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What is endpoint management and why is it important?
What is endpoint management?
The importance of endpoint management
Today’s workplace typically includes some form of telecommuting, requiring devices to have remote access to apps and data located on the main network. All these devices and network endpoints are opportunities for attack. Endpoint management provides a reliable method of tracking and protecting endpoints, especially as environments trend towards Internet of Things (IoT) devices and bring your own device (BYOD) programs.
Controlling a proliferation of devices
The number of managed devices continues to grow in volume and diversity for organizations. From servers and gateways to laptops, tablets, smartphones, printers, and IoT devices, endpoints are becoming increasingly difficult to track and secure.
Having control over endpoints ensures that the devices being used to access corporate data—even through an unsecured network or public cloud—are approved and have the correct access credentials. This allows users to safely and reliably use endpoint devices to carry out job functions and provides businesses with full control over all devices.
Monitoring a proliferation of platforms
With the expansion of endpoint devices also comes an expansion of software platforms needed to support and connect a distributed workforce. Endpoint management helps identify everything connecting to the main network across various platforms and operating systems. It accelerates processes like updates or migrations, as well as enables automatic tasks to ease the strain on manual resources.
Confronting an increased risk of cyberattacks
More devices and more platforms give cybercriminals more opportunities to attack endpoint vulnerabilities. There are many security risks to address, such as phishing, inadequate patch management, loss and theft, and software exploits. The key to limiting exposure to cyberthreats comes from solid policies that protect against entry from an attack.
What are endpoint management policies?
Part of endpoint security involves creating policies to define permission rights for different devices and different groups of users. These policies establish the amount of access that authorized users have to the main network. They can often include encryption or biometrics to confirm the users’ identity and ensure a secure login.
What to consider in endpoint security
Every device that accesses corporate data is a possible attack vector, and with an ever-growing number of endpoint devices within a highly fragmented environment, monitoring and protecting them comes with challenges. These can include applying the right security controls, addressing exposure to a data breach and experiencing vulnerabilities from outdated patches.
However, security risks can be reduced with a powerful plan that utilizes best practices for endpoint security like:
- Proper security and compliance education
- Identifying, tracking and monitoring all devices connected to the network
- Regularly updating and patching operating systems, applications and security software
- Employing a zero-trust security approach to user privileges
What’s the difference between endpoint management and unified endpoint management (UEM)?
UEM provides a central console to oversee every device, supporting a range of systems, cloud applications, mobile devices and IoT devices. UEM combines the capabilities of mobile device management (MDM), enterprise mobility management (EMM) and mobile application management (MAM) for a streamlined approach. It’s a method that allows for remote control of both corporate-owned devices and those under BYOD programs that access the main network, simplifying application updates, patches, and implementation of security policies.
Mobile device management (MDM)
MDM is the process of enrollment, management and security of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Enterprise mobility management (EMM)
EMM focuses on the management of mobile devices and components of mobile infrastructure, including wireless networks and IoT devices.
Mobile application management (MAM)
MAM works by protecting, managing and updating enterprise applications on mobile devices.
What are the benefits of endpoint management?
As IT landscapes continue to expand outside data centers, the need for a comprehensive endpoint management solution becomes more and more apparent. With so many disparate endpoint devices, organizations require an integrated strategy to effectively manage and secure everything inside and outside the traditional perimeter.
Endpoint management offers detailed visibility into an organization’s environment and enables IT teams to keep endpoint devices secure, compliant and productive. With greater control over endpoints connecting to the network, businesses can establish consistent user experiences and simplify device management.
The right solution can help reduce costs, simplify patching and security requirements, and strengthen data protection by:
Managing multiple third-party applications
Rather than rely on multiple vendors for patch deployment, policy enforcement, location tracking, and system configurations, businesses can meet all these needs with just one solution, and data is saved in only one repository—not several.
Automating security updates and patching
Fully automated and customizable tasks allow organizations to reduce operational costs, save time and allocate resources elsewhere. Auto-patching capabilities also help eliminate vulnerabilities in endpoint security.
Reducing complexity
A cloud-based option makes it easy to setup new devices with zero-touch deployment. Plus, businesses gain a bird’s eye view of every connected device in the network and can maintain continuous policy enforcement across all endpoints.
Enhancing threat detection
Endpoint management telemetry allows for quicker identification of security threats and improved response to malicious activity. With perpetual testing and verification, organizations can evaluate threats before an attack occurs.
What does the future of endpoint management look like?
Considering the shift to a highly distributed environment made up of growing numbers of endpoint devices, platforms and operating systems without a centrally located office, organizations are turning towards cloud computing to eliminate infrastructure challenges.
With migration to the cloud, there are three facets to consider:
1. Applications
Cloud-based applications expand upon the limitations of traditional desktop apps and enable users to work through a mobile device. Managing user access is as simple as logging in as an administrator, adding or deleting accounts and assigning tools to new users.
2. Identities
Configuration policies ensure federation of identity. This means that disabling an account in an Active Directory will also disable user access to applications tied to that account.
3. Domains
Cloud adoption for the data center is perfect for maintaining stability. Moving everyday programs like Microsoft 365, Exchange Online and SharePoint to the cloud gives companies greater ability to adapt to changes in business activity and spikes in traffic.