OREANDA-NEWS.  August 30, 2012. Recognizing that small business owners need a highly secure, affordable way to manage wireless devices, AT&T has expanded its cloud-based Mobile Device Management (MDM) offering with solutions for small businesses with a robust list of features previously available only to larger enterprise customers. The explosion in the use of smartphones and tablets has enabled small businesses to thrive, but it has also challenged business owners who must control these devices and ensure they work safely on the company network, reported the press-centre of AT&T.

AT&T MDM solutions allow small businesses to proactively manage employees’ mobile devices and data usage, making it easier for the company to enforce management policies while still empowering workers with mobile access. With cloud-based MDM, small business owners don’t need to invest in installing hardware to support the service because it’s hosted and managed by AT&T*.

According to the recent 2012 AT&T Small Business Technology Poll**, almost 90 percent of small businesses use smartphones and more than four in 10 small businesses reported all of their employees use them to work away from the office – a nearly 80 percent jump over the past three years. That’s why it’s more important than ever for small businesses to have a cloud-based, highly secure, and flexible solution to manage their employees’ mobile devices regardless of the platform or operating system.

Key Features
AT&T Mobile Device Management solutions, available for small businesses with as few as 20 employees, offer:

Lost device detection, including password recovery, device lock, wipe, and encryption

Remote configuration of email, Wi-Fi, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Asset management features that enable business owners to keep track of company-owned devices

App distribution capabilities that allow business owners to push mission-critical apps to their employees

App whitelist/blacklist capabilities help control how company-owned smartphones are used

In addition, AT&T’s experienced small business team is ready to help business owners determine and develop their mobility policy and strategy, while also providing support in selection, implementation, hosting, and management of an MDM solution.

For a brief video on AT&T Mobile Device Management, please visit www.att.com/MDM. Small business owners looking for more information should go to AT&T Small Business.

Quotes
“Small businesses often lack the IT resources to maintain control over dozens of different smartphones and tablets, stretching their time and budget to the limit. That’s where AT&T MDM solutions can help, freeing small business owners to concentrate on doing what they do best – running their companies,” said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business and Home Solutions.

“Cloud-based MDM solutions are gaining steam as more employees want to use the smartphones and apps they’ve come to love for both business and personal use,” said Carrie MacGillivray, IDC analyst and program director for SMB Mobility. “However, small businesses must balance this demand with the need for both flexible and secure mobile device management. Winning providers fill this niche by focusing on affordable, highly secure solutions designed with small businesses in mind.”

General Information
Small businesses wanting information about AT&T products and services can visit AT&T Small Business. For free business resources such as webinars, case studies, and best practices, visit the AT&T Small Business Solutions website.

Additionally, real-time information and updates can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page and AT&T Small Business Twitter channel.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.