WNWH: Q4 2024 webinar highlights – Catch up on all that you missed!

Well, well, well! It’s been a while since NYC’s Times Square saw the ball drop, and we flipped the calendars. As we power through packed schedules, strategy meetings, and fresh goals, it’s easy to overlook just how far we’ve come. Now, before I digress towards discussing the philosophy of change, let’s get back to the matter at hand- WNWH: Q4 2024 webinar ☺️.

Extended platform support: Linux

For many people, Linux is synonymous with coding and developers. This, and the fact that Linux-powered devices are becoming increasingly common in enterprise environments, made it a no-brainer for Hexnode to expand its platform support to cover the Linux fleet. And so, in the last quarter of 2024, Hexnode extended its device management capabilities to manage and secure all the devices powered by all the sub-distributions of Fedora and Debian.

What this entails:

• Advanced security management: Enforce password policies, configure firewalls, and control device restrictions to bolster endpoint security.
• Seamless remote actions: Perform remote OS updates, deploy patches, execute custom scripts, and lock devices instantly.
• Compliance assurance: Automate compliance checks with customizable policies and generate detailed audit logs for security reviews.

Organizations in industries such as education, government, and finance rely on Linux due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and security. With Hexnode’s Linux support, IT admins can effortlessly make use of a unified endpoint management solution that ensures security and compliance across all major platforms.

Extended platform support: ChromeOS

Built on the Linux kernel and with a user interface heavily reliant on the Google Chrome web browser, ChromeOS is quickly gaining traction in industries such as education, healthcare, and retail. It is designed to be simple, secure, and fast for everyday tasks like browsing, emailing, and using online apps. Keeping this in mind, the Hexnode team worked around the clock to cover the nuances of managing and securing ChromeOS-powered devices.

Core features:

• Easy enrollment: Enroll ChromeOS devices via Google Workspace integration or user-initiated enrollment methods.
• Clear visibility: Monitor usage, compliance status, and configurations for ChromeOS devices within the Hexnode portal.
• Policy enforcement: Deploy organizational settings, app installations, and restrictions effortlessly.

Managing ChromeOS devices alongside Android, Windows, and macOS systems helps IT teams streamline operations, ensure consistent security policies, and gain insights across the board.

Extended platform support: visionOS

visionOS is Apple’s proprietary operating system, specifically designed for its Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. It enables users to experience a blend of real and virtual worlds, interacting with digital content in a 3D space. Built upon the foundation of iPadOS, leveraging its core frameworks, and adding specialized features for mixed reality interactions, visionOS has been turning heads since day one. visionOS is gradually permeating the enterprise scene and other organizational setups. And so, it is only natural that Hexnode extends its device management capabilities to cover visionOS.

Key features:

• Streamlined enrollment: Onboard Vision Pro devices using Account-Driven Enrollment for faster setups.
• Security-first approach: Configure secure VPNs, manage Wi-Fi settings, and enforce authentication using certificates.
• Actionable insights: Generate detailed reports on Vision Pro device usage, compliance, and performance.

From design studios creating immersive content to enterprises conducting virtual training sessions, Hexnode ensures Vision Pro devices are secure, efficient, and compliant with company policies.

Hexnode Genie

The complexity of IT administration often involves repetitive tasks that consume valuable time. How about something that could cut short this time-consuming redundancy and free up the IT team for more critical tasks? Well, last quarter, Hexnode did just that by launching Hexnode Genie. Hexnode Genie is a powerful AI-driven assistant designed to help automate IT tasks, troubleshoot issues, and simplify workflows with minimal human intervention.

How Genie helps:

• Automated task execution: Use AI-powered scripting to deploy apps, configure policies, and generate reports—all without manual effort.
• Intelligent IT support: Receive real-time troubleshooting recommendations and let Genie help you resolve common device issues promptly.
• Workflow optimization: Reduce human error and free up IT resources by automating repetitive management tasks.

Forget the hassles of manually generating scripts or scouring the mountains of help docs for any and all doubts on Hexnode. A quick chat with Hexnode Genie will sort it ALL out for you in a jiffy!

Android enrollment profiles

Deploying Android devices across different departments, roles, and security levels often requires extensive manual configuration. Hexnode’s Android enrollment profiles streamline this process by allowing IT teams to predefine device settings, apps, and security policies based on user roles.

Key features:

• Customizable enrollment profiles: Automatically apply Wi-Fi settings, pre-approved applications, security configurations, and access controls based on user roles.
• Support for multiple enrollment modes: Choose between Work Profile mode for BYOD setups or Device Owner mode for corporate-issued devices.
• Policy updates in real-time: Any changes to the profile automatically sync across all associated devices, reducing manual workload.

This feature is handy for large enterprises with thousands of Android devices. It allows for faster deployment, better consistency, and reduced IT overhead.

Deployments

Managing a diverse device fleet means IT teams often need to perform bulk actions across hundreds or thousands of devices—whether it’s updating software, pushing security patches, or installing apps. One of the latest from Hexnode’s den, Deployments, is a feature specifically designed to simplify mass IT actions with just a few clicks.

Core capabilities:

• One-click bulk actions: Deploy OS updates, security patches, software installations, and policy changes across your entire fleet in a centralized manner.
• Real-time execution tracking: Monitor deployment progress in real-time and troubleshoot any failures instantly.
• Scheduled deployments: Automate routine updates by scheduling deployments during off-peak hours to minimize disruptions.

So, instead of manually updating each device, Hexnode now enables IT admins to execute large-scale deployments effortlessly, making endpoint management faster and more efficient.

Custom reports

As you already know, data is power, and Hexnode’s custom reports feature ensures you can access the precise insights you need to drive informed decisions. Choosing to forgo the one size fits all approach, Hexnode released its customizable reporting feature to help ensure that you gain full control over your endpoint data.

Core features:

• Personalized reporting: Create custom reports or use prebuilt templates to get started.
• Advanced filtering: Drill down into specific data points, such as device compliance, user behavior, or app usage.
• Export options: Share reports in formats like PDF or CSV to facilitate cross-department collaboration.

IT admins and decision-makers can now proactively address challenges, track trends, and maintain compliance with effortless ease.

Windows app patches

Ensuring that business-critical applications remain up-to-date is essential for both security and performance. However, manual patching is time-consuming, and outdated applications can become major security vulnerabilities, exposing organizations to cyber threats. With Hexnode, IT teams can now automate and streamline the patching process for applications installed across their Windows device fleet.

Core features:

• Scheduling flexibility: Plan and deploy updates during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
• Patch prioritization: Focus on prioritizing critical security patches while deferring less urgent updates.
• Centralized management: Utilize Windows Package Manager integration to handle app updates from a single console.

By automating and centralizing Windows application patching, IT admins can eliminate security risks, reduce system downtime, and ensure all apps function optimally across the organization’s Windows devices.

Hexnode Gateway for Windows and macOS

Switching to a new unified endpoint management (UEM) platform often involves lengthy device reconfigurations, data security concerns, and potential productivity disruptions. Not anymore! With the newly launched Hexnode Gateway for Windows, IT admins can seamlessly migrate their Windows devices while retaining key configurations and security policies. Meanwhile, Hexnode Gateway for macOS—which was already simplifying macOS migrations—has received enhancements to further streamline the process. Whether transitioning from platforms like VMware or Jamf, organizations can now ensure a smooth, secure, and hassle-free migration experience across both Windows and macOS.

Key capabilities (Windows):

• Preserve existing device settings and policies during the migration process.
• Ensure end-to-end data security throughout the transition to prevent breaches.

Key enhancements (macOS):

• Deferred device migrations: Schedule and control the migration timeline for greater flexibility.
• Secure FileVault key escrow: Automatically back up FileVault recovery keys to ensure encrypted macOS devices remain accessible in case of issues.
• Brand customization: Personalize the Hexnode Gateway app with corporate branding for a seamless end-user experience.

And so, IT teams can efficiently ensure a smooth migration process from their previous UEM solution to Hexnode UEM without losing critical data or having to reconfigure devices from scratch.

Updates to Hexnode Access for macOS

Over the years, businesses across the globe have redefined their priorities to acquire a more security-conscious quality. And so, ensuring seamless authentication and secure access to corporate resources has become a top priority. With this one thought guiding their processes, the Hexnode team has enhanced Hexnode Access for macOS to strengthen security, simplify authentication, and streamline device enrollment workflows.

Enhanced features:

• Expanded IdP support: Integrations with Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and Google Workspace offer flexibility for authentication.
• DEP integration with compliance prompts: Onboard macOS devices via DEP with custom EULA prompts to ensure compliance.
• FileVault activation at setup: Enable FileVault encryption during device setup for enhanced security.

These updates empower organizations to strengthen data protection, simplify authentication, and improve compliance across macOS environments.

What’s on Hexnode’s roadmap?

And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to the end of the list of features discussed in the WNWH: Q4 2024 webinar. But that wasn’t all! Before wrapping up the session, the team allowed the attendees a quick peek into the future. Yup, you read that right! The WNWH: Q4 2024 webinar unveiled Hexnode’s future roadmap.

Feeling left out? Don’t worry, though! Trust yours truly to get the inside scoop and let you in on the secret 😌.

• Conditional access: Intelligent access controls to enhance security.
• Revamped kiosk mode for Windows: Greater flexibility and functionality for kiosk devices.
• Platform updates for Linux and ChromeOS: Deeper management capabilities for these platforms.
• Patch management enhancements: More control, automation, and reliability for critical updates.

See you next time!

Aaaaand that’s a wrap! Don’t worry if you missed this webinar; we’ve recorded the session just for you. Keep a look out for the webinar highlights and recordings in your inbox. With that, I bid you farewell (albeit temporarily 😉). See you next time in another installment of our quarterly webinar series.

So long!