-
Microsoft Intune vs. SOTI MobiControl
Which one is the Best Mobile Device Management (MDM) Platform?
Microsoft Intune vs. SOTI MobiControl
What's the difference?
SOTI MobiControl and Microsoft Intune are two mobile device management (MDM) solutions that have some differences in their features, capabilities, and target audiences. That being said, which is better, SOTI MobiControl vs Microsoft Intune? Let's take a quick look at how they compare:
Vendor and Ecosystem:
- • SOTI MobiControl: Developed by SOTI Inc., it's a third-party MDM solution that can manage a wide range of mobile devices, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. It's not limited to Microsoft devices or services.
- • Microsoft Intune: As the name suggests, it's a product offered by Microsoft. It's tightly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural choice for organizations using Microsoft 365, Azure, and Windows devices.
Device Support:
- • SOTI MobiControl: It supports various device types, including rugged devices, IoT devices, and devices from multiple manufacturers.
- • Microsoft Intune: While it does support a range of devices, it's most closely integrated with Windows and Microsoft 365 devices. It's especially suitable for organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies.
Feature Set:
- • SOTI MobiControl: It offers a comprehensive set of features for device management, such as remote control, application management, content management, and device analytics. It's known for its flexibility and robust security features.
- • Microsoft Intune: It provides features for managing and securing devices, apps, and data within the Microsoft ecosystem. It offers features like conditional access, identity and access management, and strong integration with Azure Active Directory.
User Interface:
- • SOTI MobiControl: It's known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use.
- • Microsoft Intune: It's designed to seamlessly integrate with the Microsoft 365 admin portal, providing a consistent experience for administrators already familiar with Microsoft tools.
Licensing and Pricing:
- • SOTI MobiControl: The pricing can vary based on the number of devices and specific features required. It offers flexible pricing options.
- • Microsoft Intune: The pricing structure may differ based on the organization's needs. It's best to check with Microsoft for specific licensing and pricing details.
Summary
SOTI MobiControl and Microsoft Intune are both MDM solutions, but they have differences in terms of vendor, device support, features, user interface, and licensing/pricing. It's important to consider these factors when choosing the right solution for your organization.
Microsoft Intune vs. SOTI MobiControl | Side-by-Side Comparison
Which EMM/MDM is best for your company?
Overview | Microsoft Intune vs. SOTI MobiControl
Deep Dive | Microsoft Intune vs. SOTI MobiControl
Feature |
Microsoft Intune |
SOTI MobiControl |
Deployment Flexibility | Microsoft Intune is only deployed in the Cloud via Microsoft Azure. | SOTI MobiControl can be deployed on-premise or in the Cloud via Microsoft Azure or AWS, providing flexibility and choice so organizations can choose the right deployment scenario for their needs. |
Organizational Structure (Groups/ subgroups) | Microsoft Intune allows you to set up groups and subgroups to define access levels to content or applications. However, there is no way to easily define groups and subgroups for roles of users aligned to a specific physical or logical location. Repurposing a device requires re-enrollment. | SOTI MobiControl easily enables you to set up groups and subgroups through a simple visual interface. With an easy drag-and-drop, devices can quickly inherit profiles, policies and/or rules in seconds, without having to be re-enrolled. |
Device Location and Tracking | Microsoft Intune only leverages “Find My iPhone” for lost or stolen devices. Organizations with non-Apple device deployments face significant risks if devices and data are lost or stolen. | SOTI MobiControl tracks the real-time outdoor location of devices. You can establish policies to control device data and functions based on its location, helping to find misplaced devices and preventing data exposure on lost or stolen devices. |
Geofencing | Microsoft Intune does not support geofencing. | SOTI MobiControl has polygonal geofencing capabilities, enabling users to easily design and control policies to their specific requirements. |
File Sharing Support | Microsoft Intune does not support the capability of transferring files to and from devices. This may require the use of specific third-party apps. | SOTI MobiControl has two convenient options for file sharing on different platforms: File Exchange and Package Deployment. |
Data Collection | Microsoft Intune does not support Data Collection. | SOTI MobiControl supports Data Collection, which is crucial for day-to-day operations and supports the management of devices that support your business. |
Speed Control Lockdown | Microsoft Intune does not offer speed control lockdown. | SOTI MobiControl can lock down a device when it is travelling at or above a specified speed, ensuring devices cannot be accessed while in motion. This protects employees, the public, property and organization against distracted driving incidents. |
Remote Control | Microsoft Intune remote control is only available via TeamViewer, which requires purchasing a separate license. TeamViewer does not work for Android Enterprise managed devices. | SOTI MobiControl enables IT administrators to quickly and easily remote control (RC) into a device, regardless of its implementation mode (Classic or Android Enterprise), to diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve device issues. |
Advanced JavaScript | Microsoft Intune does not support JavaScript. | SOTI MobiControl supports JavaScript, enabling critical device actions such as scheduling and triggering actions on devices, extracting data and transferring it to a server. |
Bulk Application Deployment | Microsoft Intune only deploys one application at a time to a single device or device group. | SOTI MobiControl can quickly deploy numerous applications to numerous devices or device groups at once. Applications can be deployed in bulk to maintain worker productivity. |
Feature |
Requirement |
SOTI Mobicontrol |
Microsoft Intune |
Notes |
Homescreen Lockdown | Ability to be locked down to only allow access to the apps we specify. | Supported | Supported . Kiosk/Lockdown does not support HTML customizations. | |
Microsoft Powerapps | We currently have a single account to log into powerapps with that will be shared across the devices that the user will use. WiIll need to install and run Powerapps. | Supported | Supported | Macros can be used for auto sign-in |
The app is basically running and working on our test device per our dev at this time just as a normal store app, I know that it will be doing entry into fields via the barcode scanner but not much else at this time | Supported | Supported | ||
Remote Support | can we restrict people from clicking into the app while still offering the ability for full remote support | Supported | Not Supported. Users can still take control of the device with a remote session active. | |
The app currently has an option where a user can remove themselves from our teamviewer tenant | Supported. SOTI's remote control feature is built-in and cannot be removed by users | Not Supported | ||
Intune will push down the config option and add them back but I do not currently know how often the push occurs and the other issue is that when the device is removed and re-added to teamviewer it would lose its custom name which makes it very difficult to identify the device if we ever needed to support it | Supported. SOTI's remote control feature is built-in and cannot be removed by users | Not Supported | ||
Mize CRM/Portal App | This is going to be a Google Play store app and should be locked down as well | Supports Google company play store | Supports Google company play store | |
This app may not be published at this time, trying to get more information about that from our dev team | Can be automatically configured to install apps and updates as they're released in the Google play store. Alternatively, apps can be installed via packages which directly push the APK file. | Supported, but does not support bulk app deployment. Devices would have to be set up individually one at a time. Have to login to each device and run command to install apk. | ||
Does this have the ability or need to autologin as a specific account? | Can be configured by macros within the application. This is not controlled by MobiControl. | Can be configured by macros within the application. This is not controlled by intune. | ||
This app is also going to include offline support so we need to allow the device to still run this app even if it does not have a network connection | Supported | Supported | ||
Multiple Profile Support | We may need to make multiple device profiles depending on how they are going to be used and what set of apps they would specifically need for that department or use case | Supported. Accomplished by creating separate groups in Mobicontrol. | They have limited functionality. Intune only has security group policies. Policies apply to all devices. | |
we may need some devices that are locked down and only have access to powerapps. | Supported | Supported | ||
Network Printing | Allow network printing via the device | Supported | Not Supported | |
We are sending print commands to a URL at this time | N/A | N/A | ||
Wifi Profiles | Auto join a wifi network | Supported | Supported | Handled through Zebra StageNow |
What options do we have and what would you recommend, we were thinking about cert based auto authentication or are there other options | Cert-based authentication supported, Pre-shared key authentication supported. Join by IP range supported. | Not Supported | ||
Restrict Settings | Restrict the users access to settings or any other areas in the device | Supported | Limited functionality. Granular control is not permitted. | |
basically prevent tinkering | Supported | Supported | ||
Lock out settings app in the app tray | Supports full lock down of all device settings. Can be done in bulk or individually. | Limited functionality. | ||
no other apps that may still be on the device to keep it fully working | Black listing of apps available to prevent running in background through runtime rules. | Not supported | ||
Auto Update Apps | Apps can autoupdate without any user interaction that came from the google play store | Supported | Supported | |
We may want this scheduled but since powerapps basically connects to a server to run we cannot have it be behind or out of date which would cause the app to stop working | Supported | Not Supported | ||
All other core apps that are required to make android run should also autoupdate without the user and without any notifications | Supported | Not Supported | ||
Operating System Updates | Device OS should not autoupdate to a new version and should not notify the end user | Supported | Not Supported | |
Over the air OS updates | Supported | Not Supported | ||
Set and Enforce User Settings | Need to have the screen still auto dim but not need to be unlocked to allow them to keep scanning items into the app without draining the battery all day | Supported. Can be done through scripts. | Not Supported | |
We do not want to have the user need to unlock the device every time the screen dims or locks so they can work more efficiently | This is a device setting. | This is a device setting. | ||
Restrict access to swipe down from the top of the device to change any settings or portions of the device | Supported | Limited functionality. | ||
wi-fi, time, rotate, airplane mode, location, screen brightness, flashlight, etc | Supported. Can be done through scripts. | Not Supported | ||
Ability to set and enforce settings specific to the device to stay where we configure them | Supported | Supported | ||
time zone, rotation disabled, location on, screen brightness, system volume | Supported | Not Supported | ||
Kiosk Mode | will be a shared device in use by multiple people that is a fully corporate owned device and should be used as basically a single terminal in use for just this application while being as fully locked down as possible | Supported | Supported | |
The users using this will not have a login or the device not should one be required to get the device to launch the powerapps app or the mize app | Supported | Supported | ||
IT Troubleshooting | Ability for IT personal to access the full features of the device for troubleshooting, hopefully being remote but if on hand with the device for certain | Supported | Supported through teamviewer add-on only. | |
Some method to launch the settings app or something similar so we can reset a device or do some other type of troubleshooting as the IT team responsible for the device, an end user should have no method to do this so it either would need to be restricted a passcode or some credentials of some sort is my best guess | Supported. Can factory reset device from admin console. | Not Supported. | ||
Geofencing | Notifies if a device leaves the premises or is turned on outside the suspected physical use space | Supported. | Not Supported. Microsoft Intune offers only network fencing with alerts (the devices should be connected to organization’s wifi network) and cannot provide real-time location services. | |
GPS and Locationing | Historical Last Seen for a Device | Supported | Not Supported. | |
Report maybe that shows if a device has been offline for a while for inventory and tracking purposes | Supported | Not Supported. Microsoft Intune doesn’t have the ability to enforce GPS to be on. | ||
Speed Detection Lockdown | delivers speed lockdown that prevents distracted driving by locking down driver’s devices while the vehicle is in motion. | Supported | Not Supported. |