IT departments have for a long time relied on tools such as firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), complex passwords, and antivirus software, among others to deploy and manage network security, endpoints, and applications from within corporate walls.
But the modern workplace has transformed. Now it’s anywhere and everywhere.
Employees want the freedom to use the endpoint, application, or network of their choosing. Most of these devices fall outside the scope of the traditional network perimeter, posing a significant threat to enterprise security and creating complexity for those in charge of their management.
The modern agile workforce depends on collaboration and communication across devices regardless of platform, ownership, and security. Organizations that can meet these expectations have a competitive advantage over the others, especially in the area of productivity, efficiency, and recruiting and retaining top talent. But meeting those expectations is no easy task. Organizations would have to support the growing number of personal devices and applications, secure those endpoints to protect their proprietary data and provide a consistently great employee experience. This is where the Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) tool comes into play.
A UEM is a class of software tools that provide a single console and capabilities for securing and managing all endpoints including servers, desktops, tablets, mobile devices, embedded devices, virtual machines, IoT, and wearables. UEM is an evolution of, and replacement for, mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM), and client management tools. Ivanti Endpoint Manager is the cutting-edge UEM tool that gives organizations complete control over the “everywhere workplace”.
What is Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager?
Ivanti Endpoint Manager is one of the leading UEM platforms that allows IT to deliver a secure digital workspace. Ivanti rose to prominence following a series of acquisitions of key players in IT security, identity management, and UEM such as RES Software, Pulse Secure, MobileIron, and others. With Ivanti Endpoint Manager, organizations can discover their assets everywhere, secure work experience, and automatically identify and fix endpoint issues with real-time intelligence. It leverages AI and machine learning to address the growing security concerns of the modern workplace; and is available on-premise or in the cloud with Ivanti Neurons for UEM.
But Ivanti Endpoint Manager is much more than that. It’s also a tool for single sign-on (SSO) management, user management, device management, device health checks, update management, resource management, device security, access control, and app delivery. Using Ivanti Endpoint Manager transforms and brings order to a chaotic business and network environment while keeping your business assets and network resources secure, and providing the freedom your employees need to be more productive. Ivanti was named a leader in the Q4 2021 Forrester Wave UEM, as well as the only UEM visionary in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UEM.
Key features and capabilities include:
- Provides capabilities for managing, migrating, provisioning, and deployment of operating systems such as Windows (physical and virtual), macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and IoT devices including Apple TV and Raspberry Pi.
- Automate software rollouts and application patching to targeted groups of users to remediate security threats and keep endpoints up-to-date.
- Manage and secure Windows and Mac devices from one single console with easy enrollment (including Windows Autopilot and Apple Business Manager) and policy management.
- Integrated threat protection with open interfaces for custom automation projects
- Transparent and simple licensing model without hidden costs
- Ability to manage both traditional and modern devices
Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager in Action
Unified Asset Management Since Ivanti Endpoint Manager is a SaaS-based application, there are no system requirements and no installation hassles other than the usual signup process unless you are deploying on-premise. However, you’ll be required to install local agents. Devices need the Endpoint Manager agents on them to be fully manageable. All Endpoint Manager components require the standard Ivanti agent, which is installed by default on all device installations. The standard Ivanti agent provides device discovery and manages device communication, among other things.
When you configure a device with the Agent configuration tool, the inventory scanner is one of the components of the standard Endpoint Manager agent that gets installed on the device. The inventory scanner runs automatically when the device is initially configured, collects hardware and software data, and enters it into the core database. A device is considered managed once it sends an inventory scan to the core database.
Other device management capabilities include:
- Application of policies, personalization, and actions quickly across all devices
- Provision of assets or services to users via self-service or a targeted distribution
- Leverage the intelligence of the system to determine which users and devices get what.
Windows Management Ivanti Unified Endpoint Management simplifies the management of Windows-based assets. IT admins can onboard new Windows devices quickly by leveraging Windows Autopilot, without requiring Microsoft InTune, giving you a way to provision users’ devices with zero-touch. The user receives their new Windows device ready to go from the first time they power on their device. The solution also enables you to migrate users’ settings and files easily to Windows 10 or 11 OS, as well as automates the large, frequent Windows-as-a-Service updates with minimal network overhead.
Mobility and Service Management Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager brings an end to the complexities of separate solutions for client management, user experience management, and mobility management by integrating all of these features into one platform. It simplifies and secures enterprise mobility alongside your users’ devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. It also provides capabilities for remote control and problem resolution, monitoring and alerting, inventory discovery, license management, workplace personalization, and more.
Endpoint Security Management Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager functions as an antivirus and protects from every kind of threat, spyware, malware, ransomware attacks, and automated remediation from a single console. The standard Ivanti agent, which is installed by default on all device installations includes the Ivanti Endpoint Security for Endpoint Manager security scanner. Ivanti also allows integration with third-party patch management servers for faster vulnerability remediation. Its automated healing program allows the infected or vulnerable devices to heal and secure automatically and continuously.
Administrative Interface The Ivanti Administrator console lets you perform network management functions from one location. From a single console, you can distribute and update software or configuration settings, diagnose hardware and software issues, deploy OS images, migrate user profiles, and use remote control features to resolve problems.
The admin console also allows you to control console user access to both features and devices using an extensive set of role-based administration features. You can assign granular feature-based group permissions and permissions to multiple users through local or LDAP user groups. Access to devices can be restricted to a particular device platform, processor type, hardware or software attribute, or geographic location such as a country, region, state, city, or even a single office or department. With role-based administration, it’s completely up to you how many different roles you want to create, which users can act in those roles, and how large or small their device access scope should be.
Dashboards and Reporting Ivanti Endpoint Manager comes with a dashboard that is designed to give you quick access to useful data. The dashboard pages are aesthetically pleasing from a visual perspective and display report summaries with charts and Advisor data. Ivanti provides a tool known as Ivanti Xtraction which you can use to create business-value dashboards easily, and ties together all your information into data visualizations that give you deeper visibility into your network and promotes quick action from your teams.
The reporting tool can be used to generate detailed reports that provide critical information about the devices on your network. This tool takes advantage of the Endpoint Manager inventory scanning utility, which collects and organizes hardware and software data, to produce useful up-to-date reports.
Licensing and Price Plans Ivanti does not disclose pricing details publicly on their website, but you can request a price quote based on your specific product and environment needs. A free live demo and a free trial of Ivanti Endpoint Manager are also available on request. The trial delivers access to the full Endpoint Management Suite, including both Ivanti Endpoint Manager and Ivanti Endpoint Security for Endpoint Manager.
Ivanti Endpoint Manager Alternatives
If you figured out that Ivanti Endpoint Manager is not the right UEM solution for your business, check out the following possible alternatives:
- Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) It is a UEM that enables businesses to securely provision flexible workspaces for their employees, whether on desktops or mobile devices, on-premises or in the cloud, in the office or out in the field. VMware was named a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UEM. A free trial is available on request. MEM is highly scalable and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, including Microsoft 365, making it a particularly strong UEM solution for enterprises using the latest 365 cloud features.
- VMware Workspace ONE It is one of the leading UEM platforms that allows IT to deliver a secure digital workspace. It integrates access control, application management, and multi-platform endpoint management into a single platform and is available as a cloud service or on-premises deployment. VMware was named a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UEM. A free trial is available on request.
- IBM Security MaaS360 It is a cloud-based UEM platform that helps organizations manage and secure a heterogeneous pool of endpoints, end-users, and everything in between. IBM Security MaaS360 comes with Watson AI capabilities to deliver actionable security insights across your enterprise. A 30-day free trial is available on request.
- ManageEngine Desktop Central It is an on-premises and cloud-based UEM solution from ManageEngine that enables IT administrators to effectively manage endpoints such as servers, laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, and wearables from a central point. Desktop Central features and capabilities include inventory management, configurations management, patch management, service pack installation, software installation, desktop sharing, system tools, active directory, and user logon report, among others. A free 30-day trial is available
- BlackBerry Spark UEM It is a one-stop platform that enables your employees to securely work from any device, anywhere. It streamlines the management process across devices such as desktops, and mobile and IoT devices. The BlackBerry Spark UEM Suites can be delivered on-premises, as a cloud service, or in a mixed model. The product is available on a free trial.
- Citrix Endpoint Management It is a SaaS-based UEM tool that enables organizations to bring every endpoint, application, and network from any location into one unified view to deliver the digital workspace employees need to be productive. Devices running Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS can be enrolled into the system.
- Matrix42 Secure UEM It combines the advantages of classic client lifecycle management (CLM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM) in a single platform. Matrix42 Secure operates a user-based licensing model that allows your employees to use as many devices as desired without incurring additional costs. The service can be accessed in the cloud, operated on-premises in your infrastructure, or in a hybrid model. A 30-day free trial is available on request.
- Google Endpoint Management It allows organizations to enable employees access to Google Workspace and other Google services they use for work from any device and anywhere. With Google Endpoint Management, you can make your organization’s data more secure across your users’ endpoints such as Android, IOS, Linux, Windows, and Mac devices.
- Hexnode UEM It is a cloud-based solution that allows businesses to manage endpoints from a centralized console. Hexnode UEM incorporates Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions to secure, track, and manage corporate and personal devices. Hexnode supports almost all major platforms including Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, Fire OS, and Apple TVs. You can check it out by signing up for a 14-day free trial.
- 42Gears UEM It offers a single platform that empowers IT teams to control and manage all endpoints, regardless of type, user, or use case without compromising security. Supported devices and OSs include desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, wearables, IoT, printers, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. A free online demo and a free 30-day trial are available on request.
