Make the Most of Your Unified Endpoint Management Investment
Unified endpoint management (UEM) is the latest wave of passive management solutions for busy or overstretched enterprise IT departments. Think mobile device management (MDM) on steroids. Rather than merely covering configuration, security, and management of all the mobile devices found within an organization’s array of IT assets, UEM promises it all.
This software streamlines the management of all endpoint devices (including laptops, tablets, mobile devices, wearables, and more) within an organization, regardless of where they are located. UEM solutions offer robust support for all endpoint device types critical for today’s remote working environments. Security, encryption, configuration, application installation and monitoring, device and software updates, access management, repairs, location tracking, and everything in between can be managed from one handy platform.
A Reason for Tech Teams to Rejoice
For enterprise IT departments struggling to keep the warehouse connected while simultaneously ensuring delivery drivers have working GPS on their mobile devices, hackers aren’t infiltrating sensitive enterprise data, remote workers have operational laptops, and customers get the user experience they expect, UEM software may sound like the answer to their cyber prayers.
And it very well could be … with the right expertise, insight, configuration, coordination, and ongoing management. Improper setup and management offers only a false sense of security, and most organizations need a partner with additional resources to embrace what’s required to maximize the UEM investment. However, the right support can deliver a dream-come-true for the IT employee experience.
UEM 101: Where to Start
Unfortunately, even the most simplified and streamlined unified endpoint management tools are not exactly plug-and-play. Setting your organization up for success requires a great deal of careful planning and prep work before you can even consider enrolling your first device.
Technology Advances Faster Than We Can Process
The latest advancements in gadgets and devices become obsolete before they are on the shelves for more than one season, so it’s vital to keep up with changes happening within your enterprise. For UEM to be effective, change management and proper site hierarchy must be a top priority, including QA testing before deployment. IT departments need to stay on top of the latest operating system (OS) versions, applications, and new network profiles.
Effective Unified Endpoint Management Still Requires Vigilance
Reactive responses to changes or disturbances within your IT environment almost entirely defeat the purpose of UEM. To make the most of your solution, maintain endpoint security, and keep things running smoothly, proactive device population monitoring must be a dedicated responsibility within your internal or services provider team. This includes:
- Testing and deployment of the latest OS security updates in the environment
- Ensuring you are running the latest versions of your enterprise applications
IT Turnover Rates Pose Risks and Challenges
IT organizations are known to have high turnover rates, yet learning the entire tech environment of an organization can take months. When a staff member leaves, they are either replaced by a new hire or another staff member must step up and learn everything anew, often based on notes, emails, spreadsheets, and the occasional internal manual.
Who Pays Attention to Best Practices, Anyway?
If you can feel your eyes rolling into the back of your head every time you hear the phrase “best practices,” it may be time to reach out to an UEM/MDM service provider. You can’t afford to let poor policy setup or sloppy processes slide in this area. Getting the most out of your unified endpoint management tools requires meticulous attention to detail, and leveraging a team of UEM subject matter experts may be a good option for your organization.
Maximize UEM Investments With a Team of Experts on Your Side
With increasingly complicated enterprise tech environments, you may need a team of experts and consultants to get the most out of your UEM platform and tools. At DecisionPoint Systems Inc., we’re here to do the heavy lifting from consulting and planning to proactive, real-time management.
Contact us today to discover how our unified endpoint management experts can help improve employee and customer experiences, boost uptime and productivity, and ensure your data, devices, and apps are up to date and secure.