The Shift to Unified Endpoint Management

What is Unified Endpoint Management?

In today’s world, IT Managers are looking for a way to securely bringing endpoints into a digital workspace from anywhere regardless of device type. Unified endpoint management (UEM) is an integrated approach and software tool that provides a single interface to manage multiple device types — from PCs and Macs to smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices.

Before the Smartphone

If you are part of one of the generations that remembers life before our smartphones, then
you remember using a desktop computer to check email, using your landline phone to make phone calls, using an actual camera (like Nikon), then taking the film to get developed into pictures (and then waiting several days to go back and pick up your photos). If you wanted to share your photos with someone else, you requested duplicate copies so you could distribute them to friends and family.

And what about music? The best way to listen to music on the go used to be in your car, on the
radio or on a cassette player. For those that had a computer, once Instant Messenger came along, it opened up a whole new on-demand and real-time communication level and spotlight on messaging, the only problem was you had to be sitting at your computer to receive the messages. And of course, all movies were watched on your television set or in the theater or rented videos from the local video store. Does all of this seem ancient?

That was just over a decade ago when our lives changed with the introduction of the iPhone
and smartphones, which launched us into an all-new digital age. Over time, our smartphones have transitioned from a “want” to a “need,” and have become the center hub of our daily lives, allowing us to manage on a single pane of glass everything described above and much more. We are just getting started. Hence, Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) for enterprises in a sense has become this “single pane of glass” to manage everything, much like the smartphone did for us consumers.

UEM simplifies device management by providing a single pane of glass experience. Administrators can both control the device security and application settings through UEM.

Components of UEM

Below are essential components that define the attributes of UEM solutions:

1. Client Management Tools (CMT)
   

   Until a decade ago, IT managers were using Client Management Tools to combat different challenges in the computing environment which were limited to desktops and laptops. CMT allowed organizations to keep the desktop and mobile environment running smoothly and efficiently while improving service to end-user customers.

2. Mobile Device Management (MDM)
   

   MDM solution enabled admins to configure Wi-Fi access, install and manage enterprise apps as well as remote lock and wipe corporate data to ensure security in cases when the device was lost or stolen.

3. Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)
   

   The Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) tool evolved from MDM and was equipped with features such as containerization, identity and access management, application management and content management.

4. IoT
   

   IoT sensors, gateways and wearables are defying the traditional approach of securing and managing mobile devices. These devices have remote connectivity challenges, limited interfaces and unclear security implications which qualifies them for central management.

Benefits of Unified Endpoint Management

UEM platform integrates with a wide range of management tools, existing enterprise software systems and third-party technical platforms to better control and drive value from IT assets. At its core, UEM is about viewing all IT assets through “a single pane of glass” as part of a broader business strategy, rather than a separate technology category.

Here are some of the key benefits that enterprises can derive from UEM:

1. UEM removes the hassle of managing multiple tools, improves user experience and reduces IT management cost
   

   UEM solves the daunting task of managing several different endpoints with multiple tools. In today’s business ecosystem, employees use at least two or more devices to perform various business tasks based on various OS and different versions. The centralized nature of UEM provides a high degree of visibility to manage every device, platform, configuration and application. This results in a consistent user experience across all devices and enables them to work according to their convenience, thereby increasing productivity.

2. UEM enhances IT Security
   

   A UEM platform acts as a strict defense against any threat by enforcing policies on the users based on various levels. UEM can help IT to provide seamless access to corporate data and ensure that all the endpoints comply with standard security policies.

3. UEM enables better informed business decisions
   

   The cognitive approach of UEM can offer diagnostic and predictive tools to analysts through
   which analysts can process and interpret the data. This data is generated through all endpoints
   and their users, apps and content. Security teams and analysts can use this data to quickly
   identify threat events and prepare for impact.

OVATION’s Unified Endpoint Management Services brings proven thought leadership and hands-on managed services to deploy and administer:

• Platform Management/Managed Services – All policies and configuration controls, version testing of new operating systems, version testing of new endpoint system version and new feature analysis and benefits. Deployment of new feature sets
• Zero Touch Provisioning – Utilizing tools like Apple Business Manager, Windows Autopilot, and Android for Enterprise. Ovation designs unique out of box single sign on user experiences for zero touch total provisioning of the devices.
• Security and Compliance – Security and compliance workflows are configred with the
  end user in mind, utilizing dynamic security based on user role and program type
  (Corporate Owned, BYO, etc)
• Data Management/ DLP – User need access to more corporate data than ever, ensuring
  all corporate data is secure in-motion and at rest on the device.  Data is protected so that data cannot moved to the devices to personal shares or accessed via lost devices.  All corporate data delivered to the device such as email and documents will be removed if the device is lost, stolen or a user is termed.
• Enterprise Application Store – design and deployment of the enterprise App Store, Deploying all corporate certified app store apps , in house apps and B2B applications in one convenient App Store.  Simplified design also ensures users get the applications they need based on role
• Identity and Access Management – dynamic user configurations for deployment methods and design.  All design and deployment has the end user in mind to simplify workflows and increase productivity. Identity Management tools are also utilized for single sign on for applications and data access
• Data Management/ DLP – User need access to more corporate data than ever, ensuring all corporate data is secure in-motion and at rest on the device.  Data is protected so that data cannot moved to the devices to personal shares or accessed via lost devices.  All corporate data delivered to the device such as email and documents will be removed if the device is lost, stolen or a user is termed.
• Tier 2 and 3 Helpdesk – Solving advance problems beyond what a tier 1 helpdesk can handle, Advanced troubleshooting of devices, UEM platforms and enterprise systems that they integrate with.

In today’s complex digital world, many companies are asking for help on how to streamline all of
their technology/devices and the processes that come with them. Please contact us to hear more about OVATION’s Endpoint Management Services and how we can bring your organization to the next level in managing connected devices.