Why Do I Need Endpoint Management?

If my organization is shifting to the cloud, why do I need endpoint management? This is a fair question from business owners and executives when presented with a proposal to purchase endpoint management software solutions. The answer is pretty simple when you boil it down. Endpoints are the conduits to IT resources (e.g. applications, servers, files, etc.), whether they’re in the cloud or not. With that in mind, this article will help illustrate why endpoint management is so critical to an organization.

Endpoint Management Is Different for Everyone

Every organization probably has differing views on their specific endpoint management needs, so we will dig into some different tactics that organizations have employed in the past. Historically, many thought that endpoint management as simply anti-virus software or potentially even a personal firewall that protected a Windows-based laptop or desktop. But, those methodologies are not as effective as they’ve been in the past, largely due to the fact that networks and endpoints themselves aren’t all centered on Microsoft^® products.

Endpoints Need Securing Because They Are the Gateway

With the IT landscape moving to more heterogeneous environments that are less Windows-centric and more favorable towards Linux^® / Mac^® systems, (as well as new security threats to networks) the need for endpoint management software has increased.

Let’s say a bad actor steals an unprotected endpoint and gains entry into the system; with so many applications in the cloud, the attacker would have near instant access to valuable company data. That’s why endpoints need strong, secure management because the endpoint is the gateway to all IT resources. That said, today, A/V software or a personal firewall is not nearly enough to protect an organization.

If systems are in fact the conduit to an organization’s IT resources, just what sort of digital assets are we talking about? Well, we could be talking about servers, applications, or data in any of its myriad forms. So, the notion that endpoints are disposable and not worth securing is a high-risk thought process. End users are leveraging their endpoints—which are more powerful and productive than mobile devices like tablets and smartphones—to Make Work Happen™. That’s the core need for secure endpoint management software, to enable employees to be as productive as possible while remaining secure.

Endpoint Management and IT Resources

The best endpoint management solutions will also enable MSPs and IT organizations to efficiently deploy critical policies, troubleshoot problems, and generate reports for security data as well as some some usage or configuration data. All of these concepts help an organization’s IT team/MSP support their users to be more productive. In all, should you bring up the topic of endpoint management software solutions there is actually a cloud-based directory called JumpCloud^® Directory-as-a-Service^®. JumpCloud features cross-platform GPO-like Policies that can help you secure endpoints via a myriad of avenues. With JumpCloud, you can deploy full disk encryption (FDE), enable automatic OS updates, set screen locks, and much more all remotely.

Endpoint management is not everything JumpCloud does, though. JumpCloud works as a comprehensive directory service that enables user access to just about any IT resource users employ on a day-to-day basis. That means endpoints (Windows, Mac, Linux), cloud infrastructure (AWS^®), files in the cloud and on-prem, applications, networks via RADIUS and more.

Learn More About JumpCloud

If you’re ready to learn more about JumpCloud and have an answer prepared for when you’re asked, “Why do I need endpoint management?” feel free to contact one of our product experts today. If you just want to get to work managing endpoints, sign up for a JumpCloud account today. With your free JumpCloud account, you can manage up to 10 users for free, forever. Be sure to consult our Knowledge Base with any technical inquiries.