MDM Device Compatibility Checklist: Will your devices work with MDM?
Device compatibility is one of the most important considerations for MDM. If your devices won’t work correctly with your MDM, then you’re paying for software that costs you time instead of saving it.
But how do you assess compatibility? There’s always the trial and error method, but that’s costly and time consuming. You could also research your options and “interview” potential fits. But again, that takes a lot of time.
That’s why we put together a quick 10-question checklist to help you figure out if MDM is a good fit for your device use case. By answering yes or no to the following questions, you’ll be able to get some insight into whether MDM will work for your needs, or if you need something more sophisticated to manage your devices.
You can see the questions and scoring breakdown below, but you’ll quickly realize that each question is weighted differently for various situations. For a deeper look at why each question is important and how they may apply to your situation, you can download our MDM compatibility ebook. It has all the info in this post and expands on each point in detail.
MDM compatibility checklist
When considering MDM for your device management needs, consider the following questions and answer yes or no. Count the number of questions you answer “yes” to on this checklist, and we’ll cover how to score your results down below.
| Y/N | Question |
| Are my devices all company owned (i.e. not employee owned)? | |
| Do I need to lock my devices to a single application or kiosk mode? | |
| Are my devices responsible for generating revenue or other critical business operations? Or are they merely a convenience? | |
| Do I need to update the content on my devices frequently — weekly, or even daily? | |
| Do I need full remote control and access to my devices from anywhere in the world at any time? | |
| Are my devices deployed across multiple locations, making physical access to every device a challenge? | |
| Am I responsible for deploying a large number of devices and need automation to scale quickly? | |
| Do I need remote monitoring and device telemetry and want immediate notifications if a device goes down, gets knocked offline, or falls out of policy? | |
| Do I need to customize the behavior or layout of an application or device interface as part of the initial setup? | |
| Are my Android devices running AOSP (Android without access to Google Play Services)? |
How to score your MDM checklist
How you answered those questions says a lot about your MDM use case and whether it will work well for your intended goals. Here’s what you need to know.
0: MDM is a best fit solution (probably)
If you answered “no” to every question, it sounds like you have a very straightforward MDM use case. This is generally the type of situation MDM was made for.
That said, if you think your needs may expand in the future or you have plans to scale your devices, we’d love to talk to you. We can do everything a traditional MDM can do and a lot more.
1-3: MDM is not a best fit solution and may slow you down
If you answered “yes” to at least a few of the questions, then you’re on the cusp of needing more than MDM. You might be able to get 90-95% of what you need from an MDM solution, but that 5% could potentially leave you struggling at critical moments — especially as you scale.
But that’s why Esper exists: to get you through the last mile. If you’re in between “this works” and “we need more,” we can get you over the hump.
4-7: MDM is a poor fit and will cause problems
If you’re in this bracket, an MDM will almost certainly miss the mark. You have pretty specific needs, a mixed device fleet, are looking to scale quickly, or other scenarios that make a traditional MDM a poor fit. You might be able to jerry-rig a solution that “works,” sure, but at the end of the day, you simply need more.
Esper was designed for situations just like this. Where other MDMs will leave you wishing for something more, Esper delivers. It’s why we exist.
7+: MDM is inappropriate for your use case
If you answered “yes” to 70% or more of the questions, then we were made for each other. You probably already know that MDM isn’t the solution you need, but maybe you’re not sure where to go from there. Well, you’re in the right place, because Esper is the perfect next step for you.
We were designed for situations like yours. Most MDMs simply adopted the type of device management you need. But we were born in it. Molded by it. We exist to do exactly what you need.
Seriously, give us a try, and you’ll see.
Why Esper is more than MDM
We know what you’re thinking: we skewed the questions to pander toward Esper. That’s actually not the case, because Esper really is different. Too often we see people trying to use MDM in a way that MDM was never intended to be used — for company owned and managed devices like kiosks, POS, digital signage, handhelds, and a lot more.
Esper was specifically designed for these scenarios. We saw the holes in MDM software and filled the gaps. We can do everything you can do with an MDM, sure, but we also take things up a notch. Or two. If you’re struggling to nail down a good solution for your specific needs, give us a try. You’ll quickly find out why Esper isn’t just more than MDM — it’s better MDM.
