What is endpoint management? Benefits, features & tools

How many devices does your organization actually have? If you're like most IT teams, the honest answer is "we're not entirely sure." Between company laptops, personal phones accessing work email, and tablets for field workers, keeping track of every endpoint feels impossible.

Yet every single one of these devices represents both an opportunity and a risk. They enable productivity and flexibility, but they also create potential entry points for cyber threats, compliance violations, and operational headaches. The challenge isn’t just the growing number of devices. It’s managing many different kinds of devices across multiple locations.

In fact, our state of the people leader report shows that 72% of IT leaders face significant challenges with their identity and mobile device management (MDM) providers, highlighting just how hard it is to maintain control across an expanding device landscape. This struggle is compounded by tool sprawl, with nearly 60% of IT leaders juggling seven or more systems every month.

Endpoint management transforms this chaos into control. Instead of playing endless games of device hide-and-seek, IT teams get centralized visibility and management capabilities that work across all devices, locations, and use cases. It's what makes the difference between reactive fire-fighting and proactive IT operations that actually support business growth.

For modern IT teams managing hybrid and remote workforces, endpoint management isn't just a nice-to-have. It's essential for maintaining security, compliance, and productivity at scale. 

Let's explore exactly what endpoint management involves and how it can transform your IT operations.

What is endpoint management?

Endpoint management is simply the centralized control and monitoring of all user devices (laptops, desktops, mobile phones, tablets, etc.) that access a company's network and data. 

It solves the fundamental challenge of maintaining control over devices you don’t physically manage by centralizing visibility. Beyond knowing what devices exist, endpoint management platforms enable IT teams to configure devices, install software, apply security updates, enforce policies, and even remotely wipe data when necessary. The goal is to ensure that every device touching company data complies with security and operational requirements.

How endpoint management works

Endpoint management platforms operate through a combination of software agents, cloud-based management consoles, and integration with existing IT infrastructure. This architecture allows IT administrators to remotely monitor, configure, and control devices from a centralized dashboard.

• Software agents on devices: Lightweight agents run on endpoints to report status, enforce policies, and execute commands across different operating systems and device types.

• Centralized management consoles: Web-based dashboards give IT administrators full visibility to monitor device health, push updates, enforce policies, and take actions like remote wipe or device lock.

• Scalability by design: The same centralized tools can manage thousands of devices with no more effort than managing a handful.

• Integration with IT systems: Endpoint management connects with identity management, MDM, cybersecurity, help desk, and compliance management software to streamline IT workflows.

Endpoint management vs. endpoint security

Endpoint management and endpoint security complement each other, but they serve different purposes:

Endpoint management focuses on visibility, control, and lifecycle management of devices throughout their operational lifespan. This includes tasks like device enrollment, software deployment, configuration management, policy enforcement, and device retirement. The primary goal is ensuring that all devices operate according to organizational standards and can be effectively managed at scale.

Endpoint security, on the other hand, specifically focuses on protecting devices from malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. It covers everything from anti-malware and firewalls to advanced capabilities like behavioral detection, vulnerability management, and data loss prevention. Modern endpoint protection platforms are designed to identify and neutralize threats that specifically target devices and the data they contain.

Why endpoint management matters for modern businesses

The shift to hybrid and remote work has made traditional, office-based IT approaches obsolete. With employees connecting from homes or coffee shops, IT teams can no longer rely on physical access for troubleshooting, updates, or enforcing security. Endpoint management provides the remote visibility and control needed to manage devices anywhere.

At the same time, compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 demand proof of control over how data is accessed and protected. Endpoint management delivers the audit trails, reporting, and enforcement capabilities organizations need to stay compliant and demonstrate due diligence.

Finally, the growing diversity of devices creates complexity and new security risks. Each device represents both a productivity tool and a potential attack vector. Endpoint management unifies control across platforms, reduces operational overhead, and ensures every endpoint is actively monitored as a critical security control point.

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Benefits of endpoint management

Beyond day-to-day device control, endpoint management offers more advantages which includes:

Reduces the risk of data breaches

Endpoint management ensures all devices meet security requirements through automated policy enforcement, reducing risks like unpatched software or weak authentication. If incidents occur, capabilities like remote wipe and device isolation help contain damage quickly.

Streamlines device onboarding and offboarding

New employee devices can be preconfigured automatically with required apps and security settings, while departing employees’ devices are secured and reset for reuse. This eliminates manual IT effort and reduces errors.

Supports remote and hybrid workforces

Endpoint management makes it possible to maintain consistent IT operations regardless of where employees work. Remote troubleshooting, updates, and security enforcement are applied consistently, whether devices are in the office or halfway across the world. This allows flexible work without losing operational control.

Improves IT efficiency and visibility

Centralized management reduces routine IT work while giving full visibility into device status and performance. Teams can automate updates, resolve issues proactively, and focus on more strategic initiatives.

Common endpoint management challenges

Despite its benefits, endpoint management comes with challenges that organizations must plan for carefully:

Device sprawl

As businesses grow, the number and variety of devices quickly expands. Each type comes with its own quirks, making policy creation, updates, and troubleshooting harder to manage at scale. Without standardization, IT teams are stretched thin trying to keep everything consistent. Unified endpoint management platforms ease this burden by bringing different device types under one system of control.

Shadow IT

Employees often install apps or connect to cloud services without IT approval. While convenient, these shadow tools bypass official controls and create new security risks and compliance gaps. Traditional endpoint management may not detect this activity, leaving blind spots in monitoring. The solution is to pair endpoint management with application visibility, user education, and security policies that support productivity without undermining oversight.

Remote access gaps

With hybrid work, IT teams can no longer rely on corporate networks or VPNs to manage devices. When employees connect from home or on public Wi-Fi, policies may not be enforced consistently, and offline devices can miss updates altogether. This leaves openings for attackers and complicates IT support. Cloud-based endpoint management avoids these gaps by maintaining continuous control regardless of location or network.

Compliance risk

Struggling to meet HIPAA, SOC 2, or other regulatory standards often stems from inadequate visibility into device configurations and user access patterns. Manual processes or siloed tools rarely deliver the level of evidence auditors expect. This creates the risk of fines, failed audits, and reputational damage. Centralized endpoint management platforms solve this with audit logs, automated reporting, and consistent enforcement across every device.

Complex tool stacks

Many organizations still rely on separate systems for endpoint, identity, and access management. These disconnected tools create inefficiencies, duplicate effort, and security blind spots where information doesn’t flow between systems. As a result, IT teams often miss events that span across platforms. Integrated solutions like Rippling IT management software reduce these silos and provide a single source of truth for managing users and devices.

Top 3 endpoint management software examples

The endpoint management space is full of options, but three solutions stand out for their capabilities and approach:

Rippling

Rippling approaches endpoint management as part of a broader IT and HR ecosystem. By tying device management directly to identity and access, it ensures that devices automatically align with the employee lifecycle—new hires get their laptops pre-configured, role changes trigger policy updates, and departing employees’ devices can be locked or wiped instantly. 

Beyond UEM, Rippling layers in automation for onboarding, compliance reporting, and security enforcement, making it a strong fit for lean IT teams that need scale without extra overhead.

Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Intune offers cloud-based endpoint management with deep integration into the Microsoft ecosystem. The solution applies zero trust principles and leverages AI to optimize IT operations. The Intune Suite also includes tools like remote help, endpoint privilege management, and advanced analytics, giving organizations a way to simplify management and strengthen endpoint security.

CrowdStrike Falcon

CrowdStrike Falcon is another AI-powered endpoint security solution that combines detection, protection, and response with adversary intelligence to stop data breaches. Its lightweight agent provides fleet-wide visibility and protection across operating systems, while features like CrowdStrike Signal and Charlotte AI enhance threat detection and automate investigations to cut response times.

8 endpoint management best practices

As much effective endpoint management needs tools, it’s also about building habits that keep your devices secure, consistent, and easy to manage. Here are some best practices to help you get there.

1. Adopt a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution

Instead of juggling multiple tools for Windows, Mac, mobile devices (iOS and Android), and IoT devices, adopt a UEM solution that brings them all under one roof. A single console makes it easier to apply security policies, train IT staff, and keep visibility across your entire device fleet.

2. Automate onboarding and offboarding

Manually setting up new devices or recovering old ones wastes time and creates security gaps. Automated workflows ensure every new laptop or phone gets the right apps and settings instantly, and departing employees’ devices are secured without IT chasing them down.

3. Implement role-based access controls (RBAC)

Not everyone needs the same level of access. With RBAC, employees only get the permissions required for their role, which reduces the chance of sensitive systems being exposed and keeps security tied directly to job function.

4. Standardize and enforce device configurations

When devices are all set up differently, troubleshooting and securing endpoints becomes a nightmare. Standardizing configurations for each user type ensures consistency, cuts down on vulnerabilities, and makes IT support far more straightforward.

5. Automate patch management

Patching manually leaves too much room for delays—and delays are where attackers strike. Automated patch management keeps every device up to date with the latest fixes, shrinking the window for potential exploits.

6. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools

Even with strong security management practices, threats can still slip through. EDR tools complement endpoint management by providing specialized cybersecurity monitoring and incident response capabilities that detect threats that might bypass traditional security controls.

7. Enable remote monitoring and support

With hybrid and remote work, IT can’t rely on having devices in the office. Remote monitoring and support let teams troubleshoot issues, push updates, and keep devices secure no matter where they’re located.

8. Regularly audit and decommission inactive devices

Forgotten or unused devices are a quiet but serious risk. Regular cybersecurity audits help IT teams spot inactive endpoints, wipe them securely, and recover licenses or hardware, keeping the fleet lean and reducing exposure.

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Key features of endpoint management software tools

Effective endpoint management platforms provide comprehensive capabilities that address the full lifecycle of device management and security.

Device inventory and visibility

A core feature of an endpoint management solution is full visibility into all devices on your network. With detailed hardware and software inventories, health status, and user assignments, IT teams can make informed decisions about policies, deployments, and security risks.

Policy enforcement

Endpoint management tools automate security and configuration policies so every device stays compliant with organizational standards. Features like configuration management, application control, and continuous security validation ensure security policies are enforced consistently, not just during check-ins.

Remote configuration and updates

With endpoint management solutions, IT can configure settings, deploy apps, and push updates from a central console. This ensures devices stay consistent, secure, and updated no matter where employees are working.

Device lock and remote wipe

When a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, endpoint management software can lock it down or wipe it remotely. These features protect sensitive company data and support compliance requirements for data security.

Application management

Managing software across a mixed fleet is simplified with centralized application control. Endpoint management software makes it easy to install required applications, push updates, and block risky or unauthorized apps across both desktop and mobile devices.

Patch management

Automated patch management reduces security risks by quickly deploying updates across all devices. Testing and rollback options ensure patches don’t disrupt users, while reporting confirms that updates are applied successfully.

Endpoint detection and response (EDR)

Some endpoint management tools include built-in EDR, providing real-time threat detection and automated response. By spotting suspicious behavior and isolating compromised devices, EDR strengthens your defense against attacks that slip past traditional controls.

How Rippling simplifies endpoint and device management

Rippling takes a fundamentally different approach to endpoint management by integrating device control with comprehensive identity and access management. 

Instead of treating device management as a separate IT function, Rippling connects device policies directly with user lifecycle management, creating unified control over both user accounts and device access.

This integrated approach eliminates many of the coordination challenges that organizations face when using separate tools for user management and device management. When someone joins your company, changes roles, or leaves the organization, their device access and configurations automatically adjust based on their employment status and role requirements.

For advanced protection, Rippling integrates with leading security platforms like SentinelOne, allowing IT to pair centralized device management with real-time threat detection and automated incident response. If a device shows signs of compromise, IT can both secure it through Rippling and leverage SentinelOne’s EDR to isolate or remediate the threat immediately.

What sets Rippling apart is how it consolidates multiple IT functions into one platform. Instead of managing separate tools for identity, apps, and devices, IT teams get a single console with full visibility across the fleet. Security gaps shrink because policies, access, and compliance are enforced consistently no matter where employees work.

The result is a system that blends automation, visibility, and security, enabling IT teams to manage thousands of endpoints with the same effort as dozens.

Endpoint management FAQs

What is the difference between EDR and endpoint management?

EDR (endpoint detection and response) focuses specifically on identifying and responding to security threats targeting devices, while endpoint management encompasses the broader set of capabilities needed to control and maintain devices throughout their lifecycle. EDR provides specialized threat hunting, behavioral analysis, and incident response capabilities, while endpoint management includes device configuration, software deployment, policy enforcement, and administrative functions. 

How do endpoint management systems handle remote workers?

Endpoint management systems are built to manage devices anywhere, not just inside the office. Because they run on cloud-based platforms, updates, policies, and security commands can reach remote devices over any internet connection. Even if a device goes offline, cached policies ensure security rules continue to apply until it reconnects.

What's the best endpoint management tool for small businesses?

The best endpoint management tool for small businesses depends on specific requirements like device types, security needs, and budget constraints. Small businesses often benefit from cloud-based solutions that require minimal infrastructure investment and provide easy scalability. Key factors to consider include ease of deployment, ongoing management requirements, integration with existing tools, and cost per device. Many small businesses find success with platforms like Rippling that combine endpoint management with other IT functions, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools.

How does UEM improve security posture across devices?

UEM improves security posture by unifying management and endpoint protection for all devices connected to a network, including laptops, desktops, and smartphones. It ensures every device connecting to company resources follows security policies, combining endpoint management with endpoint security to reduce risks and maintain compliance.