IT security is a lot these days. It involves constantly monitoring, identifying and responding to an ever-changing (and increasingly sophisticated) landscape of threats. And IT managers have the added pressure of striking a balance between robust cybersecurity measures and operational efficiency. That’s where endpoint management comes in – a transparent barrier between your business and the bad guys.

Before we get into all the reasons why endpoint management is essential to your business (spoiler alert: we’ve got five reasons!), let’s ‘name it’. Simply put…

Endpoint management is a comprehensive approach to managing and securing all user devices that access your network, from laptops and smartphones to servers and IoT devices. By ensuring that each endpoint adheres to your security policies, endpoint management plays a pivotal role in your organization's overall cybersecurity strategy.

Here are five reasons you need an endpoint management strategy, yesterday, and a few things to look for when assessing solutions.

1. Proactive threat detection and response

68% of organizations have experienced one or more endpoint attacks that successfully compromised data and/or their IT infrastructure.

Source: Ponemon Institute

Reactivity is ‘out’. What’s ‘in’? Effective endpoint management systems that are designed to anticipate and neutralize threats before they escalate into full-blown crises. By continuously monitoring endpoints for suspicious activities, these systems empower IT teams to identify and mitigate potential security breaches fast, safeguarding critical data and ultimately, ensuring business continuity.

What to look for ...

The right endpoint management solution…

Runs 100% on the cloud and is backed by hardened infrastructure that delivers 99.99% uptime so it scales with your business.

2. Automated patch management

Automated patch management has been shown to reduce the vulnerability exposure window by up to 80%.

Source: Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Unified Endpoint Management

Staying ahead of cybercriminals means keeping your software up to date. Manual patch management isn’t just time-consuming but prone to mistakes. Automated patch management, ensures that all devices are updated promptly. This lets your IT team focus more on big picture strategy and key projects, and less on day-to-day maintenance.

What to look for ...

The right endpoint management solution…

Supports large and complex networks with essential capabilities such as policy-based patch approvals, local caching and compliance reporting at the device level.

3. Real-time monitoring and alerting

Businesses that implement real-time monitoring can identify and address 97% of potential security incidents before they cause harm.

Source: Cisco's Cybersecurity Threat Trends Report

Visibility is paramount in cybersecurity. Real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities ensure your internal (or external) team has a 360-degree view of your network's health at all times. This hyper vigilance helps identify irregularities — from unauthorized access attempts to unexpected data flows and even device performance — allowing for swift action to prevent data breaches or system failure.

What to look for ...

The right endpoint management solution…

Stops malicious attempts in their tracks without triggering false positives that can lead to alert fatigue, a common disadvantage with more traditional endpoint management systems.

4. Automation and scripting

57% of IT leaders say that automation technology saves 10-50% on the business costs associated with manual processing.

Source: cflow

Efficiency and security go hand in hand. Automation and scripting remove the burden of repetitive tasks from your IT team so they can deploy, manage, and secure devices more effectively. From automating software deployments to executing complex configuration scripts across multiple devices, these tools are indispensable for scaling your IT operations securely.

What to look for ...

The right endpoint management solution…

Gives your IT team control over when, where and how automated tasks are executed.

5. Rapid remote support

A single minute of downtime costs companies an average of $5,600.

Source: gartner

With the rise of remote and hybrid work models, the ability to provide immediate support to offsite employees is crucial. Endpoint management solutions facilitate rapid remote support, enabling IT teams to diagnose and resolve issues without the need for physical access to the device. This not only boosts productivity but also enhances employee satisfaction by minimizing downtime.

What to look for ...

The right endpoint management solution…

Allows techs to fix issues and offer assistance from virtually anywhere, without interrupting employee productivity.

Having the right endpoint management strategy can help you improve your security positioning and boost your operational efficiency. The right solution (and provider!) means your IT team is armed and empowered to do both.

In summary, here are five reasons you need an endpoint management strategy, yesterday.

  • Proactive threat detection and response
  • Automated patch management
  • Real time monitoring and alerting
  • Automation and scripting
  • Rapid remote support

If you’re ready to build a robust endpoint management strategy, Macro Technology Group can help.

Let's go!