobility.
MAM involves the processes that allow IT administrators to control and secure enterprise applications on employees’ smartphones, tablets, and other devices without intruding on their personal data. It’s a subset of the broader discipline, Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), and goes hand-in-hand with Mobile Device Management (MDM), which is focused more on the device itself.
MAM’s primary goal is to optimize functionality, increase security, manage the app’s lifecycle, and maintain compliance while reducing IT management disruption. It encompasses the deployment, configuration, updating, management, security, and retirement of mobile applications.
For mobile app developers in enterprise companies, understanding MAM is critical. Firstly, it provides a framework to ensure your application can be securely managed in an enterprise environment. This means that your application, once developed, can easily be distributed, managed, and updated by IT administrators.
Secondly, it aids in integrating applications appropriately with existing business workflows and systems. You can implement security measures like app wrapping and containerization within your applications, making them ’ enterprise-friendly.’
Lastly, it gives your applications longevity. With proper MAM policies, the lifecycle of your applications can be expertly managed, enhancing their staying power in a rapidly evolving mobile app landscape.
MAM solutions often include a variety of features such as:
App Distribution: Through an enterprise app store or other controlled means, permitting quick and efficient app distribution.
App Updating: Automatically managing app updates as they become available.
App Configuration: Preconfiguring and remotely managing settings for individual or groups of users.
App Security: Implementing app-specific VPN, encryption, and containerization to separate app data from personal data.
App Performance Monitoring: Collecting data on app performance and usage.
App Compliance: Enforcing enterprise-wide policies and ensuring regulatory compliance.
The mentioned features prevent data leaks, protect corporate data, ensure compliance, and make mobile app management a seamless process.
In conclusion, Mobile Application Management (MAM) is an integral part of enterprise mobility. Its role in controlling, managing, and securing enterprise mobile applications is vital to maintaining a secure, efficient, and productive mobile environment. For mobile app developers in enterprises, it bridges the gap between technical efficacy and enterprise regulatory compliance, making it a necessity in the modern enterprise mobility space.