UEM solutions help organizations improve the control and security of rapidly proliferating endpoint devices.
Managing endpoints has always been demanding, but the challenge has been amplified by the widespread adoption of remote work and the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. According to research from the Ponemon Institute, the average enterprise organization today runs approximately 135,000 different devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones and a broad range of networked IoT sensors.
All of these endpoints present unique security considerations, compliance requirements and operational complexities. As such, organizations need a cohesive and secure management strategy that strikes a balance between facilitating user productivity, safeguarding sensitive data and staying ahead of emerging threats. Unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions fit the bill.
With UEM, organizations can manage all corporate endpoint devices through a single interface. Through this interface, IT administrators can perform tasks such as device provisioning, configuration, security policy enforcement and software deployment. These capabilities contribute to UEM’s robust growth — analysts say a 32 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will push the global market value to nearly $50 billion by 2030.
Tool Consolidation
The consolidation of management tools is among the key benefits of UEM. Traditionally, organizations have needed many tools to manage different types of endpoints. One 2021 study found that more than 80 percent of endpoint devices had multiple endpoint management tools installed, often leading to configuration and policy conflicts that increase complexity and inefficiency.
UEM reduces complexity by combining the functionality of tools such as mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), mobile content management (MCM) and endpoint detection and response (EDR). Key UEM features include:
- Device provisioning: UEM automates device configuration with standardized settings, security policies and applications. This simplifies onboarding for administrators and end-users, reducing the time and effort required to set up new devices while maintaining consistency and security.
- Software and OS deployment: Administrators can automate the installation and configuration of applications and operating systems, even across remote deployments. This reduces the risk of errors and contributes to a more reliable and standardized IT environment.
- Configuration management: Configuration management ensures that all devices meet organizational standards, which enhances security and compliance. It also enables quick updates and modifications, enabling organizations to adapt to changing requirements without manual intervention on each endpoint.
- Application management: Administrators can efficiently deploy, update and remove applications from devices through UEM’s unified interface. This centralized control ensures that software is up-to-date, secure and compliant with organizational standards.
- Patch and update management: Administrators can centrally manage and automate the distribution of patches and updates to ensure that all devices are protected against vulnerabilities.
- Policy enforcement: Centralized enforcement of policies related to security configurations, device settings and user access controls ensures consistency. It also reduces the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
- Monitoring and reporting: Real-time monitoring helps identify potential issues, security threats or policy violations. Comprehensive reporting features offer visibility into the overall health of the endpoint ecosystem.
- Remote troubleshooting: This is a critical feature in today's distributed work environments. Administrators can remotely diagnose and resolve issues on endpoints without the need for physical presence. This contributes to a more agile and responsive IT support structure.
- Threat detection and mitigation: Advanced threat detection capabilities enable real-time monitoring, rapid detection of suspicious behavior and automated responses to mitigate potential threats.
- Identity and access management: Administrators can use UEM solutions to manage user identities, authentication and access permissions across all endpoints, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources and data.
Supporting IoT
These features are particularly important for managing rapidly expanding IoT ecosystems. Analysts say more than 30 percent of the network-connected endpoints at the average enterprise are IoT devices. However, the plethora of sensors, controllers, communication gateways and edge computing devices are usually based on various operating systems, creating significant management challenges.
UEM solutions can support a wide range of operating systems, including but not limited to Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. This cross-platform support fosters flexibility and adaptability, allowing organizations to adopt new technologies or change device preferences without facing compatibility challenges.
UEM also enhances IoT security by detecting anomalies and ensuring policy compliance. If anomalies or suspicious activities are identified, the endpoint can be automatically quarantined, locked or wiped. UEM can also push firmware updates and security patches and update encryption methods as needed.
