GFI MAX has been having a busy year taking its message to the managed service provider community. Having just completed a worldwide tour meeting with their MSP partners, GFI MAX has also been busy adding new technological features to its MSP platform. GFI MAX today announced the availability of GFI MAX Mobile Device Management (MDM), a new offering for MSPs who want to monetize the growing demand around BYOD; a service only 28% of MSPs are currently monetizing for their customers, according to a survey conducted by GFI.
The MDM offering follows GFI’s purchase of VIzualMobile, a cloud-based multi-platform mobile device management solution. The offering will be available in three different tiers allowing MSPs to provide customers with the features they need to manage the mobile devices already being used on their network with room to expand as their needs evolve. All GFI MAX MSPs will be able to enroll customers’ mobile devices on their network and provide access to basic device information free of charge, allowing them to start an informed conversation about the importance of mobile device management for today’s businesses.
What About Security?
Security features included with GFI MAX Mobile Device Management consist of remote locking and unlocking, remote wipe, the ability to change pin numbers and, optionally, to locate the device, ensuring that sensitive data can be secured in the event of a theft or loss. Other features targeted at business-owned devices include automated provisioning, allowing administrators to configure Email, WiFi, VPN and other policies for all the devices under management, directly from the GFI MAX console. MAX MDM customers will also have access to more in-depth reporting on configurations and usage of mobile devices, providing additional insight into the status of devices registered to the network.
“GFI MAX MSPs need solutions that allow them to meet their customers’ needs and inspire confidence in the quality of service that is being provided, while also generating new revenue opportunities that generate growth,” said Dr. Alistair Forbes, general manager of the GFI MAX business unit. “As more and more digital natives enter the workforce, employees will likely have different expectations for mobile device usage at work as well as different tolerances for corporate standards or limitations. By providing a flexible mobile device management solution, MSPs can create deeper relationships with their customers while enabling them to simultaneously protect their network and avoid the risk of alienating their employees.”
The addition of MDM for GFI MSPs is naturally a positive move, especially for the SMB market segment who have not previously been realistic targets of the BYOD managed services momentum. As more MSPs tackle choices about what service offerings they will be taking to their customers, maintaining high value managed services is very important, both for the MSP and their customers.