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Remaining competitive in today's digital era requires businesses to utilize multiple IT tools or systems; most manage their digital ecosystem using more than one.
UEM provides an effective means for maintaining error-free end-user devices in your office environment.
As enterprises have evolved and employees and devices have become more mobile, device management has followed suit - moving away from MDM and EMM and toward Unified Endpoint Management (UEM).
While UEM might appear intimidating at first, this blog will give an introduction to its basics for enterprises as well as allow trial use so you can get real-world learning experience! Learn about how this concept could benefit your company.
What Is Endpoint Management?
Network endpoints refer to any device which serves as the final stop or endpoint in a network connection, including computers, phones/tablets/laptops (such as phones or tablets), servers, virtual desktops as well as printers & scanners or rugged devices, digital signs such wearables mPoS systems.
Endpoint management refers to any process or practice employed to centrally oversee, deploy, support, and secure all endpoints within any firm or organization.
Modern technologies that have entered businesses recently include mobiles, AI/ML systems, and IoT - technologies that will continue to change and develop over time. A centralized endpoint management software solution has never been more vital.
What Is Unified Endpoint Management?
Unified Endpoint Management is an integrated method or approach used to secure, monitor and administer mobile devices owned by an enterprise and its employees, in addition to desktops, laptops, and other endpoints - from phones and laptops owned by both employee groups as well as any third-party endpoints owned by either party - from one central platform in an organized, cohesive fashion.
UEM replaces and evolves mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM); however, unlike MDM or EMM, it includes all endpoints within an enterprise, either stationary or mobile.
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UEM provides enterprises with an innovative means of remotely overseeing, monitoring and configuring corporate devices connected to networks using a TCP/IP protocol stack.
UEM gives enterprises access to this valuable capability through remote monitoring capabilities for endpoint devices that access networks - offering complete external network control over them all!
Reports state that Unified Endpoint Management tools (UEM) integrate the management of various endpoint types into one console, making management and monitoring simpler and ensuring security on Android and iOS endpoints, MacOS computers running Windows 10, as well as any Windows 10 computers connected by wireless WAN connections.
UEM tools should support remote management capabilities; their abilities must extend from security monitoring on endpoints running Android OS as well as Windows OS platforms to Android or iOS endpoint management and monitoring as well.
UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) is an emerging practice encompassing end-to-end management. This encompasses providing complete protection to every device used by end users within units/groups while monitoring in real time.
Software or apps typically serve as applications used for UEM, with many cloud-based UEM software options available to manage users effectively.
UEM stands for Unified Electronic Management and covers appliances like laptops, mobile phones, IoT solutions, wearables, tablets, desktops with table mounts, and printers.
Not just limited to users, data-driven gadgets like robotic machines may also be included depending on a company and its current IT infrastructure/setup.
The goal is to collect every end-user device so administrators may more efficiently control them. Universal Enterprise Management comprises multiple tools for monitoring mobile devices and applications deployed remotely or locally; one method is utilized as a part of the BYOD Program.
A Brief History Of The Evolution Of UEM
As previously discussed, UEM is an emerging concept that has gained significant traction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When this pandemic started, many organizations were forced to switch operations offsite and switch over to Work-from-Home (WFH). WFH involves connecting their devices and networks directly to the company network, although this approach may be less secure.
Unfortunately, organizations struggled to manage them effectively, and serious security threats emerged as a result.
Unified Endpoint Manager is designed to allow companies to control end-user devices even when operating remotely securely - the evolution of MDM has taken place over more than two decades.
Initial employers owned mobile devices (such as laptops and phones ) that they provided to employees as gifts, while laptops and computers belonged solely to employers; employees did not require to use devices they owned for work purposes.
Organizations adopted MDM (Mobile Device Management) as an approach for protecting work-specific mobile devices.
Internal IT teams used MDM for encryption, user login restrictions, and password settings management, as well as tracking locations, wireless network control, and any security concerns; end-users only could utilize these devices.
As time passed, employees began using personal devices at work for business-related tasks connected to a secure network in the office; the administration could then monitor these end-user devices more closely, thus decreasing security risks.
Since the rise of hybrid or WFH work styles, users increasingly resorted to personal devices connected through home networks for work purposes rather than remaining under organization control of work-specific equipment.
MAM soon took over for MDM as IT began controlling access and protecting enterprise apps that handled corporate data using this technique.
Unfortunately, its limitations meant it didn't offer complete protection, leading to EMM's debut as a device management strategy.
EMM allowed their IT team to seamlessly combine MDM data security and MAM's superior user experience for smartphone, laptop, and offsite PC management.
With EMM in their arsenal, they were easily able to oversee smartphone users, remote laptop users, and PCs located offsite without difficulty.
EMM was not without flaws; its implementation proved too complex for IT to manage both on-site devices as well as offsite ones effectively.
UEM provided the ideal solution to our previous concerns and difficulties regarding end-user device management. This technology combines EMM (End User Device Management) and CMT (Client Management Tools). UEM tools can also be integrated with various security endpoint solutions for optimal device administration.
How Does UEM Work? Its Basic Features
Management and maintenance of endpoints are often overwhelming for IT teams, forcing them to perform excessive administrative duties that lead them to overlook potential vulnerabilities in employee systems.
UEM (Universal Endpoint Management) is an all-in-one device management and security control platform, making life simpler for IT teams who must monitor cybersecurity concerns related to enterprise apps, network data, or any other issue that arise.
UEM works seamlessly across major OSs without worrying about device compatibility issues.
UEM Benefits
The implementation and use of endpoint management software that is unified tend to provide a multitude of benefits for its users/clients.
This list includes:
- The IT team will be able to track vulnerabilities on all devices using a single platform.
- A better understanding of end-user security. IT teams will have the ability to determine how much data has been used, what vulnerabilities reach end users, and what data is at risk.
- Risks and vulnerabilities are all managed on a single platform, allowing for quick resolution.
- The user will enjoy a better experience, as the device owner can manage all devices from one place.
- Reduced overheads in security management if fully automated and managed from a single device.
- It is not necessary to separate investments in data protection, endpoint tracking, auditing, and other functions.
- Remote access to mobile workers is seamless.
- Manage endpoints that have different device configurations, operating systems, and even differing devices from one console.
- Centralized device management and monitoring for a productivity boost
- Integrating security to protect IT infrastructure, including devices, data, applications, and software
- Controlling malware threats or unauthorized access via wireless and mobile devices
- Monitoring patch updates to ensure compliance with devices. Detecting suspicious or new devices that connect to the network.
It can handle a variety of functions. UEM Tools allow the user to provision devices automatically and to control their connection to the network:
- UEM Allows Admins To Apply Security Policies: UEM allows admins to deploy MFAs and complex passwords. They can also use military-grade encryption, change passwords and take care of various security concerns for end-user devices.
- Updates And Patches: The IT team can monitor OS, applications, devices, software, and devices for vulnerabilities.
- Isolation Of Data: Separation of data is important when using BYOD. UEM enables the IT team.
- Securing Connection: UEM can be used to secure the connection between the end users and the IT department.
- Early Threat Detections: UEM can detect threats early - UEM seamlessly integrates with UEBA and EDR. The integration allows for the early detection of abnormalities or vulnerabilities before they become serious issues.
- Handling Devices That Are Lost Or Have Reached Their Lifecycle: UEM makes it easy to handle devices lost by end users or devices at the end of their life cycle. It's not a good idea to leave these devices unprotected, as they also contain enterprise data. The IT team can make sure that such devices don't acquire unauthorized access thanks to UEM.
What Is The Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Solution?
Manage Mobile Devices
Corporate environments have seen the use of mobile devices increase steadily over time. Enterprise networked mobiles may feature different operating systems and hardware; Bring Your Device has helped bring these devices to more offices than ever, creating ownership diversity among staffers.
MDM (Mobile Device Manager), part of the UEM solution, manages mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, phones, and ruggedized devices.
MDM Software helps configure and deploy security controls on these endpoints that track them within and outside their company settings for management and tracking purposes.
Manage Other Endpoints And Assets
Your corporate ecosystem includes all endpoints. They're managed through endpoint management systems which identify them all and gather data such as their hardware configuration, OS version, running applications, installed security systems, storage devices, drivers ports, etc.
- information that will make managing it much simpler for an IT administrator. This data can then be stored centrally, making their administration much simpler:
- Keep track of and identify the legitimate endpoints (registered in your system).
- Use asset data when deploying various software or applications.
- It blocks external endpoints and grants secure access to corporate data and applications.
Read More: UEM offers enterprises better mobile security and more cohesive user experiences
Deploy Operating System
BYOD, remote working, and the increased skill sets of frontline employees have led many companies to embrace various software and operating systems.
A UEM should support different OS such as Android, Windows, iOS, and Linux for deployment on multiple devices simultaneously - Preboot Execution Environment helps push OS onto devices quickly with minimal user involvement while minimizing errors.
Deploying Applications
Centrally provisioning applications to endpoints is essential for increasing overall productivity. Enterprise IT departments can achieve the following by using UEM software:
- Automated application provisioning is a way to distribute applications in large numbers.
- The flexible provisioning allows devices to be tagged according to departments or software needs, allowing targeted apps to be deployed on endpoints.
Patch Management
UEM monitors and detects computers that require patches. UEM allows IT teams to:
- Use devices to apply patches at all the machines simultaneously.
- Changes to the standard configuration for devices.
- Patches from Microsoft, Adobe, and other major vendors such as Apple, Oracle, and Apple.
Endpoint Troubleshooting
UEM solutions can integrate easily with existing corporate technologies, such as databases, email servers, and directories, with minimal network and system setup requirements.
Their user-friendly software facilitates quick training times and easier maintenance processes.
Safety And flexibility
UEM Systems allow mobile employees to access their systems from anywhere, at any time, as they cover a wide range of devices:
- UEM is a good solution for endpoint security.
- It creates a standard endpoint environment that pushes security controls out to all devices.
- Monitoring the endpoints is a good way to detect non-compliance with security policies or violations.
- Bring endpoints into compliance in some situations.
- Make devices available outside corporate network boundaries.
UEM can be utilized in heterogeneous environments to address multiple vulnerabilities, improve IT productivity, and lower overall costs over time while simultaneously simplifying device management from a central platform.
An enterprise faces increasing device numbers across departments and employees; managing all endpoints from one central place becomes challenging with the rapid expansion of devices across departments and employees.
UEM Solutions: How To Create Them?
Any IT manager should possess an efficient UEM solution. Although the specific requirements may differ depending on your organization's goals for device management may differ from organization to organization, their main aim remains the same - protecting corporate data, users, and devices from harm.
How can your organization develop an individualized UEM strategy? Typically this can be broken into four phases - planning, designing, implementation, and post-implementation.
Step One: Plan And Plan Again
Only by asking the right questions can we find out what is going on. Answer the questions below:
What Are The Possible Uses For Your Organization?
Step one in device management for any company should be to determine its end-use case and requirements, along with desired results from device management.
How Many Devices Will Be Deployed?
IT managers selecting UEM solutions must assess how many devices will need to be deployed before choosing an enrollment method; knowing this number helps identify an efficient enrollment method; for larger-scale devices, an administrator could look for UEMs with bulk enrollment methods as an option.
What Operating System Is Used By The Device To Be Managed?
Most organizations do not restrict work devices to just one operating system; their ecosystem often includes Windows, macOS, and Android operating systems as well as FireOS or iOS devices running iOS as well as tvOS.
A user’s primary function is to provide one centralized console for managing and securing all these managed devices efficiently - while providing sufficient scalable support for each operating system deployed to endpoints during the planning stage.
The IT manager must remain aware of each of these operating systems being utilized during this process.
What Security Needs Does Your Company Have?
Security and compliance rules and requirements vary between businesses; policies must be tailored according to what level of risk a particular firm can accept.
Government organizations, for instance, place great value on protecting sensitive data with stringent policies to secure it effectively; conversely, a construction firm might care less about data protection but focus more on employee productivity.
Step 2: Structure The Policies And Configurations
Once we've determined our needs and devised an implementation strategy, the next step should be creating policies before enrolling devices.
Once registered devices arrive, they can assign these policies directly.
App Management
Without mobile device management and application administration together, mobile application management alone would fall short of providing comprehensive device administration.
A UEM manages both, providing features like installing or uninstalling apps remotely as well as configuring permissions/settings/updating programs remotely and blocklisting/allowing listing apps as needed for complete device control.
Identity And Access Management
Identity and Access Management is one of the key capabilities of UEM.
Restriction On Devices
UEM's web console gives IT managers remote access to configure device restrictions remotely for devices managed by UEM.
Policy settings enable administrators to remotely disable multiple device features at once - for instance, if an administrator disenables multiple features simultaneously on one device, such as camera access - end users won't have access to that camera feature anymore. They also feature advanced restriction settings for devices as well as Android Enterprise-enrolled devices for further security and monitoring purposes.
Security Management
A manager's primary concern is the security of managed endpoints. You can use a UEM to secure your endpoints.
Network Management
Network management consists of two main aspects: network security and network management.
Kiosk Management
Kiosk Mode is an extremely useful feature found on managed iOS, Android, and Windows devices that enable administrators to limit which applications and functionalities users are allowed access to while also protecting administrators against changing any settings or installing third-party applications that would alter what the administrator wants users to experience on the device.
Manage Your Files And Documents
Managed devices often need files sent over, making file management an administrative nightmare. UEMs offer Mobile Content Management capabilities so you can centrally organize, add or delete files before sending bulk updates directly.
Integrating The Internet
Enterprises use multiple software and services. It is, therefore, important that UEM provides integrations for a seamless experience.
Step 3: From Plan To Action
After the policy has been set up and the settings determined, it is time to take action to manage devices.
Determining The Roles
Everyone does not need access to all information. Access control is a vital security measure. As an example, a technician can perform three different roles:
- Admin: The Web Portal is fully accessible to administrators.
- Reports Manager: As the name implies, the Reports manager would only have access to reports and dashboards.
- Apps Manager And Reports Manager: An Apps Manager and Reports Manager can access all the features of a Reports Manager. They would also have access to the Apps Tab, which allows them to add, remove or update apps in the Web Console.
The Devices Are Then Enrolled
Policies and plans would be pointless without devices in enrollment, which requires supporting various operating systems for enrollment into UEMs.
Registering multiple devices also impacts this method of registration. After enrolling, apply the policies configured on managed endpoints to them.
Step 4: After Deployment
Reports And Auditing
Once a device is deployed, IT managers' work is not complete. IT managers must remain up-to-date on device status and user progress while troubleshooting any potential problems that might arise.
IT managers also must help end users become more self-reliant - something UEM technicians are adept at providing thanks to regularly scheduled reports on endpoint compliance or user compliance, or device inactivity as well.
Checks For Compliance
As previously discussed, setting compliance guidelines requires setting compliance thresholds. When devices don't conform, what happens? They will be marked for UEM to scan them to assess compliance levels continuously; their dashboard allows admins to see which ones do not match, giving them the power to take appropriate actions against non compliant devices that need fixing up before continuing scanning processes.
Unified Endpoint Management: The Future
No one knows for certain where endpoint management will head next.
However, its rapid evolution over the last decade makes its future hard to forecast. Digital strategies and management techniques continue to develop at an astonishing rate; to stay current on security trends, it is wise to choose a UEM with regular updates that keep up-to-date features and functions.
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Conclusion
As part of their efforts to protect corporate information and networks from malicious actors, organizations should ensure every end-user device is secured.
UEM provides businesses with an effective solution for controlling user access to data, apps, and networks to lower DNS sniffing risks as well as other forms of security risks.
