What Is MMS and EMM?
Managed mobility services (MMS) is the procurement, deployment and management of mobile devices and apps, PC software and services connecting out-of-office workers to the enterprise environment. MMS goes a bit further than traditional WEM programs.
MMS is a term that Gartner created in 2011. It encompasses the IT and process management services, often outsourced to third parties, to acquire, provision and support mobile devices with integrated cellular and/or wireless connectivity. Gartner includes the following categories of services:
- Sourcing and logistics management
- Mobile service management
- Device and system management
- Application and collaboration management
- Security and content management
- Program and financial management
Under logistics management, many MMS and EMM programs offer kitting where a supplier takes bulk orders and creates a custom kit of peripheral items (chargers, a headset and instructions) that are assembled, tested and shipped in one package to each employee. Increasingly, it also includes in managing the lifecycle of hardware assets with IT Asset Disposition, Buyback and Data Destruction. Securely wiping data from devices is a critical step insuring security when smartphones and other assets are re-sold or disposed.
MMS, or EMM looks at mobile as an entire stack. MMS continues through usage to recycling and a dozen steps in between. MDM is one part of MMS, not the entire solution. Starting with mobile policies that guide decision-making on bring-your-own-device policies, MMS engagements also provide a level of control to organizations that have employees who seek to access corporate resources and information on individual liable, or bring your own devices.
By offering services that extend the life of the phone, this enterprise-level platform helps reduce the management burden on already overburdened IT staff.
