Must a device have mobile device management (MDM) through a third-party EMM solution to be viewed as a managed device?

For a device to be classified as a managed device within an enterprise environment, it typically needs to be enrolled and managed through a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system or a third-party Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution. This is because MDM provides the necessary controls and policies to enforce security, compliance, and management of mobile devices. It allows administrators to oversee device settings, apply security measures like encryption or password policies, and remotely wipe devices if they are lost or stolen, ensuring that corporate data remains secure.

In many scenarios, the inclusion of MDM or EMM is crucial for the visibility and management of mobile devices, especially in organizations that need to maintain strict security standards. The reliance on these systems ensures not only that devices are compliant with company policies, but also that they can be monitored effectively.

While there may be some environments or systems that might demonstrate a form of management without a traditional MDM solution, these are outliers rather than the norm. The standard practice across most organizations is to require MDM through a recognized EMM solution to ensure comprehensive device management.