Essential UEM Best Practices for IT Management and Security

In today’s IT world UEM has become quintessential. With a ton of solutions for each niche case, here's an overview of the best practices for UEM curated by the industry experts from Endpoint Central after being the UEM game for over 20 years:

1. Centralized Management & Automation – A Must, Not a Bonus

Why it matters:

The more tools you have, the more chaotic it gets.The average IT team uses multiple tools for different device types ;Windows here, macOS there, mobile devices somewhere else. This patchwork approach leads to inconsistent policy enforcement, increased overhead, and security gaps. A centralized UEM solution brings everything under one pane of glass.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Use a single console to manage all devices, policies, and security settings.
• Automate software deployment, patch management, and compliance checks to minimise manual efforts.

Protip : Choosing a UEM that scales with your infrastructure now will save you massive headaches down the line.

2. Keep User Profiles Clean & Fast

Why it matters:

Ever heard complaints about slow logins? That’s usually because bloated user profiles are loading unnecessary settings, temp files, and app data. Slow login times cost businesses $2000 - $3000 per employee per year in lost productivity—crazy, right?

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Use User Profile Management to ensure lightweight and standardized user profiles.
• Exclude unnecessary files (like browser caches and temp data) from profiles to speed up logins.
• Apply context-based policies‐so users get the right settings based on whether they’re in the office, at home, or travell ing.

3. Security First, Always

Why it matters:

Cyberattacks have increased by 300% since 2020—and 60% of data breaches come from compromised endpoints. A weak UEM strategy means your organization is a sitting duck for attackers.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Enforce BitLocker encryption to protect sensitive files on laptops and desktops.
• Implement Zero Trust policies;assume every connection is a potential threat until verified.
• Use Compliance Policies to automatically quarantine non-compliant devices from your network.

4. Application & Patch Management

Why it matters:

Unpatched software is the #1 way hackers break in—responsible for 60% of cyberattacks. Manually updating apps and OS patches across hundreds (or thousands) of endpoints? Not scalable.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Automate patching for OS and third-party applications to remove security vulnerabilities.
• Deploy application whitelisting & blacklisting to control which apps can be installed.
• Use software deployment policies to remotely install or update applications across all devices.

Pro Tip: Companies that automate patch management experience 80% fewer successful cyberattacks.

5. Optimize Performance & Reduce IT Headaches

Why it matters:

30% of IT tickets are related to slow performance—most of which could have been prevented with proactive management. Instead of fixing problems after they happen, wouldn’t it be better to stop them from happening in the first place?

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Use Performance Monitoring to identify CPU, memory, or disk usage spikes before they cause slowdowns.
• Optimize startup applications to reduce login times and improve device performance.
• Use Remote Troubleshooting to assist users instantly without IT needing to be physically present.
• Enforce Device Compliance & Mobile Management

6. Enforce Device Compliance & Mobile Management

Why it matters:

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is great for flexibility, but 60% of organizations struggle with securing personal devices. If a single unmanaged device gets compromised, the entire network is at risk.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Enable Mobile Device Management (MDM) to apply security policies to company-owned and personal devices.
• Use Compliance Rules to auto-quarantine non-compliant devices before they can access company data.
• Force encryption & remote wipe capabilities to protect sensitive data if a device is lost or stolen.

7. Backup & Disaster Recovery

Why it matters:

Stuff will go wrong. Accidental deletions, system crashes, ransomware attacks;without a solid backup and recovery plan, businesses risk losing critical data and productivity.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Use Automated Profile Backup & Restore to quickly recover lost user settings.
• Set up redundant infrastructure for high availability and failover protection.
• Regularly test disaster recovery (DR) scenarios to ensure you can actually recover when needed.

8. Make IT Life Easier with Self-Service & Automation

If IT teams are constantly putting out fires, they don’t have time to focus on big-picture improvements. Let users handle minor issues themselves while automating repetitive IT tasks.

The Endpoint Central advantage:

• Enable Self-Service Portal for users to reset passwords, install approved apps, and troubleshoot common issues.
• Use Automated IT Tasks to eliminate repetitive work like software updates and compliance checks.
• Generate real-time reports on device health, security, and performance to make data-driven decisions.

UEM isn't a checkbox—it’s an enabler. A well-implemented UEM strategy can improve security, optimize performance, and reduce IT workload, all while enhancing the end-user experience. With Endpoint Central, you get a mature, battle-tested platform that’s helped thousands of organizations simplify endpoint management.

Ready to level up your UEM strategy?

Try Endpoint Central today and bring visibility, control, and automation to your endpoint ecosystem.