How To Choose the Right UEM Solution for Your Business
Previously, businesses only needed to worry about desktop computers and laptops as endpoints. They used client management tools (CMT) which supported all functions and automated administration. Today, the widespread usage of mobile devices as endpoints has made traditional client management tools inefficient. That’s why unified endpoint management (UEM) was developed to offer a uniform management interface for many operating systems environments.
Unified endpoint management is a solution installed to detect malicious activities on endpoint devices. It also provides remediation capabilities and investigation needed to deal with dynamic security alerts and incidents. UEM technology can monitor user activities, maintain endpoints regularly, and manage mobile IT environments. As UEM technology becomes increasingly popular across businesses, it is important to ensure you choose one that matches your organization’s needs. In this article, Acom Networks offers various tips organizations can use when choosing the best UEM technology to deploy in their businesses.
Product capabilities
A good UEM technology for a small or midsize organization should offer flexible hosting options. It must assist the organization to eliminate point solutions for each device, use case or operating system. The best UEM comes as part of an all-in-one operation management system or service and integrates well with tools such as access and identity management and endpoint security.
Security and privacy
Privacy and security were the key driving factors behind businesses shifting to unified endpoint management. This is because UEMs are assured to protect the organization’s data from endpoint leaking. UEMs should provide device encryption using either BitLocker or FileVault and enforce data loss prevention policies to prevent data leaking from the work profile container. The UEM you choose should also be able to prevent data violation from a lost device by enabling ‘lost mode’ or wiping data remotely.
It should protect your devices from security threats and external attacks by remotely configuring firewalls, global proxies and VPNs. Make sure the UEM can restrict app installations from the distribution services such as App Store and Play Store, as some apps may be a threat to you.
Single pane management
This is a UEM’s ability to manage and control running devices that are on different platforms. It is a huge IT relief and advancement that allows all devices enrolled, their compliance, and policies attached to be controlled and displayed from a central dashboard in an enterprise. You should deploy a UEM that has single-pane management benefits to simplify all management tasks in your business.
Desktop management tools integration
Some organizations still use legacy apps and devices. They manage those desktops using existing client management tools. Hence, it is essential for your UEM to integrate with them to give complete desktop management. They also require integration to ease the migration process from the traditional management techniques to UEMs in desktops.
Easy to use
Choose a UEM solution that is easy to customize, use, and learn. Remember, this will be a new product that your team needs to adapt to its needs and challenges. Look for a UEM allowing just minimal lines of code for quick customization and can use the same programming language on multiple platforms. The UEM should support diverse skill levels, from beginners to experts, to accommodate all your administrators. The best UEMs offers easy usage to solve challenges without easily causing some more.
Policies and restrictions
Most organizations choose a management technology to control devices’ functionality and impose restrictions, thus managing them. This increases productivity by only allowing some devices to perform some functions that other devices can’t. An organization should always choose the UEM with a wide range of policies and restrictions and customize it to their preference.
Integration with other products
This is the partnership your vendor has with other products and platforms that are used to support end-users or IT. You should consider how efficiently your UEM integrates with your security information, login platform, or your ticketing system. Directory integrations allow administrators and users to use their existing directory credentials to enroll and merge devices into the UEM solution.
Implementation
Any UEM package is usually implemented using Software as a Service (SaaS) or On-Premise. SaaS is the most preferred option as it brings affordability, simplification, and access together, allowing businesses to use complicated IT infrastructures and software in an easy and cheap way. Regulated industries such as finance, defense, and healthcare usually use On-Premise. For the best results, ensure your UEM package supports both On-Premise and SaaS with easy migration and deployment.
Pricing
Many organizations look at every chance to save on costs and the UEM you deploy should not come to break this. Look for a UEM that is worth its costs and let it use a per-user cost model and not per device. This is because many end users will use multiple devices for work and they require all of them to be managed and secured. With the per-device pricing model, you’ll end up paying a lot more.
Support for remote environments
Some occasions demand people to work from home or from any location different from the workplace. The UEM you choose should be able to support a hybrid and remote workforce. This limits security threats and employee downtime, as IT administrators can troubleshoot and work on a system glitch from any location.
Robust reporting platform
Choose a UEM that can capture and store device data down to fine details. The data may include inventory, user behavior data, usage data and information on hardware. A comprehensive platform will report malfunctions and allow admins only to gain full access to device management and settings to optimize for end users.
UEM that respects your users
Although UEM is entirely made to improve control access of endpoint devices and improve visibility, organizations should also ensure that the platform they deploy does not exploit its users. You must offer the end-users control over their personal data, apps and devices. When employees work with their preferred devices, satisfaction is increased, hence productivity. The platform you choose should support a wide range of, if not all, devices to ensure it doesn’t compromise any employees’ privacy.
Are you wondering what is the best UEM solution to meet your business requirements? Acom Networks is always available for you. We will help you solve all IT issues and offer computer support of any sort. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with us today.
