given the amount of crossover between personal and professional devices within an organization, keeping track of company devices is a nearly impossible task for IT departments,” he said. “DaaS providers solve this problem because they’re a one-stop shop. They take care of pricing, security licenses and any attached costs that come with the devices (return, delivery, etc.).” Plus, devices rented by the company can be enabled for personal use, Sonnenschmidt continued. “Business data can be erased at any time – personal data remains untouched.” The way DaaS works is customers let the vendor know what device they are using, and the vendor makes a “buy back offer,” which means the vendor purchases the user’s existing equipment and then rents it back to them. “So, with their capital expenses converted to operating expenses, all the benefits of support and self-service are reaped on day one,” Sonnenschmidt explained. “Once a rollout plan is defined, we replace older devices automatically. The new device is delivered to the employee, and we handle all repairs and replacements during the lifecycle, refurbishing or recycling the devices when needed.” All this can translate into meaningful time savings for IT departments, as companies can save up to six hours of IT resources per device per year. Managing the fleet Of course, not all MSPs have DaaS capabilities, but they can partner with one that does. And by doing so, an MSP can gain the opportunity to offer mobile device management (MDM), an in-demand service that enterprises need to manage their growing fleet of remote and mobile devices. Indeed, remote, hybrid and distributed workforces have been a major driver toward DaaS adoption because it is so hard for companies to know who is using what device, to replace broken or lost devices and to ensure security updates are current, Sonnenschmidt said. “Devices can be tracked through software, but the amount of tracking that’s done should be reduced to the legal framework that you’re working with,” he cautioned. “Systems shouldn’t capture private photos or anything that’s a breach of privacy. A strong DaaS offering comes with an MDM system on top and can help with setting up a standard security system.” While one-stop shops do exist, most device-as-as-service offerings generally involve a conglomerate of providers including a distributor, an MSP and possibly a leasing company, Sonnenschmidt said. “However, multiple providers come with multiple contracts, resulting in a complex setup.” At the same time, DaaS generally comes at a higher price point because it entails a complete outsourcing of devices and covers all security aspects of those devices. And security, of course, is a major issue when it comes to the modern work from anywhere paradigm. So how can a partner provider be confident that using DaaS keeps their customer’s data safe? “For companies without a DaaS provider, they usually have discovery software running through their network,” Sonnenschmidt said. “There are three large providers in the market right now that can track what type of software is running on a device. These management tools are extended to IoT so all devices can be secure.” He added, “As a DaaS provider, we have a dedicated team for device security. We can install and manage MDM software that can restrict app access and downloads, remotely lock or wipe devices, enforce password policies, push software updates and protect against malware.” While insisting that doing the above is not a replacement for a company’s cybersecurity and compliance infrastructure, Sonnenschmidt called this “an extremely beneficial layer of protection, especially with the rise in data breaches.” That said, the MSP definitely has a role to play in keeping the organizations it serves secure. “Whether you’re an MSP looking to add DaaS to your offering or a company looking to bring on a DaaS partner directly, you should focus on finding a DaaS provider who prioritizes device security,” Sonnenschmidt warned. “I recommend [enterprises] look for an MSP that can either do everything together (from a security perspective) or that is extremely well-versed in the industry, so they’ve learned through experience and use cases. “Always ask the MSP about their process, how they implement security processes within DaaS, and what the customer share of securing and enabling mobile devices has typically been. Make sure they observe the most up-to-date security standards, including GDPR compliance,” he concluded. J DaaS Provider Checklist When shopping for device-as-a-service providers and partners, Falk Sonnenschmidt, senior vice president of strategy at managed service provider Everphone, advises MSPs and enterprises consider these questions: • Can I return rental devices whenever an employee leaves the company? • Do you offer unlimited replacements for broken devices? • Do you provide a REST-API with my ITSM (e.g., ServiceNow)? • Can we get an exact monthly price quote? • Do you offer a self-service portal for users or partners? • Do you have the capacity to deliver the number of devices I need in my desired timeframe? 15 REMOTE WORK SOLUTIONS rwsmagazine.com
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