In today’s interconnected world, the concept of endpoints—devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even IoT devices that connect to corporate networks—has become central to organizational IT strategies. Endpoints are essential tools for productivity, but they also pose an enormous risk as potential vulnerabilities can expose organizations to security risks and data breaches.

Where does your organization find itself on the endpoint management adoption curve? Are your people still walking around with 2 phones, personal and company? Or have you implemented UEM best practices, securing the endpoints according to mobile policy implemented by Endpoint Management software?

The evolution of endpoint management started in the early 2000s with BlackBerry. Giving people access to company email wherever they were was both a productivity boost and a nosedive for company security. As the first widely adopted mobile device offering enterprise-level security and management features, BlackBerry’s Enterprise Server was pioneering, providing organizations with the ability to control and secure mobile devices that accessed corporate data.

As mobile device usage exploded with the introduction of smartphones and tablets, the need for more comprehensive management solutions became apparent. This led to the development of more sophisticated systems like Samsung Knox, which offered hardware and software integrated security, and Citrix, which extended its virtualization technologies to mobile devices.

The landscape continued to evolve with solutions like MobileIron, which provided further enhancements in managing a broad spectrum of mobile devices. However, the real game-changer was the advent of Microsoft Intune, part of the Microsoft 365 suite, which brought Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) to the forefront by integrating advanced management and security features directly into the operating system of devices across various platforms, included in most enterprise licenses. This meant the company no longer had to fork out additional license fees to secure the data on mobile endpoints.

What if you don’t have an endpoint management (EMM) strategy? If you have to issue separate work phones to your employees, you’ll find employees walking around with two phones. This is unnecessary. It is possible to secure the data accessed by employees on their mobile devices. Here are five workarounds for securing data without using an EMM system, which would need to form part of a mobile policy for the organization:

1. Regular Updates: Ensure that all devices are regularly updated with the latest security patches and operating system updates to protect against vulnerabilities.
2. Strong Authentication: Implement strong password policies and consider multi-factor authentication on work-related applications to enhance security measures.
3. Secure Wi-Fi Use: Educate users on the risks of public Wi-Fi and encourage the use of VPNs to encrypt data in transit.
4. Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data stored on devices to protect it in case of theft or loss.
5. Remote Wipe Capabilities: Use remote wipe tools to clear data from devices that are lost or stolen to prevent unauthorized access.

We know that changing user behavior is the most difficult part of any rollout, software or policy-driven. Enhancing Endpoint Security with EMM Software enables the implementation of policy remotely, and without having to touch the device, or convince the employee of the necessity to comply.

1. Comprehensive Policy Enforcement: Use the EMM software to enforce your organization’s security policies across all devices, ensuring consistent security postures.
2. Containerization: Segregate personal and business data on devices, giving users separate work and personal logins to reduce risks and manage corporate data effectively.
3. Real-time Monitoring and Reporting: Use EMM tools to monitor device activities and generate automated reports highlighting unusual activities in order to quickly mitigate potential threats.
4. Selective Wiping: Implement the capability to selectively wipe corporate data from devices without affecting personal data, especially in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios.
5. Regular Audits and Compliance Checks: Regularly audit device and app compliance against corporate security policies to ensure ongoing adherence.

While EMM software provides a robust framework for securing these devices, organizations must manage the environment and policies proactively, foster a culture of security awareness, and adhere to best practices.

Over the years of experience we have in managing endpoints, we have found that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every organization will be protecting differing data, generated by different systems, and shared over a myriad of communication devices and software.

By combining technology solutions with informed policies, businesses can effectively secure their digital landscapes against the evolving threats of the digital age.

Torch helps their customers make the transition to a well secured and managed endpoint environment. Talk to us about how we can help you ensure the endpoints are managed and secure.