What is modern management?
Modern management is the method of managing devices, OS, and applications, in a unified, secure way natively from the cloud. Modern management can be considered an evolution of unified endpoint management (UEM), and provides improved security, management, and situational awareness to IT departments for users and applications across the enterprise.
The goals of embracing modern management processes also include providing an improved user experience regardless of how users are connected – whether on-premises, remotely, or through the use of SaaS applications. This delivers a consistent experience for all users anywhere, at any time, from any device.
How has modern management evolved?
The concept of IT management has undergone a radical metamorphosis over the past several decades. Computing has changed from mainframes that utilized bulky, stationary CRT monitor and keyboard terminals to hybrid, multi-cloud infrastructure accessed by a seemingly limitless array of endpoint devices, many of which fit in a user’s pocket.
Early IT management revolved around troubleshooting physical mainframe and minicomputer (i.e., server) issues, with the emergence of the personal computer adding PC break/fix and install/move/change responsibilities to the IT support organizations. Remote access was a complicated affair involving terminals or PCs equipped with terminal emulation adapters, and speeds were typically limited to 9600 bits per second. Virtually all users were locally attached to on-premises infrastructure.
As laptops and tablets gained acceptance and broadband became widely available, mobility gained popularity and enterprise mobility management (EMM) to support a mobile workforce became a critical responsibility for IT organizations. Workforce trends have led a shift away from managing devices only on-premises / on-network, creating new IT security and management challenges as IT realized it must combine EMM with other client management tools (CMTs). Unified endpoint management (UEM) gives IT teams the ability to manage all end user devices from a single console regardless of the location of either IT or end users.
The increasing complexity created by supporting an ever-growing list of applications and endpoint devices has driven IT to go beyond UEM to enable deployment, management, control, auditing, support, and security of any user, device, or application – without the need to configure each instance – from a single console. This combination of capabilities that marries management, security, and support capabilities has been named modern management.
Why is modern management important?
The ever-growing number of devices and applications puts an onerous burden on IT, who need to manage traditional desktops and servers while supporting Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Windows devices ranging from laptops to smartphones to wearables and kiosks.
Business application management must similarly cover a broad range of applications from traditional enterprise to single-function smartphone applications that can streamline a given user's task. The process of packaging, delivering, and patching applications can be time intensive and open organizations up to security risk. In addition to securing applications, securing a widespread user base – including employees, contractors, partners, and customers – can be a complex endeavor, especially when all users require varying levels of access to different types of tools and information.
Modern management brings together the various elements of management and security to control all devices, applications, and users from a single pane of glass.
What are the benefits of modern management?
There are four major benefits of adopting a modern management approach, which benefit users and admins:
- Reduced IT burden: Modern tools enable many routine IT functions to be automated so that only exception handling requires direct IT intervention. Taking automation a step further, leaders in modern management provide the ability to orchestrate entire IT workflows. Cloud-native self-service tools help end users and IT by further reducing the need for IT to initiate tickets or reset passwords.
- Robust security: Having a single pane of glass to monitor and manage multiple security functions simplifies and strengthens security enterprise-wide. Admins can manage patches, allowlist/denylist, zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and email security all from a single console. Additionally, provisioning users, devices, and applications from a single console enables IT professionals to manage all endpoints efficiently.
- Supports enterprise modernization: A hybrid workforce that utilizes a broad range of devices presents many challenges, such as delivering a modern, user experience, access to legacy and mobile applications from anywhere, and, of course, security. Modern management enables a consistent experience for both the users and the IT teams that are responsible for managing, supporting, and deploying users and applications.
- Consumer-like consistent user experience (UX): Thanks to the gamification and consumerization of IT, users now expect the same kind of experience for enterprise applications that they enjoy with their mobile phones and games. Modern management helps accelerate everything from application launch time to what the user sees on their screen, regardless of device or connectivity.
Benefits of modern management with Omnissa Workspace ONE
An all-in-one device management solution addresses both security and accessibility needs for any enterprise environment:
- Quickly and efficiently add new devices to the enterprise network.
- Save time by deploying devices from one console.
- Send updates and configure new device settings over the air.
- Wipe or lock managed devices remotely.
- Guaranteed performance when using the latest web browsers.
With Omnissa Workspace ONE, IT departments have the control they need to configure, secure, and monitor all the endpoints in the enterprise, while giving employees the flexibility to choose their preferred working environment.
