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. Remote 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.
4. Engage - This stage enables interaction with end users during workflow execution. Use it to display messages, collect confirmations, or notify users before applying changes to their devices. Example - Prompt the user before performing file clean ups
5. Send Mail - Use this stage to send email notifications to relevant stakeholders during the deployment process. It helps keep teams informed about workflow status or actions performed. Example - Notify IT team on outcome of workflow execution 
6. Delay - The Delay stage pauses workflow execution for a defined period.This is useful when waiting for something to complete. 
7. Restart - Use this stage to restart the target device as part of your workflow.No additional configuration is required.

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

Deploying Workflow

You can deploy workflows to managed endpoints using static or unique static groups. This deployments are applied to devices during agent refresh cycle or start up.

Steps to deploy workflow:

1. Go to Deployment from the left navigation under Endpoint Analytics.
2. Click Create Deployment
3. Fill in :
   1. Name and Description for deployment
   2. Select one or more workflows to be executed
   3. Choose target custom groups
   4. Use include / exclude filters to fine tune deployment scope
4. Click Deploy to complete creation

Monitoring Deployment Status :

After deployment is created, click on it from deployment list to view device level deployment status. 

To track execution of workflows, go to the Workflows tab and click Runs to see individual run statuses.

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.
   1. Workflow Read to view Workflow
   2. Workflow Write or Full Control to add/modify/delete Workflow