How to Manage Android Mobile Apps for Your Business

In an increasingly inter-connected and digitized world, it's incredibly important for individuals to have the capability to efficiently manage applications of their mobile, desktop, or laptop device. This reality extends to corporations, who must effectively (and often remotely), control applications present on company-wide devices.

In order to achieve these objectives, public users and administration teams must deploy various Android application management tools, designed to ensure devices stay safe, compliant, and perform to their optimum capacity, and that applications are equipped with the latest available features and support mechanisms.

This article explores the purpose, function, and adaptability of application management processes, highlighting the potential benefits in both a commercial and domestic context.

Part1: How to manage mobile applications for your organization

As alluded to previously, corporate entities deploy a number of techniques in managing their Android application estate. Through exploiting Android repository lists, companies can determine the nature and scope of their control.

Through their respective administration consoles, businesses can now set extremely specific instructions for their device fleet, ensuring that users are protected, monitored, and supported. Furthermore, they can also tailor these settings to particular groups or employees, affording them total autonomy over how their users interact with company assets – a vital development in mitigating the risk of stolen data.

1How to add an application to list/install applications

When managing a significant number of devices within the parameters of a large corporation, it's important that admin teams are confident in selecting and applying the relevant application management tools. This can significantly help businesses in their quest to maximize productivity levels, fend off unsavory actors, and take swift, decisive action when responding to threats.

The following features can serve to provide added reassurance in these efforts. In all instances, administrators should initially access their respective console management platforms:

1Store Apps

To ensure a Play Store application is successfully installed onto a specific device, admin agents should:

2Web Apps

 
Simplistically, web app installation involves utilizing a URL link in order to access the features of an application. In most instances, businesses will leverage a kiosk mode when supporting this endeavor, reducing the number of functions available to the end-user when interacting with the web application. On occasion, access will be completely restricted. To add a web application:

To embed or adjust a particular policy designed to regulate web application accessibility in kiosk mode:

3Enterprise Apps

These applications are exclusively used within the confines of an organization and have been constructed with a particular corporate purpose in mind. They are not accessible to the general public. To incorporate an enterprise app onto a device, administrators must:

4Bundle ID

The Bundle ID, or Bundle Identifier, is a tool used to earmark Android applications, both on the device itself and those available in Google Play Store. The Bundle ID filters out any incompatible apps to make for a smooth installation process.

The application will now be installed onto the management console. From here:

5Managed Google Apps:

Admin teams also have the option of controlling settings for their respective Enterprise managed applications tethered to Google Play. In order to do this, they must authorize these apps in preparation for them to be added to the corporate Google Playspace.

7App groups

This tool enables admin teams to push applications to specific business departments or groups, helping to ensure devices are equipped with appropriate content. To do this, IT colleagues should:

8App Catalogue

This mechanism allows organizations to create their own application store, featuring only apps that comply with the pre-approved demands of the company.

9Install Applications Silently

It's crucial for businesses to be able to remotely integrate applications without having to be reliant on end-user assistance. Apps can be pushed onto devices discreetly, without causing disruption to the user experience. In order to do this, the company asset must be either rooted or kitted out with an appropriate Mobile Device Management system, and be linked to an Android Enterprise program.

2How the application list works

Advanced application management facilitates unprecedented control over how companies remotely manage each and every dynamic within their device estate. Whether its blocking devices, preventing specific user installation activity or restricting access to Google Services, businesses can now individually calibrate each device to a set of authorized functions

Requirements: Assuming their device are receptive to advanced management systems, employers will be able to:

1How managed apps work

Applications that are solely deployed for business use, and house company-sensitive data, are referred to as managed apps Users are able to access these applications on the work tabs page of the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, these will be identifiable by a small, accompanying briefcase logo, allowing colleagues to easily delineate between personal and work applications.

Those in admin positions are able to govern the onboarding of managed applications, how the user interacts with these programs, and when the apps should be subsequently removed.

2Control who can installed managed apps

Company IT teams can set who has permission to install managed applications, simply by toggling user access on or off. Furthermore, if the organization's application management system is suitably refined, then this accessibility setting can be applied to multiple groups in one action.

Nevertheless, it's important to note that any devices already carrying the targeted application will not be impacted by any permissions changes.

3Block unmanaged app installation

Corporations can re-configure Google Endpoint Management settings in order to stop users from installing unmanaged apps – external applications produced outside the company. Moreover, if a business has a specific batch of programs deemed inappropriate for use, which features on their customized web apps list, end-user installation attempts will be instantly blocked.

4Block or limit app access to Google Services

 
Administrators are also able to determine to what extent, if any, both managed and unmanaged applications can access Google Services. To gain additional controls for managing this process, businesses must adjust their preferences in the access and data control tab within security settings.

5Control user access

Context-aware settings help admin teams control the installation and usage of applications specifically within work profile environments. This allows businesses to distinguish between personal and business usage in BYOD scenarios and therefore protects a user's personal independence and privacy without compromising company security.

3Update/downgrade apps on Android device

It's essential to install the latest versions of applications, as this will enable access to the program's latest features and benefits. App creators are perpetually looking for ways to enhance the user experience, so updating an application could offer noticeable advantages.

Furthermore, updates may reduce the amount of data harnessed by the app, which, through reduced RAM usage and increased battery productivity, will positively impact device performance.

In rare cases, device efficiency may suffer as a result of installing new app versions. If this scenario materializes, users can return the app to its previous setting. However, this possibility only usually exists when the application is embedded in the device system or arrived pre-loaded from the factory.

4Set up app permissions and configurations

There are various controls businesses can position onto devices, which are adjustable, flexible upon context, and often remotely configured. The following mechanisms allow corporations to fully regulate each available asset across their business domain, closely tracking the performance of mobile application management systems, and intercepting if an issue arises. Again, administrators must log in to their console management systems as a prerequisite to following each instruction set below.

1Change who can install managed app/set group precedence

In similarity to the methodology deployed when blocking applications from accessing Google Services, specific enterprise applications can be hidden from view in the managed Google Play Store. This can be delivered by:

2Set-up Android apps with managed configurations

Some apps may give the operator capacity to save settings as managed configurations, facilitating a company-defined, consistent level of control over user interaction with the application. This can be easily embedded remotely, by

3Set Android runtime permissions

In some instances, apps may ping authorization requests to the end-user whilst in operation. For example, this could be to calibrate the current location or add an event to the device calendar. Corporations can interrupt these permission prompts, and re-position them however they deem fit.

4Edit app settings

Businesses can adjust the span of settings applied to any given application and tether these to specific groups or organization units. Advanced settings control could include amending access methodology, auto-date timing, testing tracks, and VPN status.

5Allow Android users to see personal and work data together in the app

Corporations pursuing a BYOD strategy will benefit from offering colleagues cross-profile capability, where they'll be able to merge personal and workplace data where agreeable; for example, placing both work and social events on a single calendar. Admin teams can ready devices for collaboration by changing the connected application configuration, available via the application's settings page.

5Monitor apps on managed devices

Executing measures to manage application installation and usage is one thing, but tracking the performance of apps, alongside the tools used to establish accessibility and control, is another thing entirely. A number of monitoring methods are used:

1Checking application distribution

Administrators are able to glean a snapshot of which groups have accessibility to specific applications, by extrapolating data from their console management platform.

To gain visibility on estate accessibility to a specific application, clicking Access Details will reveal all those with permissions to engage in app usage.

2Checking application installation:

A view of existing applications within a respective corporate environment can be pulled from the Devices page.

This screen will show confirmation of the app version and the SHA-256# value.

3Review changes to apps and export audit log data

The audit log contains detailed records of actions performed by devices attempting to access company data. Clearly, this can help businesses monitor suspicious activity, and probe into employee behaviors. This information can be found at

4Automate app monitoring with rules:

This security mechanism enables businesses to swiftly shut down any devices which flag something of concern. Corporations can impose pre-set security conditions, whereby alerts trigger if certain device features or systems have been potentially compromised. These measures are referred to as device management rules and can be manufactured by an enterprise independently, or leveraged through a pre-determined template. On occasions where these rules are breached, companies can also embed a fixed response to address the issue automatically.

6Respond to app security incidents

Given that workforces are more remote than ever, and therefore require access to sensitive company data outside the relative safety of the office, security is a more pressing priority than ever. Furthermore, as hackers have become more sophisticated in their attacks, security systems must be appropriately equipped to address more complex threats.

1Clear application data or cache:

A simple but often-integral process, clearing data and/or cache can provide an instant remedy to application problems.

2Revoke access to Google Services

In certain circumstances, businesses will feel compelled to immediately block an employee's Google Account. This approach is usually required after a device is either lost or stolen. Here, undesirable actors can access Google Services by

This feature is also used when employees leave organizations, with accounts blocked for housekeeping and security purposes.

3Block a device

There is also the capability to stop devices from syncing Google data, although there are some circumstances that prevent this action.

To apply this setting, admins must visit the relevant tab on the management console:

4Lock a company-owned Android device and re-set its password

 
A basic but effective action, a device can be locked and its password changed without manual intervention.

5Adjust app's access to Google Services

Settings can be tweaked to apply reduced access capability, therefore only exposing users to elements containing unrestricted Google Services. Applications can also be labeled as "trusted", permitting unfettered access, or "blocked", which closes down end-user app interaction entirely.

Again, this action can be performed using the Access and Data Control tab, located in security settings.

7Uninstalling apps from Android phone

The uninstallation process is relatively straightforward. However, any application baked into the system at the factory level cannot be removed. To uninstall standard, third-party apps:

Part 2: What is AirDroid MAM - Mobile Application Management for Android?

AirDroid MAM serves as an application management administration console and therefore features all of the application and device management mechanisms referenced to press. Thus, ultimately, the AirDroid platform is a tool that helps businesses regulate their device estate remotely, and implement decisive actions on singular or groups of devices from afar.

This enables corporations to have complete autonomy and control and set conditions in order to protect device security and promote workplace productivity. This includes, but is certainly not limited to:

In essence, therefore, AirDroid MAM is a one-stop shop to manage all aspects of application usage and deployment.  

Part 3: FAQs about Android App management

1How do you manage Android apps?

Android apps can be managed using the application management tool, which enables users to install, uninstall, update, and downgrade apps.

2Where is the apps management function in settings?

Within settings, select application manager from the dropdown menu. From here, you'll be able to complete various actions relating to device applications.

3Where is the device management function for Android devices?

The device management tab is located on your corporation's administration console. This feature can be accessed via Manage > Devices.

4What is the Device Manager application on Android?

 The device manager application gives businesses complete autonomy over how they configure their device estate. This includes determining user accessibility and installation settings and deploying risk management systems on one or a collective group of devices. These actions will hopefully serve to facilitate strong levels of productivity, flexibility, and security in the device estate.

5What is MDM app on Android?

The MDM, or Mobile Device Management app, is an application deployed by corporate entities to protect the integrity of company-wide devices, by securing assets against external threats, and ensuring remote workers can access relevant content without compromising confidential data.

6Where do I find app information on Android?

Businesses can access current information on application presence and distrib

ution within their corporate estate via their administration consoles. These stats sit on their respective web and mobile apps tabs, with details relating to all managed applications available.

7How do I find the hidden menu on my Android?

The secret menu function enables you to apply tailored settings to your device's user interface and is often referred to as the System UI Tuner. To access this tool:

On completion of this action, your device will vibrate, and a confirmation message will arrive stating that you've added the System UI Tuner to your settings application. To explore what changes you can make, simply head to settings, and toggle down to the relevant tab.