Kaseya Module Monitors, Manages iOS, Droid Devices

Kaseya on Monday launched its new Mobile Device Management module, which allows MSPs to remotely monitor and manage their clients' iPhones and Droid devices, according to the company.

The MDM module is a feature that both MSPs and end users have wanted for some time, said Gerald Beaulieu, director of product marketing at Lausanne, Switzerland-based Kaseya.

"We want to manage all aspects of a customer's system, [with] any device. This is another step in that vision. Anything that an IT professional needs to do to manage users can be managed within Kaseya," Beaulieu said. The request to manage smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices stems from the increased usage of those products in the workforce. Some MSPs are doing that manually now, at significantly higher costs than if it were part of an automated system, he said.

"Managed service providers can roll MDM into their core catalog of services and managed services practice so they're dealing with exceptions instead of every single customer [that has a mobile support issue]," Beaulieu said. "It's another revenue source and its lowering their costs. Some MSPs will roll it into their existing services. Others will offer a different plan and charge mobile devices 'X' amount of money per seat per month."

The MDM module is easily added and integrated into Kaseya's K2 platform, according to Beaulieu.

"We built K2 with the ability to plug in new functions, new modules over time without having to wait for a new major release," he said. "As we come up with a new option like Mobile Device Management, you can immediately deliver that without a major upgrade process or integration project. You're not looking at another point solution."

Initially, the MDM will work on Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. Kaseya plans to make the mobile module available for Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices too. Support for Hewlett-Packard's WebOS could also be developed if demand for that product picks up, Beaulieu said.

"[Apple and Android] are the primary ones [MSps] need support for today. The iPad is becoming a primary tool for executives to leverage with e-mail, presentations. They're using it for go to a meeting, to Skype, all the other tools. As it part of operations, they need be supported," Beaulieu said.

Among the features that the new module includes are: audit, backup and restore, e-mail configuration and security tracking.

In addition to supporting e-mail and other functions on a mobile device, security is a top concern for end users, he added.

"Before, customers had a tight-knit environment with a standard type of device and type of phone. Now users are coming in with other device types connecting to the network. But if I don't see it how can I manage it? Then there's whole theft aspect. If it I gets lost, there could be important information on the device, confidential. You need to be able to lock that stuff down or retrieve it. There's a huge security impact on that," Beaulieu said.

Next: Module Can Save Time, Money For MSP and Customers

David Bourgeois, president of My IT, a New Orleans, La.-based solution provider, saw a preview of MDM a few months ago and is eager to be able to offer it to customers.

"Here's the problem with cell phones, customers want support. It's just like the desktop world was before good RMM tools. We always had to run out to a customer's site and we might show up half day later, a day later. The support isn't instant gratification for mobile devices that everyone now is used to now for desktops," Bourgeois said. "It's so expensive to support clients' cell phones right now. We have to send someone onsite to do things.

’IPhones rule the market right now and if we can set mail up and do other things [remotely], that's just a wonderful thing. It will save me money. And it will save the client money because they're not paying for me to come out and they get the instant support they need," he added. "We can say here's a fixed fee, here's your reports. It becomes a profit center for me and controlled costs for the customer. We expect this to be a powerful tool in our belt."