Phones get lost. Laptops leave the building. Kids bypass every setting you thought was locked. Most people — and most businesses — have zero control over their devices. That ends here.
From locking down your own phone to managing a fleet of employee devices — RichnTech covers every layer.
Device security basics — remote wipe, biometrics, encryption, auto-updates. The stuff everyone skips.
Personal devices at work without a policy is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Build one in minutes.
Screen Time, Family Link, app restrictions, content filtering — actually manage your kid’s devices.
The Device Management Maturity Model. A framework for knowing where you stand — and where you need to be.
Jamf, Hexnode, Mosyle, Intune, Apple Business Essentials — honest reviews, real comparisons.
I built RichnTech because I saw a gap — plenty of MDM content for enterprise IT teams, but nothing honest and practical for small businesses, remote workers, and parents trying to manage the devices in their lives.
My background is in IT innovation and third-party cyber risk management. But the more I worked in enterprise security, the more I noticed: the same device management problems plaguing Fortune 500 companies were destroying small businesses and families too — and nobody was translating the solutions into plain language.
RichnTech exists to fix that. Every MDM recommendation is based on actual security merit. Every BYOD template is built from real-world policy frameworks. Every parental control walkthrough is tested on actual devices. No fluff. No sponsored rankings. Just what works.
I created the Device Management Maturity Model (DMMM) because most people — and most organizations — have no idea where they stand when it comes to managing their devices. The DMMM gives you a framework: five levels from ad-hoc to fully automated, with clear benchmarks at each stage.
Whether you’re a business owner who just realized your employees’ phones have access to company data, or a parent who just found out your kid disabled Screen Time — the DMMM tells you exactly where you are and what to do next.
Everything you need to know about managing, securing, and controlling devices — across five content pillars.
The settings, habits, and configurations everyone should have on every device.
Your phone gets stolen. Can you erase it right now? If not, here’s exactly what to configure on iOS and Android.
Biometrics, auto-lock, encryption, app permissions, auto-updates — the first 10 minutes with any new device.
Bluetooth on, Wi-Fi auto-connect, no SIM lock — every default that’s actively working against you.
Policies, frameworks, and real-world advice for businesses with employees using personal devices.
What happens to company data when someone leaves and you never managed their personal device.
Acceptable use, security requirements, offboarding, privacy boundaries — the complete framework.
A real breach that started on an unmanaged personal device. Story format with lessons learned.
Screen Time, content filtering, parental controls — actually lock down every device your kids use.
Screen Time passcode, content restrictions, Ask to Buy, downtime schedules — the actual setup walkthrough.
Separate passcode, Siri web search restriction, app deletion — the three mistakes that undo everything.
Weekly recurring: iPad, Android tablet, Chromebook, Nintendo Switch, gaming consoles — one device per week.
The framework that defines where you are — and the roadmap to get where you need to be.
From ad-hoc chaos to fully automated policy enforcement. Where does your organization fall?
No visibility, no policy, no response plan — and what that actually costs in breach dollars and compliance risk.
Connecting the maturity model to enterprise compliance frameworks for real-world application.
Hands-on reviews of the platforms that actually manage devices — who they’re for, what they cost, and what’s missing.
Setup, enrollment, policy push, pricing — and who it’s actually built for.
Three cross-platform MDMs compared on ease of use, pricing, and real-world deployment.
Apple Business Essentials, Google Endpoint Management, Microsoft Intune — hidden in subscriptions you already have.
MDM platforms for businesses, parental control tools for families, and the endpoint security gear that supports managed environments. Every recommendation is vetted.
Software that lets you enroll, configure, monitor, and enforce policies on managed devices — phones, tablets, and laptops.
Parental control platforms that manage screen time, content filtering, app restrictions, and location tracking for kids’ devices.
Physical hardware that strengthens the security of managed devices — authentication keys, secure routers, and endpoint protection that pairs with MDM platforms.
Check off what you currently have in place across five maturity dimensions. Get your DMMM level instantly.
Answer a few questions about your business and get a customized BYOD policy outline you can implement immediately.
Apple’s free tools vs. Jamf vs. Kandji vs. Intune vs. NinjaOne vs. Android — what’s actually free, what’s worth paying for, and what’s right for you. Click a platform below to get the breakdown.
Here’s the truth most MDM comparison articles won’t tell you: you might already be paying for device management and not using it. Apple Business Manager is free. Google Endpoint Management is included with Workspace. Microsoft Intune is bundled with certain 365 plans. Before you drop $5/device/month on a third-party MDM, you need to know what you already have.
Click any platform to see the full breakdown — what it costs, what it does, who it’s for, and what it’s missing.
Most people don’t realize Apple gives you two separate products — and one is completely free. Apple Business Manager (ABM) is a free web portal for device inventory, Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), Managed Apple IDs, and bulk app purchasing. It’s the foundation every Apple MDM connects to. You should sign up regardless of what MDM you choose.
Apple Business Essentials (ABE) is Apple’s actual MDM layer, starting at $2.99/month per device. It adds remote configuration, policy enforcement, password rules, FileVault, remote lock/wipe, and app distribution — plus bundled iCloud storage and AppleCare+ support that no third-party MDM includes.
The catch? ABE only manages Apple devices. No Android, no Windows. It’s designed for small businesses under 500 employees running an all-Apple fleet. If that’s you, this is a serious option most people overlook.
If you’re a small business running all Apple and you haven’t signed up for ABM yet, you’re leaving free infrastructure on the table. ABE is worth it for teams under 50 who want simplicity. Beyond that, you’ll likely outgrow it.
Jamf is the OG of Apple device management. It’s been around longer than any competitor and has the deepest Apple integration. Three tiers: Jamf Now (simplified, small teams), Jamf Pro (full MDM with scripting and smart groups), and Jamf Business (Pro + identity + endpoint security).
Where Jamf dominates is customization. Extension attributes, smart groups, custom scripts, and deep API access let you build exactly the workflows you need. It’s un-opinionated by design — giving you tools, not opinions. That’s both its strength and its learning curve compared to Kandji’s no-code approach.
Jamf Pro also has the most mature Self Service app, letting employees install approved apps themselves without bugging IT. For organizations scaling past 100 Apple devices with complex compliance needs, Jamf Pro remains the benchmark.
If you’re an Apple-only shop with a real IT team and need granular control, Jamf Pro is still the gold standard. For small teams who don’t need scripting, Jamf Now is simpler but pricier per device than Kandji’s entry tier.
Kandji was built by people who were tired of configuring Jamf. It’s the no-code challenger — over 200 prebuilt automations that handle common MDM tasks like password policies, Wi-Fi settings, and app deployment without custom scripting. If Jamf gives you a toolbox, Kandji gives you a pre-assembled kit.
The platform handles zero-touch deployment, automated compliance (with built-in CIS, NIST, and SOC 2 templates), and patch management for macOS and third-party apps. It’s popular with mid-market companies and lean IT teams that don’t have dedicated Apple admins.
The trade-off is flexibility. Kandji’s “opinionated” design means fewer customization options. If you need bespoke configurations or deep scripting, you’ll hit walls. Pricing also scales separately for iOS vs. macOS, and add-ons like EDR can nearly double costs.
Kandji is the best option for lean IT teams who want compliance and automation without a Jamf-level learning curve. Under 500 Apple devices and don’t need deep scripting? Kandji likely saves you both time and money.
If your company already pays for Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you already have Intune — and you’re probably not using it. That’s the hidden MDM most businesses overlook. Intune manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android from one console, making it the default cross-platform option for Microsoft shops.
Intune’s killer feature is conditional access — blocking non-compliant devices from company email, SharePoint, or Teams automatically. Combined with Azure AD, it creates a zero-trust posture that standalone Apple MDMs can’t match without bolt-on identity products.
The downside? Intune’s Apple management is functional but not deep. It relies on ABM for enrollment, and macOS capabilities lag behind Jamf and Kandji. The admin console is also notoriously complex — it’s a Microsoft product built for Microsoft environments.
If you’re a Microsoft 365 shop with a mixed fleet, Intune is the obvious first move — you’re already paying for it. For Apple-heavy environments, pair Intune with Jamf or Kandji for the best of both worlds.
NinjaOne isn’t an MDM company — it’s an RMM company that added MDM. That distinction matters. If you’re already using NinjaOne for endpoint monitoring, patch management, and remote access, adding mobile device management to the same console makes life easier.
NinjaOne’s MDM handles iOS, Android, and macOS enrollment, policy enforcement, remote lock/wipe, passcode rules, kiosk mode, and zero-touch deployment. It inherits NinjaOne’s strong automation engine — policy resyncs, compliance checks, and patching run without manual triggers.
The catch: MDM is an add-on, not standalone. You need the base NinjaOne platform first. And critically, NinjaOne MDM does not manage Windows devices — that requires the separate RMM module. For pure mobile device management, dedicated MDMs offer more depth.
NinjaOne makes sense if you’re already in their ecosystem for RMM/patching and want mobile management in the same pane of glass. If MDM is your primary need, a dedicated platform gives you more for less.
Android’s built-in device management is more capable than most people realize — and Google Workspace customers get endpoint management included. Android Enterprise provides Work Profiles that cryptographically separate personal and work data, arguably more elegant than Apple’s BYOD approach.
Google Endpoint Management (included with Workspace Business Starter+) lets admins enforce screen locks, require encryption, remotely wipe devices, block compromised devices, and manage app deployment. Work Profiles mean you can selectively wipe only the work container when an employee leaves — personal data stays untouched.
Android Zero-Touch Enrollment mirrors Apple’s ADE — devices from authorized resellers auto-enroll on first boot. The difference: Android supports this across dozens of manufacturers, not just one.
If your team uses Google Workspace and Android, you already have legitimate device management included. Work Profiles are underrated for BYOD. For deeper control or mixed fleets, pair with Hexnode or Intune.
| PLATFORM | COST | APPLE | ANDROID | WINDOWS | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple ABM | Free | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Foundation for all Apple MDM |
| Apple ABE | $2.99+/mo | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Small Apple-only teams |
| Jamf Pro | ~$3.67/dev/mo | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Apple power users & enterprise |
| Kandji | $1.60+/dev/mo | ✅ | ❌ | ⚡ | Lean IT teams wanting automation |
| Intune | Incl. w/ M365 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Microsoft shops, mixed fleets |
| NinjaOne | $1.50–3.75/dev | ✅ | ✅ | 🔧 | MSPs using NinjaOne RMM |
| Android Free | Free | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Google Workspace + Android |
✅ Full support ⚡ Beta/limited 🔧 Via separate module ❌ Not supported
MDM questions, BYOD policy help, DMMM consulting, or content collaboration — reach out.
For enterprise MDM guidance, check the NIST SP 800-124 (Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices) and CIS Benchmarks for iOS, Android, and Windows device hardening.
For parental controls research, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and Common Sense Media maintain regularly updated device management guides for families.