An Introduction to Modern Device Management

As an organisation expands, modern tools will help to handle the complexity of device management.

In today’s digital landscape, the importance of effective device management cannot be overstated. With the rise of remote work, the proliferation of devices in the workplace, and the increasing complexity of IT environments, organisations need robust solutions to manage their devices. This is where modern device management comes into play. It enables organisations to administer and maintain devices, including virtual machines, physical computers, mobile devices, and IoT devices. With modern device management, organisations can remotely provision, track, manage, and protect their enterprise devices while improving the end-user experience.

The Focus

Modern device management focuses on an internet-first device connection, an agile and flexible management and deployment model, and a scalable cloud-based infrastructure to support the mechanisms that drive device management. These approaches offer several benefits:

Internet-first device connection: This allows for real-time device management, regardless of the device’s location. This is particularly beneficial for organisations with remote workers or multiple office locations.
Agile and flexible management model: This enables organisations to quickly adapt to changes and efficiently manage devices according to their specific needs.
Scalable cloud-based infrastructure: This ensures that as an organisation grows and the number of devices increases, the device management solution can scale accordingly.

Tools

There are several tools available for modern device management. These include:

For Windows: Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Windows Autopilot
For Linux: Microsoft Intune, Scalefusion, DriveStrike
For Mac: Jamf Pro, Addigy
For Android: Google’s Android Management API, IBM MaaS360

These tools enable IT administrators to provision, manage, secure, and monitor devices.

The Evolution

While the term “modern device management” is relatively recent, the idea of cloud-delivered device management is not entirely new. Tools such as Microsoft Intune have been around for several years. Windows Autopilot was introduced soon after the release of Windows 10. The field has evolved significantly over time, with advancements in technology and changes in organizational needs driving the development of more sophisticated and effective device management solutions.

Modern Device Management in Action

Consider the case of a large organization that implemented Microsoft Intune to manage its fleet of devices. With employees spread across multiple locations and often working remotely, the organization needed a solution that could manage devices remotely and ensure they were secure and up-to-date. With Intune, the organization was able to efficiently manage devices, ensure compliance with organizational policies, and protect corporate data, all while improving the end-user experience.

Conclusion

Modern device management plays a crucial role in today’s digital workplaces. With the right tools and strategies, organisations can effectively manage their devices, improve security, and enhance the end-user experience. As the field continues to evolve, organisations should stay informed about the latest developments and consider how they can leverage modern device management to meet their specific needs.