Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) is an online tool that helps businesses manage and protect their devices, including servers, PCs, and mobile phones. IT administrators can use MEM to create rules for personal devices that are used to access company apps and data.
MEM helps manage and protect remote workforces by deploying and managing devices and applications remotely, enforcing compliance policies, and protecting devices and applications from malware and other threats.
What’s in Microsoft Endpoint Manager?
Microsoft Endpoint Manager is a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution that combines cloud-based and on-premises management tools to help organizations manage their devices, applications, and data. It includes the following components:
- Microsoft Intune: A cloud-based MDM/MAM solution that enables administrators to configure and secure devices running iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
- Configuration Manager: An on-premises solution for deploying applications and managing updates for PCs and servers.
- Co-management: A bridge between Intune and Configuration Manager that allows either solution to be designated as the management authority for an organisation’s various workload groups.
- Desktop Analytics: A cloud-based solution that analyses data gathered by Configuration Manager to provide actionable insights into application, driver, and update issues.
- Windows Autopilot: A service that streamlines the deployment of new Windows devices by automating initial setup and configuration.
- Azure Active Directory: A cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) service that provides seamless integration with Endpoint Manager.
- Endpoint Manager Admin Centre: A web-based interface that serves as the central hub for managing Endpoint Manager and its various subcomponents.
Managing Remote Workforce with Microsoft Endpoint Manager
1. Device Management
Microsoft Endpoint Manager allows businesses to deploy and manage devices remotely, configure device settings, and wipe devices if needed.
Business Use Case: Businesses can use Endpoint Manager remote access to deploy and manage Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. This can help save time and money on IT costs, and it can also help ensure that remote workforce devices are always up to date and secure.
2. Application Management
Microsoft Endpoint Manager helps businesses deploy and manage applications, configure application settings, and revoke access to applications.
Business Use Case: Endpoint Manager remote access can be used to deploy and manage both on-premises and cloud-based applications. This can help improve the security of applications and ensure that remote employees always have access to the latest app versions.
3. Compliance Management
Microsoft Endpoint Manager helps businesses create and deploy compliance policies, and generate reports on compliance.
Business Use Case: Endpoint Manager remote access can be used to create and enforce compliance policies for remote workforce devices and applications. This can ensure that devices and applications are always in compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
4. Security Management
Microsoft Endpoint Manager includes antivirus protection, mobile threat defence, and encryption features to protect remote workforce devices and applications.
Business Use Case: Endpoint Manager remote access includes a variety of security features that can help protect remote workforce devices and applications from malware and other threats. These features include antivirus protection, mobile threat defence, and encryption.
5. Efficient Endpoint Management
Microsoft Endpoint Manager has a user-friendly web-based admin centre and offers robust data-driven reporting.
Business Use Case: Endpoint Manager remote access has a user-friendly web-based admin centre that makes it easy to manage remote workforce devices and applications. It also offers robust data-driven reporting that can help understand the performance and compliance status of devices and applications used by employees in a virtual work setup.
Why Endpoint Security for Remote Work
Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) helps organisations manage remote workforce devices, applications, and data in a secure, flexible, and efficient manner.
- Secure access to on-premises email and data: MEM enables remote workers to securely access on-premises email and data through Intune-managed certificates and a VPN gateway or proxy. Device enrolment in Intune ensures compliance with organizational policies before granting access.
- Conditional access for Office 365 security: MEM, coupled with Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EM+S), provides conditional access to Office 365 for remote workers. Policies, such as multi-factor authentication or device enrolment, can be enforced to ensure that only compliant devices and apps can access corporate data.
- Efficient corporate-owned phone deployment: MEM streamlines the deployment of corporate-owned phones for remote workers through bulk provisioning and management solutions integrated with device management platforms. This simplifies setup and configuration, allowing remote workers to access corporate apps with minimal administrative costs.
- Securing BYOD programs: MEM addresses the challenges of BYOD programs for remote workers by managing only corporate apps. This accommodates employees who may be reluctant to enrol personal devices in a management program. Intune’s protection policies safeguard corporate data, preventing unauthorized copying and maintaining a secure boundary between corporate and personal data.
- Limited-use shared tablets: MEM facilitates the issuance of limited-use shared tablets for specific job functions, such as inventory management or customer assistance, for remote workers. Through bulk provisioning and management, Intune ensures these devices operate in a limited-use mode, enabling shared access while maintaining security and control.