Why is cloud-based UEM the future of device management?

In the year 2021, using mobile devices for work is nothing new. In fact, companies are encouraging their employees to use mobile devices so that they can work from the comfort of their homes even in the trying pandemic days. You may wonder, what about the device and data security if everything is mobile? How did the enterprises overcome the security concerns that arise from remote work? The unsung heroes who saved the enterprise world are the cloud-based device management solutions that allowed the IT managers to manage, secure, monitor, and configure the remotely deployed mobile devices. 

On-premises device management – a thing of the past 

What do we mean by on-premises device management? Chances are, if you are an experienced IT manager or administrator, you already know it or even implemented it in your organization. It is the most traditional method of managing corporate devices, maybe even the most trusted one over the past couple of decades. In this model, the MDM (Mobile Device Management) server is installed within the company’s own server and computers. The most attractive feature of this model was the granular control and the assurance of security within the organization since third parties are not involved at all. However, the on-premises model of device management has become increasingly insufficient over the past decade. The gradual shift to mobile devices and remote work was already bringing down the value of this model. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of remote work by a remarkable rate and reduced the already diminishing significance of on-premises device management.  

Now, the disadvantages of the on-premises model outweigh the advantages it has. The initial cost of setting up on-premises device management is no joke. Cloud-based UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) solutions like Hexnode have an on-demand solution, where you pay exactly for the licenses you need. Even the key attraction of the on-premises model – security – is under question now. Security would be the complete responsibility of the organization, and it is a constant headache for IT managers to always be on alert for any attacks or leakage of sensitive data. Cloud-based UEMs like Hexnode provide enterprise-grade security without additional costs. Ease of deployment, remote access options, ease of maintenance, and lack of complexity are just some additional perks that make cloud-based UEMs desirable. 

The present and the future: Cloud-based UEM 

Line-of-business leaders everywhere are bypassing IT departments to get applications from the cloud and paying for them like they would a magazine subscription.

– Daryl Plummer, Managing Vice President, Gartner 

As Daryl says, managing devices has become as easy as getting a magazine subscription with cloud-based UEMs. Gartner has predicted a growth of a whopping 23 percent for public cloud end-user spending in 2021. The pandemic served to show the world what exactly cloud-based services could do, and Software-as-a-Service(SaaS) is showing the largest demand and growth. Other cloud services like Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) are also in high demand. Cloud services remove the hardware and software dependencies that are predominant in the on-premises model. Over the next few decades, it is entirely possible that cloud-based UEM dominates the entire enterprise device management market.  

Hexnode UEM – innovating and leading the cloud strategy 

Hexnode UEM is a cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution that has been easing the path for mobility management, device management, app management, content management, identity and access management in a robust and scalable manner for organizations worldwide. With Hexnode, the admin has centralized control over all the enrolled devices of the organization. Recently recognized by Gartner in its Midmarket Context: Magic Quadrant for Unified Endpoint Management, Hexnode stands out for its simplistic UI and feature-rich capabilities.  

Deploying devices have never been easier 

With the traditional on-premises model of device management, it was a big chore to set up the servers and get the devices managed. As mentioned above, cloud-based UEM solutions enable hassle-free deployments. Hexnode UEM supports integrations such as Android Enterprise, Apple Business/School Manager, SCCM, Active Directory, Microsoft Azure AD, and more for seamless deployment and setting up of the devices.  

A centralized console for all management needs 

It is highly desirable to have a centralized web console to manage and monitor the company devices. Cloud-based UEM like Hexnode enables the admin to deploy configurations, policies, and settings from the centralized web console. The admin can login to the portal with suitable authentication on any device. An example that shows the beauty of using a centralized console is an admin in New York deploying work apps to the managed employee device in London with a single click. Hexnode UEM also features a dashboard that shows the summary of all devices, their status, and compliance. The admin can configure custom compliance rules and take suitable action when the devices go out of compliance. 

Troubleshooting made simpler with remote access and compliance reports 

The biggest trouble faced by admins while managing remote devices is troubleshooting. Simply giving instructions to the end-user almost never works, and the admin does not have physical access to the device either. What is the solution? Remote access features such as remote view and remote control help the admin to troubleshoot the exact issue faced by the end-user. Hexnode UEM allows its admins to communicate with their end-users through Hexnode Messenger. The admin can send a message that could contain the troubleshooting tips or solutions. The end-user can then solve their issues themselves without needing the admin to intervene. Compliance reports notify the admin of the devices that are compliant and non-compliant according to the configured compliance rules. The reports also denote the reason for non-compliance, if any. It saves the time of the IT admin as it removes the need to check the device compliance every day. 

IoT device management – A perk that only cloud-based UEM has 

A growing trend in recent years is the Internet of Things (IoT). A whole network of connected devices with different operating systems has to be managed, and it can seem like a daunting task with traditional methods of management. For IoT device management, it is almost a given to use a cloud-based UEM solution. For instance, Hexnode UEM supports all major device platforms such as Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, FireOS, and tvOS. It also helps in ensuring endpoint security with features like encryption, auto-locking of devices, containerization, and many more.  

Maintenance and setup fees? Zero. 

It is a fact that on-premises solutions have become outdated. What if the outdated technology costs more than the updated one? Doesn’t sound right, does it? On-premises solutions are way costlier than their cloud counterpart. The scalability of the traditional solutions is also questionable. In contrast, cloud-based device management solutions like Hexnode UEM are easy on the pockets with greater functionalities. Once you purchase the licenses, there are no additional charges or maintenance fees.  

Bottomline 

Cloud is dominating everywhere in technology, and device management is no exception. A couple of years back, it made some sense to be confused between on-premises and cloud models. Now, there is no question that cloud is THE best option for device management.  The multi-device world with its fast-paced nature and remote work demand cloud-based UEM for seamless, uninterrupted device management. While there are many options in the enterprise market, make sure to choose the option best suited to your business.