Absolute Manage Mobile Device Management

More and more schools are beginning to use the iPad and other mobile devices on their campuses and in the classroom. In 2010, the field of education was responsible for 12 of the 20 largest iPad deployments. While most schools still also use laptops and desktop computers, and a combination of Mac and PC platforms, an issue arises in the security and management of these different platforms and devices.

Peter Frankl works with Lifecycle Management for Absolute Software, which develop software to assist in managing and securing computers, as well as keep costs down by better optimization. His company has unveiled the Absolute Manage Mobile Device Management which will assist schools to work with all of the different platforms and OS they deal with.

"Absolute Manage Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a breakthrough solution designed to manage iOS 4 devices, such as the iPhone and iPad. Available as a component of Absolute Software’s Absolute Manage or as a stand-alone product, MDM enables IT departments to efficiently manage and secure iOS 4 devices alongside their PC and Mac computers from their platform of choice, Mac or Windows. ...Adding Mobile Device Management as a component of Absolute Manage helps to ensure that a school’s entire fleet of devices can be managed and secured remotely through 'one pane of glass'." Peter tells us.

Because many educational facilities run their IT management programs on PC based hardware, adding additional hardware to manage Mac devices has been an issue. Peter says that is no longer an issue of concern, because "The major challenge schools face is the inability to manage large numbers of Macs from within a primarily Windows PC environment...With the addition of MDM, Absolute Manage customers can manage PCs, Mac computers and now iOS 4 devices from a single, comprehensive user interface in a PC or Mac infrastructure." This will save time and money for the school districts Peter says the MDM "has an inherent return of investment that can be realized immediately upon deployment."

Per Peter, "Administrators and IT staff can feel secure in purchasing large fleets of iPads and other iOS devices, knowing that there’s an easy and cost-effective way to monitor and secure them. As iPads are often distributed across an entire school district, MDM gives administrators the peace of mind that they can track and secure these devices throughout the school year, alongside their current laptop and netbook fleets. Now that there’s a way to properly manage these devices, staff are better able to support the overall advancement of technology in the classroom."

With those in the education field are continuing to implement new technologies in their school, MDM can help them be prepared for future trends. "Technology trends in education are moving as fast or faster than in the commercial world. The future includes the very real possibility of having course information, campus information, syllabus, and homework assignments residing on a mobile device such as an iPad. Beyond that, even textbooks will probably be deployed in an electronic format. This makes technology such as Absolute Manage vital not only for IT, but also for the Educational Technology department."

Find out more about this breakthrough system at Absolute Software's site.

Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, mail order book store manager, and an avid musician who is active in two local bands. He is also a lover of books, having a large personal library and squeezes in as much reading as often as he can. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Education Jobsite blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.