Why There's No Such Thing As MDM for Linux, and What to Do About It

What you'll find are a few vendors who claim to offer device management for Linux devices (usually as an afterthought to round out their solutions for Mac and Windows). But look closer and you'll quickly realize that none of these solutions will let an IT admin provide endpoint security in the way they're used to with an MDM.

The absence of an MDM for Linux is a real problem if you're trying to get your entire fleet of devices aligned to the same standard–for instance, if you're trying to pass a third-party compliance audit. It's also just a black eye on your security program when you have no visibility into some of your highest-risk devices.

An MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution is the most common–and the most aggressive– form of device management. (It's also important to note that "MDM" and "device management" are not synonymous, but we'll get into that more later.)

MDMs give IT teams nearly total control over Android and iOS mobile phones, and Mac and Windows PCs, and allow admins to apply policies that the user cannot alter. The MDM approach is about graying out check boxes, installing and uninstalling apps, and being able to remotely read, update, lock, or wipe a device.

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