Managing Large Device Fleets Made Easy: Our 11-step plan gives you the essential know-how to successfully roll out Mobile Device Management in large enterprise environments – including a hands-on guide available for download.
Rolling out Mobile Device Management (MDM) in a large organization with thousands of devices is a strategic IT initiative. Without a clear structure, you risk delays, unnecessary costs, and poor user adoption.
If you’re new to the topic: In the first article of our series, we cover the top 5 challenges enterprise MDM faces in global organizations – from scalability to cost control – and how to tackle them effectively.
With the following 11-step plan, you’ll lay the foundation for a successful MDM rollout – from setting your goals to ongoing operations.
1. Clearly Define Your Goals
Before choosing an MDM solution, you need a solid understanding of what your project is trying to achieve. These goals can range from increasing IT security and reducing admin costs to improving support for remote work or BYOD. Make sure your goals are measurable, such as:
- “100% of corporate devices enrolled within 6 months” or
- “Security policies fully enforced across all devices.”
Involve all key stakeholders from the start – including IT, business units, and employee representatives. This builds buy-in, prevents roadblocks later, and creates a unified foundation for the rollout.
2. Define Your Requirements
Get specific about which platforms, device types, and security standards your MDM needs to support. Cover all relevant use cases – from field staff with specialized apps to executives with extended access rights.
Include functional requirements like app management, compliance reporting, Microsoft Entra ID integration, and BYOD/COPE support. Document everything in a requirements spec – this will be the basis for vendor evaluation.
3. Analyze the Market & Choose the Right Product
Compare vendors based on clear criteria: feature set, usability, integration capabilities, security, scalability, and quality of support. A solution that performs well in testing must also scale smoothly to 10,000+ devices.
Run a proof of concept (PoC) to test real-world performance. Pay close attention to automation options, zero-touch deployment, and the quality of vendor support. Cortado MDM offers a free trial so you can assess the system in your own environment.
Pro tip: Personalized support is key to success. A seasoned MDM partner like Cortado helps you not only technically, but strategically – from planning to rollout and beyond. We’re happy to offer you a free initial consultation.
4. Set Up a Project Plan & Team
For large rollouts, structured project management is a must. Create a timeline with clear milestones – from infrastructure prep to the pilot phase to the full rollout. Be sure to build in buffers for unexpected issues.
Assemble a cross-functional project team: project manager, MDM architect, admins, IT security, helpdesk lead, and key users. Clearly define roles and responsibilities to avoid confusion or duplicated work.
5. Prepare the Infrastructure
A solid technical foundation is essential for a smooth rollout. This includes network setup, certificates, integrations with email servers, directory services, and VPNs. Test everything early.
Create a visual infrastructure diagram showing all components. Run a “smoke test” with a few devices to make sure enrollment, policy push, and app installations work without errors.
6. Define Policies & Configurations
Decide on security policies, app approvals, and network settings. Tailor configurations for different user groups to balance security and productivity. BYOD and COPE models will also require additional data protection guidelines.
Use pre-configured profiles (Wi-Fi, email, VPN) to minimize support requests and avoid misconfigurations on end-user devices.
Why Cortado MDM Excels in Large Enterprise Environments
1. Unlimited Scalability
Whether you’re managing hundreds or tens of thousands of devices, Cortado MDM scales with your organization. It supports international rollouts with role-based admin rights, flexible user group management, and zero-touch enrollment.
2. Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance
Region-specific policy profiles, end-to-end encryption, and remote wipe keep corporate data safe around the world – fully GDPR-compliant and beyond.
3. Seamless Integration
Deep integration with Microsoft Entra ID and powerful, open APIs make Cortado MDM a flexible component of your existing IT infrastructure.
4. High Availability & Performance
Hosted in our BSI C5-certified data center in Frankfurt, Cortado MDM guarantees 99.9% SLA-backed availability.
5. High ROI & Cost Control
Automated processes and self-service features reduce administrative workload and deliver fast ROI. Plus, flexible licensing models scale with your device fleet.
6. Personalized Support
Dedicated contact persons guide you through planning, implementation, and daily operations – sharing best practices from real enterprise projects.
7. Run a Pilot Phase
Start with a small, representative user group. Include different departments, device types, and locations to test all relevant scenarios.
Use the pilot to fine-tune policies, improve documentation, and identify potential user adoption issues. Track all issues systematically and adjust your setup before rolling out company wide.
8. Training & Documentation
Train your admins and support teams so they can manage the MDM platform confidently – from creating policies to troubleshooting. Document every process to ensure consistency.
Also prepare easy-to-follow guides for end users. Include enrollment steps, basic usage tips, and support contacts. Clear communication reduces helpdesk volume and increases user acceptance.
9. Plan & Execute the Rollout
Use a phased rollout to reduce pressure on IT and respond flexibly to issues. Start with central locations or key departments, then expand gradually.
Communicate rollout dates well in advance. Provide clear instructions and, if needed, on-site support to ensure a smooth deployment.
10. Establish Operations & Monitoring
Once all devices are enrolled, it’s time to move into steady-state operations. Set up dashboards and reports to continuously monitor compliance and device status. Define clear incident response and security processes.
Schedule regular audits and update cycles. Automate updates to maintain strong security and compliance.
11. Review & Optimize
Regularly review whether your goals are being met. Use KPIs like compliance rate, rollout speed, and support effort to identify areas for improvement.
Update your policies and processes as needed – whether due to changing compliance requirements, new device types, or feedback from business units. This keeps your MDM strategy effective in the long term.
Bottom Line: A Good Plan Is Half the Rollout
Rolling out Mobile Device Management in a large organization isn’t just an IT task – it’s a strategic initiative that impacts the entire business. With a clear 11-step plan – from goal-setting to solution selection to day-to-day operations – you lay the groundwork for a secure, efficient, and cost-effective rollout.
Especially in complex enterprise environments, working with an experienced partner pays off. A partner who delivers not just the technology but also hands-on, personalized guidance. That’s exactly what Cortado offers: powerful, scalable device management technology and dedicated experts who support you from planning through implementation and beyond.
Looking for more practical tips, checklists, and best practices? Download our free in-depth guide.
Implementing and Managing MDM in Enterprise Environments
Do you want to know how to successfully plan, implement, and operate an MDM project in an enterprise environment? Download our practical guide and get valuable tips, best practices, and checklists – directly from the real-world experience of large organizations.