Shield your Digital Flock with Shepherd MDM

13 min read

Shepherd is a specialised Cellular Machine Administration system for Apple units. It permits enterprise homeowners and HR managers to simply defend your ‘flock’ of digital units.

What Is Cellular Machine Administration?

Cellular Machine Administration programs, or MDMs as they’re higher identified, are software program that enables companies to administrate, management, and safe your cell IT {hardware}.

MDMs are instrumental in providing you with higher administration of your IT gear that doesn’t stay within the workplace. This consists of units reminiscent of laptops, tablets and smartphones, or any gear utilized by WFH workers.

Whereas transportable IT units allow employees to be productive irrespective of their location, it does current companies with an issue:

Fortunately, MDMs like Shepherd can clear up this problem. However what makes Shepherd higher than different MDMs?”

What Is Shepherd MDM?

Shepherd is the newest product in HardSoft’s portfolio of IT companies. Like all HardSoft companies, it has been designed to satisfy the true challenges confronted by companies What makes Shepherd particular is that it’s created with small companies in thoughts.

It is rather reasonably priced, very intuitive to make use of, and it makes enterprise operations quicker and simpler. At solely £1.95 per consumer per consumer per week, Shepherd is without doubt one of the most cost-effective MDMs in the marketplace.

That is 10% cheaper than options like Jamf Fundamentals, but with many extra options.

Shepherd additionally solves a really problematic hole available in the market. For the reason that discontinuation of Jamf Now, smaller firms utilizing Apple units not had an MDM possibility inside their funds vary.

Earlier Jamf Now clients are being forcibly upgraded to the costlier Jamf Fundamentals. Shepherd has been created to fill this hole and to surpass different MDMs for the SME market.

Regardless of this extremely aggressive value level, Shepherd stands out for boasting extra options than different MDMs geared toward smaller companies.

However chances are you’ll be questioning how precisely will it prevent each money and time?

Along with being cheaper than many options, MDMs like Shepherd present two main advantages to all companies. Firstly, they provide extra distant automation of operations.

Because of this, digital upkeep duties, reminiscent of employees onboarding, gadget setup, introducing new software program instruments, and employees offboarding take far much less time and can enhance your workforce’s productiveness.

Secondly, MDMs give you granular management over precisely how your employees can use what you are promoting units and the corporate information on them. This considerably improves cybersecurity. 

Whereas all MDMs ought to enhance productiveness, automation and safety, Shepherd has some distinct benefits.

HardSoft’s Shepherd MDM delivers real-time monitoring of gadget use and the power to robotically avert information breaches earlier than they happen.

One other massive profit for companies is how Shepherd is extremely intuitive to make use of and comes with professional assist. The user-friendly interface and unrivalled assist package deal make Shepherd a really faff-free expertise for companies and saves them much more time.

There’s no painful studying curve when retaining a watchful eye in your flock. For small companies utilizing Apple Enterprise Supervisor, Shepherd is the right companion.

Whereas ABM enables you to order Apple gear, register them as enterprise units and swiftly deploy them, Shepherd then let’s you intricately handle that {hardware}.

Why MDM’s are usually not only for Large Companies

Small companies don’t at all times possess the monetary sources to spend money on each single fancy little bit of tech that comes alongside. Deciding which of them are price it may be a serious headache for enterprise homeowners.

Nonetheless, in an more and more digitally dominated world, MDMs aren’t only for massive companies. The truth is, MDMs are important for small companies.

Companies of all sizes are beneath rising risk from cyber breaches and information theft and the issue has ballooned in recent times.

In accordance to the UK authorities surveys revealed in 2022, 31% of companies estimate that they suffered cyber-attack makes an attempt no less than as soon as every week.1

Cyber safety shouldn’t be solely a priority for giant companies. The truth is, small companies could be particularly susceptible.  Worryingly, Safety Journal reported that 43% of cyber-attacks particularly goal smaller companies.2

Whereas massive firms have the funds available to soak up the fallout from a profitable information breach, small companies can endure much more unfavorable monetary penalties resulting from smaller budgets.

Cyber criminals are conscious that small companies will normally have much less cyber safety in place, and fewer coaching of employees to concentrate on purple flags.

Which may sound troubling; however by utilizing Shepherd, your small enterprise can keep away from these information breaches.

In the end, investing in Shepherd will prevent cash and save your fame.

Shepherd MDM enhances IT Safety

You’ll doubtless pay attention to safety software program that protects your computer systems from malware, for instance, Avast, Barracuda, Symantec, and Sophos. However what about information breaches attributable to human error out of your workers?

In line with analysis revealed in CISO journal, 88% of information breaches in firms are attributable to human error.3

Happily, Shepherd can fight this in a number of methods.

Its performance means that you can monitor how what you are promoting gadget is getting used and even how firm information is accessed.

We are able to simply think about that Peter from the client companies division may like to make use of his work laptop computer to play video games, gamble, and even illegally obtain movies from unsafe websites.

Peter may suppose it’s innocent, nevertheless it opens your organization gear as much as malware.

In the meantime, Becky from the Admin workforce likes to ship consumer information to her non-public e-mail to work on later at house, however this isn’t a safe, business-grade e-mail community and it may possibly simply be breached.

Maybe Linda is one among your builders but additionally a digital nomad. Might she be logging into insecure networks in a coworking café in Mexico Metropolis the place hacking is simpler?

To not fear although as a result of you’ll be able to “shepherd” your flock of units by remotely creating computerized insurance policies and guidelines.

This allows you to management which apps employees can add to their units, and even forestall them accessing insecure networks.

The true-time monitoring additionally means that you can see how employees are utilizing the units and assist them troubleshoot any suspicious points.

One other irritating situation may very well be Beth from advertising quitting with out discover. She was a WFH employees member and hasn’t returned her firm gear.

Fortunately, with Shepherd, you’ll be able to observe all of your units and even information wipe gear that has been stolen.

One other highly effective perform of your MDM is the power to push out software program updates remotely and robotically to all units.

The benefits are obvious after we take into account cybersecurity software program updates and working system updates.

Everybody is aware of employees hate stopping to obtain updates. The truth is, unbeknownst to you, fictional  Sharon from Payroll might have been neglecting her updates for years! Her eventualities however the risk they describe may be very actual.

The 2022 EY Human Threat in Cybersecurity Survey reported on by PR Information Wire4 reveals some alarming statistics about worker apathy to updates and passwords.

Even youthful, extra tech native employees are a serious risk in terms of doing handbook safety updates. The report confirmed that 58% of Gen Z and 42% of millennial employees disregard necessary IT updates for so long as attainable.

In the meantime, 30% of Gen Z and 31% of millennials admit to utilizing the identical passwords throughout skilled and private accounts.

And, in keeping with analysis by 1Password5, 43% of workers admit to sharing logins with non-staff.

The automated push of safety and working system updates by your Shepherd MDM fully resolves this problem.

It’s also possible to set password insurance policies, encryptions and multi issue authentication necessities.

Shepherd offers so many layers of security which can be simple to implement. So, what in regards to the different ways in which Shepherd can profit what you are promoting?”

Shepherd Boosts Productiveness & Saves You Time

One time-intensive process that Shepherd solves is implementing new know-how. Perhaps Leslie over in gross sales doesn’t wish to adapt to a brand new software or Paul isn’t very tech savvy and fearful to obtain a brand new app on his personal.

We’ve all been there. It may be laborious to get workers on board with a brand new manner of working, particularly if it includes a brand new piece of software program.

Shepherd can’t solely remotely automate safety and working system updates, however it’s also possible to push out apps and content material to all units too.

In fact, the performance of Shepherd doesn’t cease there.

The management and straightforward customisation of units goes a lot additional than pushing apps and updates.

One space by which it may possibly actually improve what you are promoting is within the areas of onboarding and offboarding employees.

Shepherd Makes Onboarding Easy

Relating to managing your flock of units, onboarding employees is time consuming. But it doesn’t need to be. Think about informing your HR division of a brand new WFH rent beginning with little discover.

What if all their IT onboarding may very well be sorted remotely with a few clicks?

No want for an IT division to deal with the {hardware}. No prolonged setup.

And the brand new rent can begin working immediately as quickly as they open their new enterprise laptop computer.

Shepherd enables you to totally arrange and preconfigure a tool proper right down to the person profiles, accounts, settings, software program, and apps {that a} particular worker will want.

A tool could be out-of-the-box able to go together with lightning pace and also you by no means have to the touch the {hardware}.

In case you’re already an Apple Enterprise Supervisor consumer, you’ll be able to swiftly order and deploy gear by way of your portal to employees’ properties after which Shepherd takes care of all of the configuration and ongoing gadget administration.

You possibly can “shepherd” your new flock members by establishing VPNs, passwords, permissions, and app restrictions, and customised configuration.

Shepherd makes onboarding a breeze, nevertheless it additionally makes offboarding a lot less complicated too.” 

Offboarding Workers Is Stress-free

Offboarding employees has totally different complexities than onboarding. You may wish to repurpose the gadget for a brand new substitute rent. Sadly, you is likely to be involved about an apathetic ex-employee failing to return a tool, or nonetheless gaining access to firm information by way of their outdated accounts.

What in case your former CFO offers what you are promoting information to rivals once they transfer to a brand new firm?

There may be additionally the prospect of employees merely disappearing together with your firm gear and information.

However not with Shepherd. Due to gadget monitoring, the power to lock {hardware}, and distant information wiping, you don’t have to fret about “misplaced sheep”. You possibly can offboard an worker with just some distant clicks in your MDM they usually gained’t be capable of entry any delicate information in any respect.

With gadget monitoring, ex employees are far much less more likely to attempt to steal your organization laptops.

Shepherd sits within the HardSoft ecosystem

Shepherd MDM, Boomerang, and SafeGuard are amongst our hottest HardSoft merchandise since they supply Enterprise Managers with every part that they require to deal with worker IT units.

Companies can have reasonably priced IT gear insurance coverage due to SafeGuard. This consists of unintended harm cowl on the {hardware} in addition to theft cowl.

With Boomerang you’ll be able to simply repurpose units from ex-staff to new hires. And naturally, you’ll be able to handle your flock safely and effectively with Shepherd. 

The truth is, the mix of gadget monitoring, locking and information wiping from Shepherd works very effectively alongside Boomerang for the most effective likelihood of gadget retrieval from ex-staff.

Boomerang features a service the place HardSoft will retrieve your organization units from former employees at their properties. We organize a time slot and supply the packaging service, so that they don’t need to carry a finger.

Boomerang, mixed with gadget monitoring in Shepherd, makes the charges of gadget retrieval a lot larger. So, you don’t lose out on gear and don’t have to repeatedly substitute it.

Getting Began with Shepherd

So, you is likely to be asking, what are the subsequent steps?

You’ve determined you wish to transfer forward with shepherding your flock of units and HardSoft are promising a zero-faff transition, so how does it work?

1) All you have to do is organize a session with our Shepherd workforce at HardSoft.

2) Our MDM specialists will chat with you to raised perceive what you are promoting wants.Throughout this quick and easy 20-minute evaluation, our specialists can finest decide what features of Shepherd MDM can be most vital to you, so we are able to help in guiding you.

3) Your Shepherd MDM set up is a totally distant setup, so that you don’t have to fret about any workplace disruption.

4) As soon as HardSoft have activated the Shepherd MDM for what you are promoting, each new gadget shipped to you may be pre-configured with Shepherd and registered with Apple Enterprise Supervisor robotically.

There actually are zero worries and 0 faff in your finish. You’ll be arrange and able to handle your gadget insurance policies in just some clicks.

Statistics – Sources and References:

1 “2022, 31% of companies and 26% of charitable organisation estimate that they suffered cyber-attack makes an attempt no less than as soon as every week.” – Gov.uk – https://www.gov.uk/authorities/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2022/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2022

2 “A worrying 43% of cyber-attacks particularly goal smaller companies.” – Safety Journal – https://www.securitymagazine.com/blogs/14-security-blog/publish/97694-why-small-businesses-are-vulnerable-to-cyberattacks

3 “88% of information breaches in firms are attributable to human error.” – CISO Magazine – https://cisomag.com/psychology-of-human-error-could-help-businesses-prevent-security-breaches/

4 “58% of Gen Z and 42% of millennial employees disregard necessary IT updates for so long as attainable. In the meantime, 30% of Gen Z and 31% of millennials admit to utilizing the identical passwords throughout skilled and private accounts.

– The 2022 EY Human Threat in Cybersecurity Survey reported on by PR Information Wire – https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gen-z-and-millennials-less-serious-about-cybersecurity-on-work-issued-devices-than-personal-according-to-new-ey-consulting-survey-301649378.html?tc=eml_cleartime

5 “43% of workers admit to sharing logins with non-staff.” – 1Password – https://weblog.1password.com/report-login-fatigue-research/

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