Image credits: Ron Lach via Pexels
The case for centralized endpoint management
An enterprise that doesn’t have a centralized Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution goes through some typical device-related problems. New employees are enrolled onto Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) devices manually, wasting hours. COPE devices that are lost, with confidential company data, plunge the IT team into crisis mode with legal teams and customers notified of a potential data breach. A new app update across the entire corporate fleet runs into unforeseen glitches and screens freeze for a time.
Unmanaged endpoints result in unexpected costs, ranging from financial to your corporate reputation. Device-related problems can be handled without increasing the size of your device admin team with a UEM strategy that eliminates device chaos at its source.
Let’s walk through exactly how.
Automation to reduce device enrollment costs
Every new device, COPE and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), requires hands-on configuration. Repetitive tasks such as setting up Wi-Fi, email, VPN, and installing core apps are time consuming. UEM platforms fix this through capabilities like:
- PPKG (Provisioning Packages) and Azure AD integrated enrollment enable Windows device bulk-enrollment in minutes. Give a laptop to a new hire, and within seconds, it pulls corporate policies and apps automatically.
- Just-in-Time (JIT) provisioning uses Azure AD credentials to self-enroll Android devices, with no manual intervention required.
- Apple Business Manager (ABM) integration means iOS and macOS devices enroll over the air, straight out of the box.
- For mixed fleets, BYOD, COPE, and Kiosk/Dedicated support means every use case—personal, corporate, or single-purpose—gets the right enrollment flow without manual reconfiguration.
Data visibility to eliminate device security blind spots
Devices need encryption, passcodes, and remote wipe capabilities at the very minimum in today’s device fleets. UEM solutions enable:
- Automatic passcode enforcement and data encryption in every enrolled device, so that the data remains unreadable even on lost devices.
- Remote wipe and remote lock to give device admins instant kill-switch capabilities.
- Geofencing that defines safe zones; if a device leaves a designated area, you receive alerts and can trigger an automated device lockdown.
- Data containerization to separate corporate files from personal data, so a salesperson’s personal photos stay private, while company proposals remain encrypted and manageable.
- Conditional Email Access (CEA) to ensure that if a device falls out of compliance (e.g., OS update pending, passcode disabled), it simply can’t access corporate mail—proactively blocking threats before they escalate.
Scheduled app installations and delivery to prevent botched deployments
Fleet-wide device app updates and installations need a phased approach. With UEM, device admins can:
- Schedule app installations and uninstallations during maintenance windows i.e., after hours, on weekends, or during low-traffic periods.
- Distribute apps over-the-air (OTA) to reach devices wirelessly, without cables or user intervention.
- Use a self-service portal for approved apps via a private corporate app store, reducing help desk requests and ensuring the installation of vetted software.
- Enforce app allow-listing and deny-listing, giving you granular control over what can and cannot run, so shadow IT doesn’t introduce unknown variables.
- Enable app lifecycle management to track every app from deployment to retirement, ensuring performance and compliance throughout.
Real-time device access to support remote support and maintenance
With remote and hybrid workers becoming the new normal, device admin teams need a mechanism to solve device issues in the most trouble-free manner possible. UEM solutions have capabilities like:
- Remote screen sharing so support agents see exactly what the user sees. No more “describe what’s on your screen.”
- Remote keyboard input to allow admins to type commands or configure settings directly, as if they were sitting at the desk.
- Remote file sharing transfers scripts, patches, or missing files instantly, without email attachments or USB drives.
- Remote configuration and command enforcement pushes settings across entire device groups with a single action—so a policy update that used to take days now takes seconds.
Device analytics and log records for easier audits
Comply with regulations easier and faster with detailed device data, without relying on spreadsheets. Use a UEM solution to gain:
- Detailed operations log records of every action i.e., enrollments, app installs, policy changes, remote commands, creating an immutable audit trail.
- Endpoint data analytics via Grafana-based dashboards provide real-time visualizations of device health, compliance scores, and security posture.
- Live device info feeds to pull runtime data from any endpoint on demand, so you can prove compliance in real-time.
Device inventory tracking to gain control of corporate assets
Lost hardware, expired warranties, and outdated software lead to overspending and unnecessary downtime. You can’t manage what you can’t see, so UEM gives you capabilities like:
- Device inventory management to track details such as hardware specs, installed software, storage, and battery health.
- Bulk operations to send commands (reboots, policy refreshes, app updates) across hundreds of devices simultaneously.
- Device location tracking for real-time physical visibility, critical for asset recovery and theft prevention.
Going beyond the basics
All of the capabilities listed above are available in Entgra UEM. But the platform also includes:
- ADMX/group policy enforcement for Windows – granular control over settings, just like on-prem GPO, but delivered OTA.
- Mobile Identity Management (MIM) – centralized user access control across apps and devices.
- Cloud and on-premises deployment – flexibility to match your compliance and operational needs.
- Multiple language support – global teams work in their preferred language.
- Network connectivity management – centralized Wi-Fi and VPN configs that follow the device anywhere.
- Content management – streamlined file uploads and downloads, simplifying collaboration.
The hidden costs of device chaos are real; they show up in wasted budgets, security panics, lost sales, and burnt-out teams. A UEM solution replaces chaos with control through one unified platform that handles enrollment, security, apps, support, compliance, and assets from a single console. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help you.
