How Mobile Device Management Software Supports Device Leasing

Quick Summary

Leasing gives businesses a cost-effective way to access up-to-date technology, but managing those devices once they’re deployed is a separate challenge. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software closes that gap — letting IT teams remotely deploy, secure, monitor, and eventually recover devices throughout the lease lifecycle.

Paired with HardSoft’s Shepherd MDM solutions (plus Devices for Teams and Boomerang), businesses get streamlined onboarding, stronger security and compliance, full asset visibility, and clean offboarding at end-of-lease — all from a single dashboard covering Windows, Apple, Android, ChromeOS, and Linux devices. In short: leasing gets you the hardware, MDM gets you control over it.  

Introduction

Keeping up with the latest technology used to mean a large upfront investment – new laptops, monitors, and infrastructure all paid for in one go. Leasing changes that equation. Instead of tying up capital in hardware that depreciates from day one, businesses can spread costs into predictable monthly payments, refresh their equipment on a set cycle, and free up budget for the things that actually grow the business. 

However, leasing solves only part of the problem.

Once devices are in the hands of employees, somebody still needs to deploy them, configure settings, install applications, maintain security policies and provide ongoing support. For growing businesses, remote teams and scale-ups, that can quickly become a significant burden for IT teams. 

This is where Mobile Device Management software becomes invaluable. 

By combining device leasing with MDM, businesses can simplify deployment, strengthen security and improve the employee experience while maintaining visibility and control over every leased device. 

What is Mobile Device Management?

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is software that allows IT teams to remotely manage, configure and secure company devices from a central platform. 

Instead of manually setting up and maintaining every device, administrators can: 

• Deploy devices remotely
• Configure security policies 
• Install and update applications
• Monitor device health
• Track inventory 
• Lock or wipe lost devices
• Enforce compliance requirements

Whether you’re managing ten devices or ten thousand, MDM helps ensure every device follows the same standards and policies. 

For businesses leasing devices, MDM provides the control needed to manage technology efficiently throughout its lifecycle.

The Challenge of Leasing Without MDM

Leasing devices gives businesses flexibility, but without an MDM platform, managing those devices can quickly become complex.

Common challenges include:

• Manual device setup for every new employee
• Inconsistent security settings
• Difficulty tracking assets 
• Limited visibility into device health
• Time-consuming software updates
• Challenges supporting remote workers
• Risks when devices are lost, stolen or returned

As teams grow, these issues become harder to manage manually. 

A startup with five employees may be able to configure devices individually. A scale-up with fifty or one hundred employees cannot.

That’s why many businesses pair their device leasing strategy with an MDM solution from day one. 

How MDM Supports Every Stage of the Leasing Lifecycle

1. Deployment and Onboarding 

One of the biggest benefits of combining leasing and MDM is streamlined deployment. 

Through Devices for Teams, devices can be pre-configured, enrolled and shipped directly to users, reducing setup time and enabling new starters to become productive more quickly. Shepherd MDM also integrates with Apple Business Manager, enabling zero-touch deployment and automated enrolment. 

Benefits include:

• Faster onboarding
• Reduced IT workload
• Consistent device configurations
• Better employee experiences
• Immediate productivity for remote employees

2. Day-to-Day Management

Once devices are deployed, they still need managing. 

As businesses grow, manually maintaining devices becomes increasingly time-consuming. MDM gives IT teams a central platform for managing updates, applications, security policies and device settings across the organisation. 

With HardSoft’s very own Shepherd Fusion, businesses can manage Windows, Apple, Android, ChromeOS and Linux devices from a single platform, making it easier to support mixed-device environments. 

3. Security and Compliance

Leased devices often leave the office and travel between homes, client sites and coworking spaces.

MDM helps organisations protect business data throughout the lease term by enforcing security policies, monitoring compliance and enabling remote actions when required. Shepherd also supports encryption, policy enforcement and remote device controls. 

Benefits include:

• Protect data with BitLocker encryption 
• Manage Microsoft Defender policies remotely 
• Secure remote access with VPNs
• Authenticate trusted devices with certificates 

4. Asset Visibility and Lifecycle Tracking

One of the most common challenges with leased devices is keeping track of where they are and who is using them. 

MDM provides visibility across your entire fleet, helping IT teams track devices throughout their lifecycle. Combined with HardSoft’s lifecycle services, businesses gain better oversight and utilisation of their technology investments.

This includes:

• Inventory tracking
• Ownership records
• Device health monitoring 
• Software version tracking
• Compliance reporting

For scale-ups especially, this visibility becomes increasingly valuable as device estates expand.

5. End-of-Lease Offboarding and Device Return

The device lifecycle doesn’t end when the lease agreement does. 

Devices need to be recovered, corporate data removed and hardware prepared for redeployment, refresh or return. Shepherd MDM and Boomerang help support this process by keeping devices visible and manageable throughout their lifecycle. 

This helps businesses:

• Retire devices securely 
• Remove corporate data
• Recover missing devices
• Prepare devices for return
• Maintain a clear audit trail

Rather than devices being forgotten or disappearing when employees leave, businesses retain visibility and control until the very end of the lifecycle. 

Why Leasing and MDM Work Better Together

Leasing and MDM solve different business challenges. 

Leasing helps businesses access technology. 

MDM helps businesses control technology.

Together, they create a more scalable and efficient approach to managing workplace technology. 

How Shepherd Supports Leased Devices

Shepherd was developed by HardSoft to help businesses manage devices throughout their lifecycle. 

For Mac-focused organisations, Shepherd for Apple provides streamlined deployment, security and management from a single dashboard. 

For businesses managing a mixture of operating systems, Shepherd Fusion brings Windows, Apple, Android, ChromeOS and Linux devices together under one platform.

For businesses running with iPhones and iPads, Shepherd for Mobile, delivers cost-effective MDM that fits neatly into your budget.

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Key Takeaways

• Device leasing reduces upfront technology costs
• DaaS combines hardware, support and lifecycle services into one monthly payment
• MDM enables businesses to deploy, secure and manage devices remotely
• Shepherd helps automate onboarding, security and compliance 
• Boomerang supports device lifecycle management and recovery 
• Shepherd Fusion provides a single management platform for mixed-device estates

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FAQs

Are there any hidden costs with leasing?

There are NO admin fees! Once set up, adding or taking away devices also will not incur any additional fees beyond your single monthly payment.

How do the monthly leasing payments work? 

We invoice every quarter and our payment dates are 1st of January, April, July, October etc… We accept payment via various means, though our preferred method is direct debit, as this means we can amend payments easily in line with any additional devices added or returned. 

Do businesses receive any support when leasing with HardSoft?

HardSoft’s support runs on a tiered system from Silver up to Platinum, so businesses can pick the level that matches how much coverage they need, whether that’s basic troubleshooting or more comprehensive, priority-level support. All plans include round-the-clock access to a dedicated expert support team and a ticket-based support portal for tracking device issues. 

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But Why HardSoft?

Choosing the right MDM solution is important, but so is choosing the right partner to support your devices throughout their lifecycle. 

At HardSoft, we’ve spent over 40 years helping businesses access and manage workplace technology. Through Devices for Teams, we combine device leasing, finance, support and lifecycle management into a single solution, making it easier for growing businesses to equip and manage their teams. 

When you work with HardSoft, you benefit from:

Trusted expertise, backed by a 4.9 Trustpilot rating from more than 1,500 reviews and decades of industry experience.

Flexible leasing options, with the ability to add, switch or return devices as your business evolves.

Several support plans and optional protection services, to help keep employees productive and devices protected.

Lifecycle management services, such as Boomerang and Shepherd, helping recover and repurpose devices throughout their lifecycle. 

Leasing provides the device. Shepherd provides the control. HardSoft brings everything together.