Android Enterprise Essentials: Google's MDM for Small Businesses

Google has unveiled a new offering designed to enhance mobile security and management, called Android Enterprise Essentials. Despite the name, this solution is specifically tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. The company states that this new service builds upon Google’s extensive experience in developing Android Enterprise device management and security tools for larger enterprises, resulting in a more streamlined option for businesses operating with limited financial resources.

This new service provides fundamental mobile device management capabilities, including features that enable smaller businesses to mandate the use of screen locks and data encryption to safeguard sensitive company information. It also restricts the installation of applications from sources outside the Google Play Store through the Google Play Protect system, and provides the ability to remotely erase company data from lost or stolen mobile phones.

According to Google, many smaller businesses routinely process customer data on mobile devices, yet a significant number of current remote device management solutions are overly complex for small business owners and can be difficult to implement.

Android Enterprise Essentials aims to simplify the setup process by removing the requirement for individual device activation. Furthermore, as security policies are implemented remotely, employees do not need to manually configure settings on their personal devices. Businesses adopting this solution will simply purchase Android devices through a reseller, pre-configured with the necessary policies, and distribute them to their employees.

While primarily intended for smaller companies, Google indicates that the solution could also benefit certain larger organizations seeking to implement basic protections for devices that do not necessitate more comprehensive management tools. The new service can also serve as a starting point for companies looking to secure their mobile device infrastructure, with the option to transition to more advanced solutions, potentially from third-party providers, as their needs evolve.

Over the past few years, Google has been actively working to improve the suitability of Android devices for professional use, through initiatives such as Android for Work, Android Enterprise Recommended, collaborations to eliminate malware from the Play Store, enhanced device security for users facing higher risks, and various endpoint management solutions.

Google plans to initially launch Android Enterprise Essentials with distributors Synnex in the United States and Tech Data in the United Kingdom. The service will be expanded to additional resellers in the future, with a global rollout scheduled for early 2021. Google will also conduct a virtual launch event and demonstration in January for prospective clients.