Without an endpoint configuration manager in place, your company’s deployed devices become an ever-growing convoluted network.
Updates, compliance, and security vulnerabilities multiply rapidly. Progress slows as your IT team is bogged down with manual tasks that could have been automated.
Furthermore, the IT and cybersecurity landscape continues to shift and change. Microsoft’s frequent updates make it an easier option for endpoint configuration management in terms of keeping up with industry compliance standards, security, and device customization.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how an endpoint configuration manager works and how it can benefit your business.
We’ll start by defining our terms.
What Is An Endpoint Configuration Manager?
An endpoint configuration manager is a software program or service that aids in managing and securing the configurations of endpoint devices.
Examples of such devices include desktop computers, laptops, and mobile phones that connect to a network.
This type of service could involve activities like enforcing security regulations, rolling out software updates, and checking that devices adhere to your company’s standards.
The Importance Of Endpoint Configuration Management In Today’s IT Environment
Endpoint configuration management will help you to maintain security, compliance, and efficiency while cutting expenses.
Below is an overview of each area of importance.
However, before we proceed, we’d like to make it clear that an endpoint configuration manager is just one of many tools that Pareto Cyber uses to manage your security posture efficiently.
Security
Devices are frequently the point of entry for cyber attacks. Managing and securing endpoint device settings is essential for defending your organization’s network and data.
Compliance
Your organization is required to maintain safe and compliant endpoint devices by several requirements.
Endpoint configuration management can guarantee compliance with important industry rules.
Cost-effective
Your organization can cut costs related to manual upgrades and troubleshooting by automating endpoint management.
How Does An Endpoint Configuration Manager Work?
A tiny piece of software is often installed by an endpoint configuration manager on each endpoint device.
The endpoint devices are then configured and managed by IT administrators using a central management console.
An endpoint configuration manager generally follows these steps:
Step 1: Discovery
To identify all endpoint devices that require management, the endpoint configuration manager crawls the network.
Each device on that network may be recognized, together with details about its hardware and software, and added to the inventory.
Step 2: Configuration
To define and implement rules for endpoint devices, IT administrators use the management console.
Security configurations, compliance audits, and software deployment are a few examples of policies commonly implemented.
Step 3: Monitoring
The endpoint configuration manager will continuously check all endpoint devices to make sure they’re following the policies defined by the administrator.
Your manager can then notify administrators of any devices that are not following your policies.
IT administrators can also access and manage endpoint devices remotely, diagnose issues, and carry out maintenance using the endpoint configuration manager.
Step 4: Security
Your endpoint configuration manager can issue security-related reports and alerts. They can also identify and react to security threats on endpoint devices.
Step 5: Mobile device management
The endpoint configuration manager is also capable of controlling and securing mobile devices that are connected to the company’s network, like tablets and smartphones.
Step 6: Reporting
To assist IT teams in comprehending the endpoint environment, the endpoint configuration manager delivers thorough reports on the state of endpoint devices. These include compliance and inventory information.
Overall, the endpoint configuration manager serves as a centralized command center for controlling and safeguarding endpoint devices that connect to your company’s network.
To that end, it makes sense to streamline the entire process through automation.
Benefits Of Using An Endpoint Configuration Manager
An endpoint configuration manager offers a plethora of benefits, but we’ll focus on the following (most relevant benefits) here.
- Improved security
- Reduced IT costs
- Increased efficiency
- Increased visibility and control
Improved Security
For all your organization’s devices, security and vulnerability can be improved by an endpoint configuration manager.
To comprehend the endpoint environment, the software tracks and catalogs endpoint devices. Next, it provides details about their hardware and software.
These details offer you information about the network-connected devices and may be used to spot possible security threats.
Your IT managers may then access and manage endpoint devices remotely (thanks to the endpoint configuration manager). The result is that your team can respond to security issues swiftly.
Reduced IT Costs
Endpoint devices, including their hardware and software, can be tracked and inventoried.
This helps your IT team make the best use of resources by giving them visibility into the devices that are connecting to the network.
A full report on any devices that don’t adhere to industry best practices and regulations can then be generated.
This aids your business in keeping up with your industry and governmental laws.
Additionally, it has the ability to recognize and react to endpoint security threats like malware.
Increased Efficiency
IT staff can streamline their procedures with the aid of an endpoint configuration manager.
The aforementioned software and hardware tracking also provide IT professionals with information about what hardware (including mobile devices) is logging on to the network.
Security-related reports and warnings aid in real-time threat detection, mitigation, and stop propagation throughout the network.
Increased Visibility And Control
Understanding the hardware that is connecting to the network will be appreciated by your IT and network security staff.
To save your team time, the endpoint configuration manager can also verify that the equipment complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
Your IT managers can then access endpoint devices remotely, troubleshoot issues, and carry out maintenance thanks to the endpoint configuration manager.
This lets your IT staff resolve vulnerabilities and respond to problems rapidly.
Additionally, because many endpoint configuration managers are cloud-based, your business can now control endpoint devices from any geographic location.
Learn More About Cyber Security
An endpoint configuration manager is just one component of a strong and cost-effective security posture.
If you’d like to better understand how it fits into the bigger picture of cyber security, you can peruse our blog of expert articles here.
Protect Your Company And Your Reputation With Pareto Cyber
IT teams continuously look to automation when it comes to securing and managing endpoint devices successfully.
An endpoint configuration manager allows your team to manage your security posture efficiently as you scale your business.
Additionally, it has the ability to identify and remediate threats as they come.
If you’d like to better understand how Pareto Cyber’s uses endpoint configuration management and what it can do for your company, schedule a free demo with us here.
