What is Android Device Owner Mode?
In any organization, the compartmentalization of varied departments is certain for performing respective operational tasks towards the same vision. To continue performing those tasks, the deployment and usage of hand-held mobile devices are considered to play a vital role in any enterprise. It is evident that the IT admins are held responsible for monitoring and controlling the agile devices compartmentalized in varied departments from diversified management levels. These levels utilize a range of device segments such as COPE, COBO, and BYOD.
However, the IT admins need to ensure that all the critical corporate data, apps, and media files stored and used on those segments are safe from leakage or hacking. The IT admins have the provision to access and monitor the Android Devices to the extent of organizational standards with certainty. They can secure and configure the device data irrespective of the device ownership through the application of device owner mode and profile owner mode. The IT admins can gain access control and act as an owner for all the Android devices if the devices are owned by the corporate enterprise.
When it comes to the corporate-owned Android device deployment, the ownership is retained not only for the device but also for all the contents, apps, and media files present. The IT admins while acting as an owner of the device on behalf of the organization have complete access control on the activities and functionalities. The IT admins utilize a management application which is known as Device Policy Controller that deploys various sets of standards, regulations, and policies on the Android device.
What are the provisions available to the IT admins in Android device owner mode?
Since the IT admins can gain complete access control of the corporate-owned devices, they are capable to act as the owner whose functionalities can be simplified as follows:
- Configure the device’s hardware functionalities such as volume button, lock screen button, and fingerprint sensor.
- Configure the device’s software functionalities such as notification bar, screen wake time, apps accessible and visible on the profile, browser/web pages browseable and visible on the profile.
- Configure and create different user account profiles variable to compartmentalized departments and roles of the organization.
- Configure and set password policy on one or pre-defined set of account profiles created on a single or various device deployed.
- Configuration of network accessibility parameters such as VPN and CA certificates.
- Monitor activities and in case of compromisation or leakage of data, perform a remote wipe on single or all the devices profiles simultaneously.
- Remove the accessibility credentials of any user-created or switch the devices profiles created.
- Access and set a predetermined standard of device settings such as WIFI connectivity, Bluetooth, Ringer tone, Airplane mode, GPS, etc.
What is the attribution of Android device owner mode?
The provisioning of the corporate-owned Android devices to Android Device Owner mode can attribute certain characteristics to the device owner such as:
- Custom Branding — The IT admin can customize the taskbar with the organization/branding logo and change the wallpaper or the lock screen as per the organization branding policy for enhanced visibility.
- Disabling of data roaming and the Airplane mode as per the use case scenario.
- Centralized Application Management by deploying mission-critical apps & blacklisting unauthorized apps to enhance employee productivity and organization operational efficiency.
- Update the OS remotely and reboot the devices without physically monitoring and provisioning.
- Configuring hardware and software functionalities such as ringer volume, fingerprint censoring, remote factory reset, notification panel visibility, wake screen, etc.
- Remotely connect and authorize the credentials of wireless networks on all the organization-owned deployed Android devices.
- Choose from the segments of quick and easy enrollment processes such as QR code, Six times tap after factory reset, Zero-touch enrollment, etc.
What are the methods of Android Device provisioning into Owner mode?
The IT admins can provision the Android Device Owner mode only in either of the cases where the Android device is being set up for the first time out of the box or when the already used Android devices are actioned for factory reset. The provisioning can take place as per the methods mentioned below:
- Considering the use case for the Android device to be provisioned in the flow of device-driven category, then the IT admins can utilize the Near Field Communication technology to deploy a various number of organization-owned devices with G-Suite.
- Considering the use case for the Android device to be provisioned in the flow of user-driven category, the usage of G-Suite is not mandatory for device enrollment. The organization can use the managed Google Play Account credentials and set up the device for provisioning.
Enablement of Android Devices into Android Device Owner Mode:
After the Android device is provisioned, the device owner profile is set up after out of a box deployment scenario and FDR for used devices. For enhanced visibility of the Android devices, the IT admins enroll the devices into an MDM solution with separate profiles for the owner and the user as per the use cases. The Android Enterprise Program enrollment ensures that the deployed devices are secured, managed, and monitored without letting the critical business data being compromised.
Closing lines…
With the deployment of MDM solution by Scalefusion, the provisioning, and enrollment of the Android Devices segregated into the segmentation of compartmentalization in the enterprise could be managed and secured in a safe environment. Leveraging the no-touch enrollment programs can be a quick and easy method to save money and gain access control of the Android devices into the owner mode. The centralized device management will be a reliable fit for securing the business-critical apps, data and content that can prevent it from becoming a major security issue appearing as a hindrance in the organization’s mission and operations.
