Discussion: Is Modern MDM Still Just About Devices? Let’s Talk IAM, Compliance, and Context

#mdm #iam #uem #compliance

Hey devs, sysadmins, and IT pros 👋

Over the past few years, Mobile Device Management (MDM) has evolved drastically—from basic remote wiping and app control to full-blown endpoint orchestration. But with remote work, BYOD culture, and compliance mandates climbing like never before, I’m starting to feel like MDM is just one part of a bigger access puzzle.

So here's a question I've been chewing on lately:

Where do we draw the line between MDM and IAM in 2025—and should we even be drawing one anymore?

🔐 MDM Meets IAM: The New Reality
Think about this:

Your MDM secures the device.
Your IAM secures the identity.
But what really matters is the context: Who is accessing what data, from where, on which device, under what risk profile?

Today's top UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) solutions are now integrating:

Conditional access policies
Context-aware authentication
Risk-based compliance checks

This isn't just about mobile anymore. It's laptops, desktops, rugged devices, IoT endpoints, and even contractor devices. Now IAM platforms like Okta, Ping, or Azure AD are playing nicely with MDM platforms to create a zero-trust fabric.

🔄 So Are We Moving Toward UAM? (Unified Access Management?)
It kind of feels like we’re heading toward a convergence where the acronym soup—MDM, IAM, UEM, ZTNA—just melts into one: a single pane of control for access + endpoint + identity + risk.

The lines are blurry, and maybe that’s a good thing.

💬 Let’s Discuss
Here are some points I'd love to hear your thoughts on:

As developers or IT admins, do you feel that MDM platforms should handle identity too? Or is that IAM's turf?

Do you use solutions that integrate both (e.g., Scalefusion UEM + Google Workspace)?

How do you handle access control for unmanaged devices?

Where does Zero Trust fit into your strategy?

📢 Bonus Thought:
Wouldn’t it be cool to have an open-source standard or SDK that lets IAM and MDM tools talk to each other natively—without vendor lock-in?

Drop your thoughts, tech stack, horror stories, or wishlists below 👇
Let’s figure out where the future of device and access management is heading.