Workflow

What is Workflow

Workflows is a powerful, low-code IT orchestration platform that enables you to define step by step instructions of complex automations by utilizing resources such as Sensor, Remote Action and more.Use Workflows to automate routine tasks and troubleshoot common digital employee experience (DEX) issues. This minimizes the friction users encounter with company technology, improving overall productivity..

Automate common IT tasks with Workflows, such as:

1. Periodically scanning device disk space and remediate if disk space falls below threshold
2. Ensuring device stability by enforcing periodic restart based on uptime
3. Configuring bios passwords on devices
4. Perform any device property check and apply fix to bring them back to desired state.

And many more cases.

Note : Workflows is available as part of Endpoint Analytics and Available as Early Access. Windows Operating System is only supported.

Components of Workflow

Workflows are built using three main components: Sensors, Switch, and Actions. Lets explore what each one does.

1. Sensor - It allows you to collect any custom data using powershell scripting language. For Example, User can query disk space from endpoints using powershell scripting and utilize it as one of stage in workflow.

2. Switch - User may need to deploy action in workflow using certain conditions defined in workflow. Switch can be used to define conditions for actions. Outcome of sensors can be used to define condition in Switch.

   Complex condition require multiple AND and OR logical operators use in pattern definition. Add condition in case and define criteria pattern for it.

   For instance, a Switch condition could check if free disk space is less than 10%. If yes, the workflow proceeds to an action to clean up files.

   This can be configured similar to below.

   

3. Action - These are the tasks your workflow performs on endpoints. You can define these actions using scripts stored in the Script Repository. For example, you can create a script to clean up disk files and link it as an action in your workflow.

Creating Workflow

To Create new workflow

1. Select Workflow from Left Navigation of Endpoint Analytics
2. Click Create workflow to create new workflow

   

3. Enter descriptive name and description of Workflow

   

4. Drag and Drop required workflow stages from Right side of Builder View
5. Configure properties for each stage using stage Settings
6. Add End stage at the end of every workflow branch to mark it completed
7. Click Save to proceed for execution.

Workflow Builder Interface

The Workflow Builder interface provides a visual workspace to design and build your automated workflows.Interface contains five main elements.

1. Name and Descriptions : Define descriptive name and optional description for your workflow.
2. Builder : Drag and drop pre-built workflow stages onto the builder to create your automation. Every workflow starts with a "Start" stage and ends with an "End" stage (or multiple ends for branching workflows)
3. Stage and Settings : Use Stage section to add stage to builder. Once a stage is added to the builder, the "Settings" section allows you to configure its specific properties.
4. Zoom and Arrange : Zoom in and out for better visibility of your workflow as you build it. Click the Auto-arrange icon to automatically center your workflow on the page.
5. Save Workflow : Click Save button to save workflow and create new version of workflow , Click Save as Draft button to save in Draft status without finalizing workflow

Configuring Stages

When you add a stage to your workflow builder, a settings window will appear. This window allows you to configure the properties of the specific stage you've chosen.

Sensor lets you to get device attributes from endpoints. This output can be used in other stages of workflows.

To add Sensor as a Stage, drag and drop Sensor and enter the following details

1. Name: Enter descriptive name for Sensor
2. Description:Enter description for Sensor
3. Select Script:Select Sensor that you want to collect from endpoints

Remote Actions allows you to execute actions targeted by workflow.

To add Remote Action as a Stage, drag and drop Remote Action and enter the following details

1. Name: Enter descriptive name for Remote Action Stage
2. Description:Enter description for Remote action stage
3. Select Script:Select Script from script repository that you want to execute

Switch allows branching workflows based on device attributes collected by Sensors. Agent evaluate cases in switch during workflow execution and decide further processing branch.

If no case are matching during evaluation, Workflow will stop running.

Based on Sensor output variable type, Criteria is supported.

To add Switch as a Stage, drag and drop Switch and enter the following details

1. Name: Enter descriptive name for Remote Action Stage
2. Description:Enter description for Remote action stage
3. Add Case: Click Add case . Provide name and description and Conditions for case.

End stage specifies end of workflow execution. It is required to have End stage at the end of every branch.

To add End as a Stage, drag and drop End and enter the following details

1. Description : Enter Description of stage

Run Workflow

You can trigger workflow execution ondemand basis. You can initiate execution of Active workflow from console and will be deployed to devices during its start up or agent refresh cycle.

To manually run workflow

1. Select Workflow from Left Navigation of Endpoint Analytics.
2. Click Run from Actions Menu for a workflow that you want to trigger.
3. Once you read information from prompt , Click Yes, Proceed to deploy to all Endpoint Analytics managed devices.

After initiating workflow run, Execution Details can be found for every workflow by clicking View Execution Details.

Permissions Required for Using Workflows

To grant user permissions for managing Workflow, follow these steps:

1. Select Admin from the top menu bar.
2. Under User Administration, click Role
3. Click on Add Role to create a new role or Modify existing role by clicking Modify from the action menu
4. In the Endpoint Central section, scroll down to the Workflow section and enable the appropriate permissions for the role.
• Workflow Read to view Workflow
• Workflow Write or Full Control to add/modify/delete Workflow

FAQ

1. What devices are targeted when I run a workflow?

   When you run a workflow from Endpoint Analytics, all endpoints listed under the Devices section are included as targets. Additionally, any newly onboarded devices will automatically process the latest workflow run.

2. Is it possible to deploy a workflow to a specific group of computers in Endpoint Analytics?

   Currently, workflows are deployed to all computers managed within the Endpoint Analytics module. Targeting specific groups of devices is not supported at this time.

3. When does the agent process a workflow after it is deployed?

   Once a workflow is run, the agent processes the workflow during its next refresh cycle or at startup, whichever occurs first.

4. When is a workflow run marked as complete?

   A workflow run is considered complete when all targeted devices successfully process the workflow within the specified timeout period. The total timeout period is 90 minutes, with an additional 5 minutes allocated for each stage of the workflow after the run is initiated.

5. Why is a workflow run marked as failed?

   A workflow run is marked as failed if no devices successfully complete the workflow within the designated timeout period. The timeout period is 90 minutes in total, with an additional 5 minutes allocated for each stage of the workflow after the run is initiated.

6. How many past workflow runs are stored in Endpoint Analytics?

   A maximum of 30 workflow runs are stored for each workflow. This enables you to access and review the most recent workflow executions easily.