How to choose the right Unified Management (UEM) Solution: Key features to consider

As businesses grow, so do the number of endpoints in the network. From in-office employees to WFH and remote users, the enterprise network hosts a diverse range of endpoints. With growing cyber threats and rapidly evolving business operations, managing and securing these endpoints is one of the top priorities of IT teams.

Unfortunately, it's easier said than done. Multiple geographical locations and time zones, different system configurations, and a divergent set of end-users with various work priorities make endpoint management challenging.

It's no-brainer that a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution will offer you the much-needed insights and capabilities for managing and securing your endpoints. But with a plethora of UEM solutions available in the market, the question remains, how to choose the best UEM software?

What is UEM?

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) is a comprehensive set of tools to enable IT admins and IT security teams to manage, monitor, and secure the organization's endpoints.

UEM solutions ensure holistic management for multiple endpoint types, such as servers, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, IOTs, etc. from a single dashboard, regardless of the location or the operating system they run on.

To simplify, UEM provides much-needed visibility to IT admins on multiple aspects across the multitude of endpoints managed across the enterprise network. Using the single interface, admins can get an overview of the patch compliance, endpoint vulnerability status, software requests from users, and more.

Why do you need a UEM solution?

The robust growth in the use of BYODs and remote users has accelerated the need for enterprises to manage and monitor network devices. Implementing a UEM solution can greatly reduce silos and offer a cohesive workflow. Here are a few reasons as to why a UEM solution is a must-have:

1. Support for BYODs: With UEM, organizations are better suited to support BYOD policies. Admins can seamlessly manage and secure personal devices used for work-related tasks, ensuring corporate data remains protected from leakage.
2. Improved User Experience: Another added benefit is faster turnaround time (TAT) for general user requests such as a particular software deployment, or OS version upgrade. This ensures that users have a hassle-free experience even when working remotely.
3. Enhanced Security: The endpoint security capabilities available with UEM tools fortify the endpoints, thus strengthening the network security and allowing IT teams to protect all endpoints by using one tool in one consistent way.
4. Reduced Compliance Issues: Adhering to compliance standards is a must. Here, UEM helps ensure that all endpoints remain patched, updated, and compliant with the regulations.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing UEM Software

If you are here, you already know what UEM is. You must also be aware of the various UEM solutions available today. So, let's get to business. Here's a detailed list of the factors that must be considered to choose the best UEM software.

1. Device and Operating System Compatibility

The usage of Linux and Mac systems is gaining prominence in enterprises today. Hence, solely relying on a UEM solution that supports managing Microsoft devices won't make the cut.

The UEM solution that you choose should support multiple types of devices such as laptops, servers, workstations, mobile devices, and IOTs. Additionally, it should support the major OSes, i.e. Windows, Linux, and macOS.

2. Scalability

As businesses grow, so do the IT requirements. The addition of new endpoints to your enterprise's network is hence an added challenge for IT admins. To resolve this challenge, choose a UEM solution that scales accordingly. UEM tools with the capability to manage 25K or more endpoints can often serve as the benchmark.

3. Security Features

A single platform with endpoint management and security for your network endpoints hits the sweet spot. If you're not a fan of juggling between multiple tools, one for management, one for vulnerability scanning, and another for ransomware protection, it is best to go with a solution that offers unified endpoint management and security.

To start with, look for features such as data loss protection, device control, data encryption, endpoint privilege management, ransomware protection, geofencing, and real-time threat detection. These functionalities not only ensure data security but also safeguard the endpoints from malware attacks.

4. Integration Capabilities

The UEM software should seamlessly integrate with your existing IT infrastructure, including applications, networks, and security protocols. For example, if your enterprise already uses helpdesk software, integrating the UEM tool with the helpdesk software can reduce juggling between multiple tools and lower issue resolution times.

5. User Experience

UEM software with a lower learning curve and a user-friendly interface can be a game changer for IT teams. An intuitive dashboard that provides clear insights into endpoint status, patch and security compliance, and security alerts such as ransomware or vulnerability detection can help fasten the mitigation process.

As a thumb rule, it is recommended to try out the UEM solutions and deploy various policies via their console, to get a better understanding of the user-friendliness.

6. Pricing

Pricing plays an important role, not just for SMBs but for enterprises as well. UEM solutions that are reasonably and competitively priced not only are seen as value for money but also help reduce CapEx in the long run.

As a recommendation, you can choose vendors that offer "endpoint slab-based pricing" instead of "per endpoint pricing". For example, vendors offering prices for 100-500 endpoints, 501-1000 endpoints, etc. can be a more lucrative deal than those that offer flat pricing per endpoint.

This is because as the number of endpoints grows in the enterprise, the average price per endpoint reduces in the former case. On the contrary, vendors offering "per endpoint pricing" tend to be costlier with increasing endpoints.

7. Vendor Support and Reputation

Before finalizing the UEM solution, it is important to choose the research about the vendor, their reputation, and age in the industry. While this can be a laborious task, peer-to-peer review platforms such as Gartner Peer Insights can make this easier.

To conclude

The UEM industry is growing like never before, with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. Vendors have either integrated AI into their UEM offerings or are in the process. This coupled with the rise in adoption of IOTs in enterprises can change the landscape in the coming years.

For enterprises poised to grow, UEM tools are now a necessity rather than a luxury. Early implementation of the tool across the enterprise can be the deciding factor, giving enterprises an edge to cope with the rapidly evolving cyber threats and growing employee needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between UEM and MDM?

Mobile Device Management (MDM) focuses solely on managing mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, providing features like device enrollment, remote control, and device lockdown.

In contrast, UEM encompasses MDM capabilities and extends management to other endpoints like desktops, laptops, printers, and IoT devices, offering a more comprehensive management approach.

2. What is the difference between RMM and UEM?

Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools are primarily used by Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to monitor and manage clients' networks and systems remotely, focusing on network performance, system health, and automated maintenance tasks.

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM), on the other hand, provides a centralized platform for managing all types of endpoints within an organization, including policy enforcement, security management, and application deployment across various device types.