What is Endpoint Management? Understanding Endpoint Management System

What is Endpoint Management?

Endpoint management is an IT process that involves monitoring, securing, configuring, and maintaining all the endpoints (i.e., desktops, laptops, servers) connected to an organization's network.

The goal of incorporating endpoint management in an organization is to streamline the access rights of the endpoints in the network and to secure them from cyber threats. In most organizations, the endpoint management system is overseen by a cross-functional team of it professionals comprising network administrators and cybersecurity experts.

What is the need for Endpoint Management?

Enterprises today are heavily reliant on endpoint management systems to manage and secure endpoints efficiently. Here's an overview of why endpoint management is necessary:

• Visibility and control over the network endpoints, i.e., knowing which devices, OS versions, applications, and configurations exist across the network.
• Policy enforcement across the managed endpoints and applications to ensure consistent security controls such as antivirus definitions, firewall, encryption, and access restrictions.
• Threat reduction by mitigating unpatched or misconfigured endpoints to thwart malware, ransomware, and data breaches.
• Improving user experience and productivity by troubleshooting problems, provisioning software, and managing devices without interrupting users.
• Adhering to regulatory compliances such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI, and more by ensuring recommended policy enforcements and preserving audit logs.

What are the Features of an Endpoint Management System?

Endpoint management as a strategy combines multiple siloed functionalities into one to deliver monitoring and security for the endpoints. Every mature endpoint management system is made up of several components, each serving a unique function. Below is a list of the components of an endpoint management system.

The shift towards Unified Endpoint Management

Endpoint management has evolved over the years into a more modern scope that combines multiple endpoints in the network under a single console - known as Unified Endpoint Management (UEM).

While endpoint management usually pertains to managing desktops, laptops, and servers, Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) broadens that scope to include mobile devices, IoT, and wearables - all under a centralized management console.

Unified Endpoint Management also consolidates separate silos of endpoint management, such as mobile device management (MDM), enterprise mobility management (EMM), and traditional endpoint management, into a holistic platform.

What are the Challenges in Endpoint Management?

While endpoint management is crucial for monitoring and securing assets, incorporating this practice via an endpoint management system comes with its own set of challenges.

• Device diversity & OS fragmentation, i.e., multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, in the same environment, can be challenging to support.
• Remote or offline devices that are disconnected from the corporate network may miss patches and updates that are critical for security and smooth operations.
• Usage of unauthorized apps and shadow IT, i.e., employees bringing in personal devices within the network and utilizing them for corporate work, can pose data safety threats and risk of malware attacks.
• User pushback due to intrusive policies, forced restarts, or multiple patches and updates can cause dismay among the users.

When it comes to mitigation, the technical problems related to implementing endpoint management in an organization can be solved through unified endpoint management tools that offer broad platform support and various functionalities, including asset management, patching, ransomware protection, and more.

On the other hand, end-user pushback can be addressed with periodic employee training and explaining to them the risks posed by threats and the benefits of implementing an endpoint management system.

Best Practices for Enhancing Endpoint Management

To make the most out of your endpoint management journey, here are a few best practices:

• Create a comprehensive inventory to discover all of the assets accessing the organization's network.
• Adopt a risk-based patch management strategy to cut down the noise and prioritize mitigation for only those vulnerabilities that are at risk of exploitation or are being actively exploited.
• Segment policies by user roles and device types to create customized policies - avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach for better user experience.
• Leverage automated workflows to reduce human errors and manual redundancy.
• Monitor the deployments and the endpoint management workflow continuously with alerts, analytics, and dashboards to prevent compliance drift.
• Adopt zero-trust principles to limit the attack surface, prevent insider attacks, and validate endpoint posture continuously.

FAQs on Endpoint Management

1. What is an endpoint management system?

An endpoint management system is a centralized solution that enables IT teams to monitor, configure, secure, and update devices, including laptops, desktops, servers, and mobile devices. It ensures all endpoints comply with organizational policies and remain protected from threats.

2. What is an example of endpoint management?

A typical example is deploying security patches to all company laptops from a single console. The system scans for missing updates, automatically pushes them, and verifies installation - saving administrators from having to do it manually.

3. How does endpoint management work?

Endpoint management works by enrolling devices into a central console, applying security and compliance policies, automating updates, and monitoring activity. IT admins can push software, enforce configurations, and generate reports to ensure endpoints are secure and up to date.

5. What is the purpose of endpoint management?

The purpose is to simplify device administration, reduce security risks, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. It helps organizations keep endpoints secure, up-to-date, and consistent, without relying on manual processes.

6. What is modern endpoint management?

Modern endpoint management goes beyond traditional tools like SCCM. It combines cloud-based platforms, automation, and zero-trust security to manage both on-premises and remote devices. This approach supports hybrid work and a range of diverse device types.

7. Is Endpoint Manager the same as SCCM?

No, SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager. Endpoint Manager is the broader platform that integrates SCCM with Intune for unified, cloud-enabled management.

8. What is automated endpoint management?

Automated endpoint management utilizes policies and scheduling to automate tasks such as patching, software deployment, and compliance checks, eliminating the need for manual effort. It reduces human error, speeds up updates, and ensures devices remain secure at all times.

About the author

Anupam Kundu is a Product Specialist at ManageEngine in the Unified Endpoint Management and Security suite. With a background in digital marketing, his expertise includes creating technical and long-form content for SEO and user education in the IT and cybersecurity domain.