Top 8 Best Open Source MDM – Mobile Device Management Tools
Top 8 Best Open Source MDM – Mobile Device Management Tools. Most organizations have employees using mobile devices for various tasks. This is even more prevalent with work from home, where employees access digital resources remotely. This creates a management problem, especially because these devices hold sensitive business information.
Mobile device management tools come in handy to manage critical endpoints. This article discusses Top 8 Best Open Source MDM – Mobile Device Management Tools Read on!
Top 8 Best Open Source MDM – Mobile Device Management Tools
1. Flyve MDM
Flyve MDM is an open source mobile device management solution that helps organizations to securely manage and monitor multiple mobile devices within their enterprise network. Number of features: remote device control, application deployment, user and group management. Other capabilities include device tracking, policy enforcement, inventory tracking and detailed analytics reports about the usage of applications in real time. Additionally, it supports multiple authentication methods for added security.
Flyve MDM allows IT admins to remotely lock or wipe out any lost or stolen devices from anywhere in the world using the platform’s dedicated web portal. With its user management feature easily manage access control and assign permissions to users and groups.
Pros of Flyve MDM
- Advanced application deployment.
- Offers an extensive inventory tracking to monitor device usage.
- Tracks endpoint devices to ensure policies and changes are well implemented.
- Provides a graphical user interface.
Cons of Flyve MDM
- Limited support on the open source version.
2. Headwind MDM
Headwind MDM is a mobile device management solution to securely manage their fleets of Android mobile devices. Enables businesses to remotely configure and update device settings, track device location, manage application permissions, and secure data. The solution also ensures data encryption and secure authentication to protect devices from unauthorized access. Additionally, Headwind MDM allows businesses to remotely lock and wipe devices, if they are lost or stolen. Also enforce compliance with company policies.
The centralized dashboard provided makes it easy to monitor and secure devices. It allows businesses to deploy applications and settings to multiple devices at once and view reporting and analytics to track device performance.
Pros of Headwind MDM
- Provides an intuitive user interface for swiftly managing devices.
- Provides a script based install that provide quick installation “Out of the Box”.
- Both open source and premium versions.
- Provides group based policy management.
- Remote support to IT managers to help resolve issues.
- Extensible architecture.
Cons of Headwind
- Works on Android devices only.
3. Fleet MDM
Fleet MDM is an open source mobile device management software solution designed to help organizations manage and secure their digital devices like mobile devices. It provides the tools necessary to monitor your devices, allowing you to get real time insights into the state and health of an organization’s entire digital landscape. Use Fleet MDM to track the devices in use, identify potential security threats, and enforce security policies.
Pros of Fleet MDM
- Handles the server management so you focus on device management.
- Uses GitOps workflow to ensure checks and balances for configuration management.
- Has sufficient documentation to help new uses get started easily.
- Allows developers to scrutinize its code and contribute to its evolution and improve its adaptability.
Cons of Fleet MDM
- Relatively new tool that’s still under massive development.
4. MicroMDM
MicroMDM is an open source MDM server, specifically designed for Apple devices. Being an MDM server, it allows you to monitor, manage, and secure enrolled devices. It also provides advanced capabilities such as software distribution, device tracking, security configuration, and more.
Built in Go, with a modular design that helps you deploy scalable solutions, whether you’re managing a small business or a large enterprise network. With MicroMDM, you push device updates, enforce security policies, install or remove applications, and more.
Use MicroMDM with Docker. Docker containers have everything the software needs to run, including libraries, system tools, code, and runtime. By deploying MicroMDM on Docker, it becomes easier to implement changes.
Pros of MicroMDM
- Consistent deployment across multiple platforms.
- Written in Go which has a relatively understandable syntax.
- Robust set of APIs for scheduling commands.
- Provides metrics data in Prometheus format.
Cons of MicroMDM
- Difficult to troubleshoot issues.
- Does not support Android devices.
5. Zentral
Zentral is a mobile device management tool that helps simplify how you manage mobile devices. Provides a central console to manage tablets, smartphones, and even laptops. With Zentral MDM, you leverage its powerful features to ensure data and device security. It supports Apple devices, allowing administrators to enforce security policies, configure settings, and remotely manage devices running on Apple’s iOS, macOS, and tvOS operating systems.
Remotely wipe devices, enforce passwords and encryption, and more. This level of control and security helps safeguard sensitive information and protects against unauthorized access or data breaches.
Pros of Zentral
- Seamless integration with various applications.
- Utilize the built-in app management features to distribute, update, and control applications on managed devices.
- Event driven architecture that links IT to security to enable collaboration and event auditing feature that helps with troubleshooting.
- Supports both public and private apps, making it flexible for different types of deployments.
Cons of Zentral
- Complex, limited documentation.
- Cannot manage Android and Windows mobile devices.
6. NanoMDM
NanoMDM is a lightweight and open-source mobile device management tool designed to simplify how you manage endpoint devices. Offers a streamlined approach to MDM without sacrificing essential functionality.
Simple and easy to use tool. Focuses on essential MDM operations such as device enrolment, configuration, and management. Provides a straightforward and intuitive user interface that allows administrators to quickly and efficiently manage devices. Besides, it leverages Apple’s Device Enrolment Program (DEP) and Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) to simplify device provisioning and management.
Pros of NanoMDM
- Offers essential MDM functionalities making it an excellent choice for organizations with limited resources or smaller scale deployments.
- Provides detailed reporting and logging capabilities to help monitor device status.
- Lightweight nature with minimal impact on system resources.
Cons of NanoMDM
- Cannot manage non-Apple devices.
7. Commandment MDM
Commandment is an open source mobile device management tool for iOS devices. Written in Python and TypeScript, provides all the essential capabilities you need to enforce changes on devices. Besides, it provides a secure connection to your endpoint devices to ensure your data does not get compromised.
Pros of Commandment MDM
- Premium version with even more functionalities.
- Comprehensive documentation.
Cons of Commandment MDM
- Lacks proper support.
- Lacks a graphic user interface.
8. One MDM
Developed by Multunus, One MDM is a mobile device management tool that helps manage mobile devices especially in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments. It offers centralized control over mobile devices, ensuring they comply with the company’s security policies and standards. With this tool, install and uninstall apps, track devices, and retrieve any details you want. Besides, modify its open source code to fit your specific needs.
Pros of One MDM
- Supports multiple platforms including Android, iOS, and Windows.
- Provides advanced features such as patch management, remote control, and a secure container for emails and documents.
- Come with a built in antivirus and firewall to help secure devices.
- Simple set up process
Cons of One MDM
- Not regularly updated.
Thank you for reading Top 8 Best Open Source MDM – Mobile Device Management Tools. We conclude this article now.
Top 8 Best Open Source MDM - Mobile Device Management Tools Conclusion
With the above open source tools, easily manage your devices in your organization. Being open source, means you modify the source code according to individual business needs. Besides, some devices come with SaaS versions that provide advanced features. All you need is to choose a tool that fits your business needs, and you are good to go.
