What Is Remote Device Management? A Guide for Small Businesses

How to Create an Efficient IT Onboarding Process for New Employees

Starting a new job is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. No matter how many interviews and coffee chats a new team member did during the hiring process, they’re stepping into the unknown. 

As a hiring manager or HR leader, your goal is to harness this energy and make them feel comfortable and fit in. 

But very few experiences will burst their bubble like feeling forgotten about. Showing up for their first few days with no computer, no login, and nobody to help is immediately alienating. And it puts pressure on their new colleagues to help out.

Only 12% of employees believe their company does a good job of onboarding team members. And in our modern, digital-first work environments, this starts with IT. 

This article explores the value of well-designed, efficient IT onboarding for new employees. And we also look at the keys to doing this well, without wasting time and effort.
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What is IT onboarding? 

IT onboarding is the process of getting new employees up and running with company information systems. These include computers, phones, and tablets, as well as user profiles, cybersecurity policies, and network access. 

A fully onboarded employee:

• Has their own devices, including remote workers
• Can log in and use them safely
• Has access to the wi-fi network
• Can use communication channels like email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom
• Knows where to look for more information should they need it

IT onboarding is arguably the very first thing a new employee needs to succeed. Before they can fully understand the company’s mission and cultural values, or even get to know their new team mates, they need IT access. 

Typical challenges when onboarding new employees

For such a fundamental part of the hiring process, IT onboarding remains difficult. In fact, it may be harder today than in previous eras. 

The cliché cubicle setup was simple. Everyone needed the same computer and phone on their desk, the same network access, with relatively few exceptions. 

Today you have remote employees using a wide range of both hardware and software. A salesperson may need vastly different IT equipment from an engineer. 

IT onboarding is challenging and often falls short for the following reasons:

• It’s time consuming: The average onboarding process involves around 50 administrative steps. IT setup alone can easily account for 20 or more of those, and will quickly become a bottleneck if your processes are inefficient.
  
  
• It’s increasingly personalized: Employees love to select their own hardware, and some have specific technical requirements. You may also have different nationalities, which means different keyboards and operating languages.
  
  All of this means a one-size-fits-all IT setup won’t work.
  
  
• There are lots of moving parts: Between the devices themselves and the software setup required, you can have more than 10 IT vendors per employee. Which also means different timeframes—hardware orders may take days or weeks, while creating a user profile might only take a moment.
  
  
• Some technical skills are required: Corporate systems may not be as technical as they used to be, but HR and office managers may not feel well equipped to manage IT hardware. If you don’t have a dedicated IT expert on staff, you either need to lean on other skilled employees for support or bring in outside help to resolve issues. Both of which add time and complexity.
  
  
• Onboarding is cross-functional. Every employee needs onboarding, but it’s not always clear who should lead. The hiring manager, an HR person, the IT person, or someone else? This inbetween status can mean onboarding isn’t given the attention it deserves, and new employees are overlooked. 

Whether you have a robust onboarding process or not, it’s a good time to look closely at your IT rollout. Ensure new employees get the smooth welcome they deserve. 

8 IT onboarding best practices

A good employee onboarding process is the best way to overcome the common issues above. Here’s what should be in yours. 

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1. Prepare your pre-onboarding routine

Even if each onboarding may have its specificities, you want a repeatable, consistent approach for every new employee. Ideally, you’ll have a checklist to work through as soon as a work contract is signed. 

This starts with hardware. Ensure all laptops, monitors, phones, and extras are delivered and ready to use before the person starts. That also means installing the necessary hardware and creating user permissions. 

There’s a lot more work here than many admins anticipate. You have to order from several providers (such as Apple for the computer, Amazon for the hub and screen), and track to make sure everything arrives where and as intended. 

You then have to configure these items by hand. Or ask your brand new employee to self-set up, which is not a great onboarding experience. 

Your best option is to use a service like Primo with zero-touch deployment. Primo pre-configures devices to your specifications, so they arrive with new employees ready to use:

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2. Provide secure access and credentials early

Start dates can shift and onboarding can throw up surprises, so it pays to prepare in advance. You can easily set up employee accounts and even share their email access ahead of time, so they’re ready to log in right away. 

Send the new hire their login credentials for email and other key software prior to their start date. They don’t actually need to do anything with it, but it’s good to know it’s ready for them. 

That includes security tools like password managers, and security protocols like two-factor authentication (2FA). Again, they don’t need to connect before day one, but they should have everything they need to get started right away. 

Finally, ensure newcomers have access to all key business software: Google Suite or Microsoft Office, Notion or Asana, Slack, and more. 

An IT operations system like Primo can also really help here. Primo lets you create new user profiles in just a few clicks, and automatically adds users to the tools they need in their specific role. The tools required can be job-dependent and vary hugely between users, so a one-size-fits-all software setup won’t work. 

Done well, you don’t have to manually visit each individual platform. And you never forget anything important.

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3. Document policies and create useful onboarding guides

Most young companies don’t have clearly-stated onboarding policies. This leaves it up to individual managers and admins to welcome employees on a case-by-case basis. That may work when you have the time to dedicate real attention to onboarding. 

But as soon as your attention is elsewhere—or if you’re hiring very quickly—newcomers can be left behind. And more broadly, you want a consistent experience for all new employees. So a documented process and policy is best. 

Include step-by-step guides for common tasks. Even better, prepare a 4-week onboarding template that any manager can quickly update and tailor to their roles.

That can start with IT. Provide easy-to-follow documentation, videos, or tutorials explaining how to use essential systems like email, project management tools, and key software. 

Even if a new employee has used Notion, Slack, or Jira before, they may not use them your way. 

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4. Emphasize cybersecurity training

With the amount of digital connectivity and data access every company has today, security training is increasingly important. New hires need to know the importance of protecting customer data and avoiding scams. 

Cybersecurity awareness and training should be one of the first steps in onboarding—as soon as possible after the employee has access to your systems. In fact, IT onboarding is now a core component of becoming compliant in many schemes. You must prove that employees know how to be safe and responsible with company data. 

Train new employees on data protection policies, phishing risks, secure file sharing, and acceptable use of company systems.

Just as crucially, emphasize the cultural value you place on security (if indeed it is a value). Don’t assume that team members come from vigilant, security-conscious companies. Many will need to develop good habits, and it’s best to start immediately. 

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5. Use mobile device management systems

IT management involves so many different processes, hardware, and software. Teams are increasingly distributed, and your devices are traveling all over cities and countries every day. 

This makes onboarding (and ongoing maintenance) really difficult. And it can be a major security risk. 

Good mobile management brings all of your devices together into one system of record, accessible and manageable from anywhere in the world. You can access, lock, and wipe any device, no matter where it is. You can also create accounts, change passwords, and update software. 

This software lets you confidently hand out devices on day one, including to remote employees. If they have any issues logging in or finding things, you can take control and help out.

This is obviously important for companies with remote staff. But even if your whole team is mostly on-site, in-office, modern employees have laptops and phones they take home with them. A centralized tool to track—and if necessary, access—these devices is paramount.

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6. Automate key steps in the process

Even in small companies, employee onboarding is a major task. For fast-growing companies, it’s a major hurdle to scaling. And preparing the IT hardware and environment is often to blame for holdups. 

Unless you automate. You shouldn’t have to manage onboarding on a 1:1 basis for each new employee. Good tools can manage the more manual, repetitive aspects. 

Key steps to automate include: 

• Ordering devices and having them delivered
• Pre-configuring the software and user profiles for these devices
• Creating accounts on all key tools, specific to each user’s role and responsibilities
• Guiding users to the right IT trainings for them

To do this, you need the right system. 

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7. Get feedback and ensure everything’s working

If possible, it pays to check in with new employees after a few days or weeks to make sure that everything’s working as they need. That could be a scheduled Slack message from the IT team, or a 10-minute Zoom call to show them a few advanced tips and tricks. 

That’s also important for companies without dedicated IT support. Their onboarding manager or HR rep will doubtless schedule catch ups in the first few weeks. Make a specific point to check that they’re happy with their devices and aren’t getting lost in the company intranet or communication tools. 

New employees are typically shy, and don’t want to admit when systems are confusing. But it’s perfectly normal to be confused, and a quick catch up should iron out any issues they’re having. 

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8. Streamline your IT onboarding process

Good onboarding can absolutely be the difference between companies with long-serving, happy teams, and those with high employee turnover. A negative onboarding experience is shown to cause employees to look for new opportunities in the near future. 

And it doesn’t take a huge amount to deliver a good experience. While some companies offer extensive welcome packages and onboarding retreats, the most important is to make employees feel valued. 

Show them that you’re excited to have them and have prepared for this moment. At the very least, that means having devices and accounts configured and ready to go. 

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And the best way to do this consistently is with good automation. For example, Primo helps companies manage IT onboarding in just minutes, without any team members specifically focused on this task. Devices are delivered anywhere pre-configured, and it only takes the IT or HR person responsible a few clicks. Which means every onboarding can be both easily personalized, and efficiently systematized. 

That’s the beauty of automated solutions—they work every time and save countless hours.

Zero-Touch Deployment: How to Set Up & Distribute Employee Devices Efficiently

The time and energy that goes into getting computers and phones out to new employees is significant. And it’s only growing as modern companies become more distributed and remote friendly. 

Every visit to the IT closet—or the Apple website—is a distraction. And for busy IT teams, manually setting up and delivering new devices is a waste of resources. Even worse if you’re relying on line managers or your HR team to arrange all this.

Zero-touch deployment lets you automated these basic but essential IT processes. Devices can be set up, configured, and managed remotely without the need for physical intervention.

In this article, we'll explore how zero-touch deployment can transform your IT infrastructure, boost productivity, and support your business's growth.

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What is Zero-Touch Deployment?

Zero-Touch Deployment (ZTD) is the process of pre-configuring employee devices without any manual effort from your own team. The ideal outcome is an almost fully automated and highly efficient IT onboarding procedure, which works wherever your team members are. 

This process is also known as zero-touch provisioning or automated device enrollment. 

Let’s use Apple as a common example. Apple authorizes certain suppliers to pre-configure computers remotely, without having to handle them. These suppliers are therefore able to deliver to customers quickly, with computers that arrive pre-configured. Note: You won’t find ZTD if you order through Apple.com. This is only available through specific B2B providers.

There are plenty of benefits to zero-touch deployment for almost every business, as we’ll see. But particularly for companies with distributed teams and multiple locations or entities, automating device enrollment is a major asset. You don’t need IT experts in each office to set up computers for new employees—it can be fully automated and managed from anywhere.   

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What does it include? 

The specifics may differ slightly from provider to provider, but zero-touch deployment generally includes:

• Setting up accounts and preparing the device for use
• Maintaining security standards and being able to lock down accounts in seconds (if necessary)
• Retrieving company devices when employees leave, and deleting personal or employee-specific data

This service is typically provided by third parties—you essentially outsource device setup. Strictly speaking, zero-touch deployment doesn’t include sourcing or delivering devices to users. But some providers (like Primo) also help you purchase devices and deliver them to team members. 

This is best done through a software platform which lets you create new user profiles and order your preferred devices in a few seconds. Even better, this software can be integrated with HR or payroll platforms that already have new employee profiles with their home addresses, so delivery is fully automated.

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Advantages of automating device deployment 

Zero-touch deployment has become widespread as office spaces have changed. Today, 64% of companies have hybrid working arrangements, not to mention those with full remote or distributed teams. 

ZTD offers a more efficient way to distribute devices to these team members. Team members may be anywhere, and so may your devices. In this context, choosing a complete IT provider that offers zero-touch deployment as well as purchasing and delivery has several key benefits:

• Ready-to-use devices. Your IT team or office manager doesn’t need to prepare each device before handing them out. Likewise, employees don’t need to figure out how to configure the setup themselves.
  
  
• Fewer human errors. Particularly where you don’t have dedicated IT support, device setup can easily go away. ZTD leaves this work to the experts.
  
  
• Time savings. Devices are sent directly to the users who need them, removing the IT team as a middleman. This is more efficient, but also keeps your IT experts focused on higher-value work. And crucially, if someone is away or unavailable, there’s no bottleneck.
  
  
• Prompt device delivery: An automated process ensures that the correct steps are followed, so that devices arrive on time with the right person. Every time. This is important where you’re dealing with different countries and unique personal circumstances.

• Less technical expertise required: A well-designed zero-touch program doesn’t require an IT team at all. A hiring manager or HR leader can easily order devices and arrange delivery. 

• Better employee onboarding: New hires can choose the hardware they want and have it ready for them when they arrive. They simply turn on the device and their workspace is ready and waiting. This lets them get straight into onboarding tasks, and start getting to know their new team right away.
  
  
• Instant offboarding. ZTD also lets you wipe or reset devices from anywhere, which is helpful when employees leave your organization. You can instantly remove the user-specific data and return the device to its pre-configured state, with your specific software and apps still installed.
  
  
• Lower costs: Lower costs are the natural result of more efficient processes. Delivery costs should be cheaper as they’re taken on by logistics experts, and you also save on the human resources required to set up computers internally. 

• Consistent security: Devices can also be delivered with all the latest security updates and company-mandated programs. You’ll have the right security software right from the initial setup, and can update software on an ongoing basis.
  
  You also remove an extra handover step where things could get lost or stolen. There are fewer devices sitting around the office waiting for their user, and devices go straight back to the distributor when the user leaves or upgrades.

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Possibly the biggest advantage is simply not having to worry about devices during the onboarding process. The setup and delivery processes are taken care of in a few clicks from your IT or HR departments, and the rest runs like clockwork.

Zero-Touch Deployment with Primo

Some specialist services focus entirely on deployment. They’ll source and pre-configure a device, then ensure it arrives with the employee on time. Which is obviously a great start. But we believe that device procurement and deployment is part of a wider IT lens. And ideally, you’d manage everything in one place:

• Device deployment 
• Ongoing monitoring and management
• Employee onboarding and offboarding
• Updates to SaaS tools and software
• Passwords and security

With an all-in-one provider like Primo, you get deployment as part of a broader mobile device management solution. Meaning we don’t just get new devices to team members—we remove virtually all your manual, repetitive IT work. 

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Free deployment

You can buy, ship, and track any device via our platform for free. That includes new devices from Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and more, or refurbished via Backmarket. 

Having all of these suppliers in one place makes sourcing new devices very quick, and lets you easily choose from a range of manufacturers. 

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Fully customized

What really makes a difference is the level of customization and automation you get. Choose the software, tools, and extensions each computer needs to have at the individual or team level. In most companies, engineers and product managers will have vastly different needs from sales or marketing teams, and you can pre-configure these before devices are sent out. 

The key point is, you’re not limited to what’s available off the shelf. You design the software and hardware setups you need from the centralized platform, but you don’t actually have to build the devices up yourself. They arrive ready to go. 

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Integrate your systems

You have your own software ecosystem and tools of choice. So new devices should be connected to these from the start. First, you can connect your HR system—tools like Payfit, Lucca, Personio, or BambooHR. This way, you assign each device to an employee in their official company profile. 

Primo also helps you manage access to Google Suite or Microsoft Office, Slack, Notion, Salesforce, and all the other critical platforms that run your business. Create a new user profile in your HR tool, and they’ll have the access they need based on their team, seniority level, and any other factors you choose during the Primo onboarding. 

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Automate IT onboarding & offboarding

Good Zero-Touch Deployment essentially automates employee onboarding. Your IT team and managers don’t need to manually add new users to each tool—it’s all done in a click. 

And the devices are ready to use, configured to the specifications for each user. 

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Compliant & secure

Finally—but just as crucially—Primo ensures that all disks are encrypted, your systems are compliant (integrating with Vanta & Drata), and identifies malware and ransomware attacks. 

The overall outcome is a complete device management process, tailored specifically to your company and your team. Because while Zero-Touch Deployment is an incredible service—and vital for remote-friendly teams—there’s more to love about complete IT automation and management.

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Make Zero-Touch Deployment part of automated IT management

Device distribution is one of those unglamorous but essential processes that makes your company run. There’s no added value to setting up each employee’s computer one by one. In fact, it costs you time and human resources, and often leads to mistakes or omissions. 

These are the business processes that simply must be automated. And we have the tools and providers to do just that. 

Wherever in the world your people are—and whatever tools and hardware they need—get them up and running without effort. Just as importantly, track their equipment easily, and recall or repair it when required. Again, with zero touch. 

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Learn more about how Primo lets you deploy, track, and optimize your company’s IT stack. That’s vital for remote teams, and important for all companies. 

The modern office has seen a significant transformation, with hybrid and remote work becoming the norm. Employees expect and thrive with the flexibility to work from anywhere—whether it’s the office, home, or the road. 

But with this newfound freedom comes a critical challenge: ensuring that devices, data, and workflows remain secure and efficient across distributed teams.

That’s where mobile device management (MDM) tools are essential. These solutions let IT teams and HR managers manage devices, enforce security policies, and provide seamless support, all from a centralized platform. 
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In this article, we’ll explore six of the best MDM tools for SMBs, helping you unlock the full potential of a modern, flexible workforce.
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What is mobile device management (MDM)?

Mobile device management is a particular class of software that lets IT managers and admins connect and control company devices from anywhere. This is particularly important in modern, hybrid work environments where laptops, mobile phones, and tablets travel all over the world. 

A good MDM tool enforces your security policies, configures devices, manages apps, and tracks device statuses across your entire fleet.

This is a crucial element of remote device management, the broader set of processes and philosophies a company uses to manage remote devices. MDM is perhaps the most important aspect of this process, and is usually the starting point. 

In practice, companies use MDM to set password rules and security policies, keep devices updated, and have quick access should an administrator need to take control. 
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Why is MDM important for small businesses? 

The modern workforce has changed fundamentally from even a few years ago. Desktop PCs have largely given way to laptops, most of which go home with employees at the end of each day.

Staff are also far more likely to work from home a few days each week, if not full time. And more employees travel between offices than in previous eras. 

The result is more mobile devices, and less direct oversight over where they go. Meanwhile, cyber risks like phishing attacks and unwanted entry have exploded in recent years. With more devices connecting to insecure networks or simply stolen, SMBs have real reason to be wary. 

A hack could expose personal customer information, your strategies, and even your company bank accounts. 

To track mobile devices and keep a secure fleet, MDM software helps you:

• Increase security: You can ensure that devices are always updated with the required security systems, and are quickly retrieved if lost.
  
  
• Stay compliant: Particularly for certain industries and business models, you need to be extra vigilant over hacks and lost data. But there’s really never a good time for a data breach. 
  
  
• Save money: It’s surprisingly common for devices to get misplaced or forgotten as employees come and go. As part of a robust remote device management plan, MDM keeps track of devices and ensures they’re returned when people leave.

• Work efficiently: Small businesses don’t have time to waste on manual device tracking. An MDM tool avoids the need for messy spreadsheets or endless back and forth between colleagues. All the information you need—and the ability to solve common issues—is available in one place.
  
  
• Allows flexibility: Some businesses use a one-size-fits-all IT approach for simplicity. But with the right tools and efficient processes, you can still have personalized hardware and software, without it becoming unwieldy.
  
  

Key MDM features to look for

There are a range of tools available, as well as broader remote device management platforms that include MDM. So it can be hard to know the specific features to look for when considering your mobile device management software. 

While every platform has its strengths and weakness, good MDM software should include: 

• Device tracking. Know where each company device is, and monitor performance where required.
  
  
• Remote control. If necessary, an admin can take over and “drive” a device, no matter where it is.
  
  
• System updates. Update individual devices on a case-by-case basis, and schedule company-wide updates to software and security protocols.
  
  
• Usage policies. If necessary, admins can restrict the use of certain websites, apps, or device features.
  
  
• Security monitoring. Spot security threats across the whole network, manage antivirus software, and roll out fixes to known security issues.
  
  
• Identity management. This is not actually a core MDM feature, but the best MDMs integrate with identity management providers. This lets you control user access with via single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication and role-based access.

With these features in mind, let’s look now at some of the best MDM systems available. All of these tools do the above essentials well, so we’ll focus on the aspects that set them apart.

6 best mobile device management systems

If you’re eager to implement mobile device management in your business, these are the tools we recommend.

1. Primo

Primo has all of the above features (and more) to track, update, and optimize remote devices. As an MDM tool, it gives you the security and control you need to manage distributed teams and modern work environments.

But Primo goes beyond mobile device management as an all-in-one IT operations platform. You can easily source and distribute new devices, create company-wide security protocols, deliver compliance training, and keep track of a growing hardware fleet. 

This is ideal for busy IT teams who want to make all of their operational work efficient and smooth. But it’s also perfect for “accidental” IT managers, often in HR or office management, who may not have the time or technical expertise to manage devices effectively. Primo takes care of every time-consuming task they could have, so they can focus on what they were hired to do. 

Primo works across brands, so you have good MDM tools whether you use Mac, Windows, or other operating systems. You can also source devices directly from Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and Backmarket, among others. 

Ultimately, Primo lets you manage all key IT processes in one smooth system, and avoid the technical challenges that plague most businesses.

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Key features

• Buy and ship new devices within five days
• Track, update, optimize, and wipe devices remotely
• High-level cybersecurity identifies ransomware and undoes any damage caused
• Integrate your HR system for automated onboarding and offboarding processes

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Best fit for

• Growing SMBs (50-500 FTEs) that need lean, effective IT processes
• Companies which use both Apple and Windows devices, as Primo works across operating systems and hardware providers 

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Not a great fit for

• Large companies with existing IT processes that only need MDM solutions

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2. Microsoft Intune

Intune is Microsoft’s MDM solution, for companies already using its networking products and suite of tools. It helps network admins manage user access and device settings, and is predominantly for enterprise-level companies. This includes mobile devices, desktops, and virtual endpoints. 

As you would expect, Intune is a popular option among IT professionals who set up Microsoft environments for clients. These are often larger, more traditional office settings, where Outlook and Excel are commonplace. The platform lets you create and standardize specific security settings, zero-trust rules, and set the kinds of usage limits larger companies often require. 

Windows Autopilot also promises to be increasingly useful in managing IT. Intune already uses this AI tool to help deploy operating systems and provision new devices, and the use cases are sure to expand quickly. 

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Key features

• Broad range of native Microsoft integrations
• Custom roles and policies for enhanced security
• Mobile threat detection and defense services
• Can be used for BYOD or company-owned devices

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Best for

• Larger enterprise businesses already using and familiar with the Microsoft suite of tools

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Not a great fit for

• SMBs or fast-growing companies that want to manage IT in house with minimal delays and setup costs

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3. Jamf Pro

Jamf is known as perhaps the market leader in mobile device management for Apple devices. Whether your business uses iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Mac OS devices, or Apple TVs, Jamf has the features to manage them centrally and keep them secure.

Jamf Pro offers zero touch deployment if you buy Apple devices through their B2B providers. It then makes it easy to find, monitor, and update those devices as required during their lifecycles.  

Jamf has a few price points and packages to consider, including those for very small companies with no dedicated IT support. But Jamf Pro is its true MDM product, aimed at larger businesses and higher education providers, with a more complete feature set.

Jamf Pro is at the more expensive end of the pricing scale for MDM providers. Some SMBs don’t need a solution at this robust price point.  

‍Customers love the fact that Jamf is so focused and committed to Apple products. This allows them to be at the cutting edge of innovation and adapt quickly to the slightest changes released by Apple.

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Key features

• Application management and consolidation
• Remote wipe and device tracking
• Strong security features
• User-friendly experience for teams with limited technical expertise

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Best fit for

• Larger companies and universities with a fleet of Apple devices
• SMBs that exclusively use Apple products

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Not a great fit for

• SMBs with a significant mix of non-Apple and Apple devices
• Budget-conscious companies

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4. Kandji

Kandji is another Apple specialist. In fact, it markets itself as “the Apple device management and security platform.” This focus gives you the confidence that these are dedicated experts who “know the Apple ecosystem inside and out.” 

As an administrator, you create “blueprints” with all the common settings and apps every employee needs. The platform provides a library of 150+ ready-to-use apps, including all the most common tools most businesses use. This makes setting up your working environment simple and scalable. 

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Its support team is made up of experienced systems administrators who understand the common problems most IT managers face. They’re known for being particularly helpful in solving issues, which are already few and far between. 

Customers include Allbirds, Demandbase, and Sisense, among a range of other tech-enabled growing businesses. For companies with Apple-heavy IT requirements, Kandji may be the perfect solution. 
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Key features

• Automated software updates to keep all devices on the same version
• AI assistant that delivers insights and tips for better device management
• Migration agent tool to switch easily from your current MDM provider
• Active and responsive support team, especially during setup 
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Best fit for

• Growing businesses with almost exclusively Apple devices
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Not a great fit for

• SMBs with a significant mix of non-Apple and Apple devices

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5. Miradore

Miradore is a low-cost MDM software that does the basics well. And that’s more than enough for some small businesses. The tool is particularly useful for companies with hundreds or even thousands of devices to monitor, but a small team and low IT budget. 

You can monitor and manage your fleet easily, and enforce compliance and security protocols. You can also check that operating systems and software are up to date, when the device was last used, and where it is at any given time. 

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Miradore secures both company-owned and personal devices across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. And for many small businesses, there’s just the right level of security and control, without becoming overly complex.
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Key features

• Device inventory management
• Application and patch management 
• Configuration, restriction, and device tracking
• Automation for a range of IT tasks
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Best fit for

• Companies with basic MDM needs and low budgets
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Not a great fit for

• SMBs that need all-in-one IT management, including sourcing, onboarding and offboarding devices, or want MDM customization

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6. JumpCloud

JumpCloud is perhaps the most technical platform on this list, best suited to advanced IT teams with high levels of expertise. It’s an incredibly open and customizable solution, which is exactly what some businesses need. 

JumpCloud manages Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS and iPadOS devices, unlike the Apple-specific tools above. This lets IT managers create policies and protocols that apply across all of these devices, rather than managing them separately. 

It also lets you limit the installation of unapproved software, also known as “shadow IT.” Coupled with zero-trust policies that protects users, devices, applications, files, and networks, it’s one of the best solutions for security-obsessed organizations. 

It may not be the simplest platform on this list, but JumpCloud is a very powerful, dedicated MDM solution. 

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Key features

• JumpCloud Go provides strong multi-factor authentication and password settings
• Zero-trust policies for devices and networks
• Open directory platform that integrates with your existing IT stack
• SaaS management to oversee your tools and optimize licenses

Best fit for

• Companies with established IT teams and support that want to tailor MDM to their exact specifications

Not a great fit for

• SMBs that need user-friendly, ready-to-use tools

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Find the ideal MDM for your SMB

Corporate devices have taken on an interesting status in recent years. For most employees, their phone or computer is theirs, with use extending far outside office hours. Of course, IT leaders have a different view, and (rightly) see devices as company property. 

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But just because devices go everywhere with employees, that doesn’t mean they can’t be secure and tracked efficiently. The platforms above make this a reality. 

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No matter what size your company is, or the industry you serve, you almost certainly need MDM software. The real question is: which is right for you? 

Hopefully the breakdowns above help you make your choice. And for more help, talk to us. We’ll gladly help you figure out whether Primo or one of the other excellent providers on this list is right for you.