Why Linux MDM Does Exist

And How it Helps You Manage Dedicated Linux Device Fleets

When it comes to managing Linux devices, the dogma around MDM in the enterprise has long been “it’s too complicated.” This can lead many organizations into the (false!) belief that choosing Linux as a platform for corporate-owned devices means you’ll be without a device management layer. After all, any device on your corporate infrastructure has to be centrally managed and monitored — and Linux is anything but plug-and-play with traditional MDM. A simple search for “Linux MDM” will even lead you to an article claiming that MDM for Linux doesn’t exist!

While there is truth to the idea that MDM for Linux can be impractical in certain environments (e.g., personal devices like developer laptops and workstations), there is no reason to fear managing Linux when dealing with a highly homogeneous dedicated device fleet. These are the sort of device ecosystems that are becoming far more numerous and business-critical for enterprises in the modern era, and Linux MDM is both desirable and achievable for managing those ecosystems.

Lost in Distro-Land: Why Linux MDM for Employee Devices Is a Distraction

Discussion of Linux device management almost always devolves into the complexity of achieving the same outcome (compliance) across a wide variety of distros and end-user hardware and software configurations. In this view of Linux device management, traditional MDM really isn’t meaningfully applicable. It would be like trying to build a unified MDM not just for Windows, iOS, and Android, but for every version of those platforms released in the last 15 years. Effectively, impossible. But this isn’t a reality anyone is meaningfully trying to solve for, much as no one is trying to build an MDM that works across every flavor (and subflavor) of Linux.

Enterprise orgs managing employee Linux devices internally are much more likely to build their own management based on existing software packages, perhaps repurposing tools designed for Linux servers. But they will build that tooling against the unique device ecosystem inside their org. In-house solutions like these can achieve compliance with internal security and external audit requirements — even if they may not scale, actually be able to enforce policy (versus prompt user compliance), or be easily adapted to new distros. This isn’t to say managing diverse employee Linux devices doesn’t present challenges. It certainly does, but MDM clearly isn’t a tool designed to solve them.

However, none of this means Linux MDM as a concept doesn’t exist. Rather, it means that Linux MDM is only the right solution in the right context. Specifically, corporate-owned dedicated devices.

What Is Linux MDM? It’s Device Centric, Not Distro-Centric

To think about Linux MDM, you need to get out of the “engineer running a frankensteined Debian distro on a laptop” mindset. Stop thinking about platforms, and start thinking about use cases. 

There is explosive Linux device growth occurring in dedicated use, corporate-owned hardware. Point of sale, gaming, connected industrial and medical devices, retail and hospitality automation, and edge IoT. These industries and use cases depend on customized, heavily locked-down distributions of Linux as the free, flexible base upon which to build innovative devices and experiences. And for them, Linux MDM isn’t just possible — it’s going to be mission critical in the very near future.

That employee laptop scenario simply doesn’t apply to these dedicated use devices. Imagine you’re a global manufacturer deploying thousands of edge IoT devices that use computer vision to perform quality analysis on the line. These devices run the exact same OS distro, the exact same hardware configuration, and require identical policy and compliance settings. Your challenge isn’t accounting for ecosystem diversity. It’s scaling a monolithic deployment, configuration, device compliance enforcement, and visibility motion. Whether it’s kitchen displays at a global quick service restaurant, in-vehicle driver monitoring, patient monitoring IoT in a hospital system, or edge AI robotics for retail, Linux is moving the needle on innovation across industries out in the wild. And Linux MDM is absolutely the answer for managing these kinds of ecosystems at scale.

Linux MDM for Employee Devices vs. Linux MDM or Dedicated Devices

When we think about managing Linux devices, breaking apart the employee device use case and the dedicated device use case is hugely instructive. Here are some of the key differences between the two scenarios.

This illustrates how the dedicated use scenario for Linux devices doesn’t just benefit from MDM-style management; it demands it. So why does MDM for Linux still feel elusive?

The Linux MDM Challenge for Dedicated Device Fleets

The single greatest barrier to effective use of MDM for these dedicated Linux device ecosystems is partnership. Enterprises invest huge sums in developing (or acquiring) the devices these customized Linux builds run on, but finding an MDM to meet them in the middle on meaningfully managing those devices at scale is difficult. This challenge tends to make Linux MDM feel unachievable, and results in one of two outcomes. 

The first is that instead of building in-house, companies often look to third-party devices that ship with their own management layer developed by the vendor, one that’s unlikely to meaningfully integrate with your existing device management, let alone the rest of your toolchain (and will come with a hefty support contract). The features and functions in that management layer are subject to the whims of the vendor’s product roadmap, not your business needs or particular use case. 

The second option is paving your own way and developing a management layer in-house. These homegrown solutions provide the maximum flexibility and suitability to purpose on paper, but in practice tend to be MVP efforts, with “bare minimum” functionality — just what you need to launch and, hopefully, avoid disaster in the field. 

What if there was a third way?

Why Linux MDM Is More Achievable than You Think

Linux is, after all, known for offering total, unmatched control. So is Modern MDM, making it perfect for the unique needs of open-source dedicated devices. 

Granular control plus simplified management is exactly what modern MDM is designed to do — maintain the workflows, customization, and use cases you’ve architected those devices around, because they aren’t negotiable. 

MDM tools factor in advanced script management plus remote access and control that works with headless Linux devices. Add in things like seamless provisioning and secure, granular user management tools, and you have a solution that fits seamlessly into Linux workflows, while making dedicated device management more efficient, secure, and scalable.