Effective endpoint management programs aim to reduce IT costs across BYOD, CYOD, and other programs. Learn more about key features to help reduce total cost of ownership here.
The cost of IT is rising in the enterprise sector. The high pace of technology innovation has introduced shorter technology refresh cycles, creating a complex IT environment where new devices, applications, and other internet-enabled “things” (IoT) are being added. As endpoints, device types, and operating systems multiply, IT staffing rarely multiplies along with the growth. Managing all of the settings, applications, and support for computers and mobile devices with multiple management solutions only adds another layer of complexity – and cost.
The total cost of ownership (TCO) for endpoint devices in the enterprise sector attempts to reconcile both the hard and soft costs associated with the 3+ devices employees use daily for work activities, including maintenance, support, training, security, and employee productivity. Whether enterprise- or employee-owned, organizations need to take a multi-faceted approach to managing the rising IT costs.
How to Manage Rising IT Costs Associated with Endpoint Management
Although technology lifecycles contribute to rising IT costs, the vast majority of IT costs related to device ownership is related to endpoint management. In fact, while bring your own device (BYOD) and choose your own device (CYOD) programs can reduce technology lifecycle costs, ineffective endpoint management of these programs can add significant management costs that inflate total costs.
Effective endpoint management programs aim to reduce IT costs, regardless of whether the device is corporate-owned, BYOD, or CYOD:
Reduce Complexity
The shift to mobility has driven the need for unified, multi-platform, and cloud-based solutions and applications for everything from endpoint management to office management and data storage. Unified solutions reduce technology costs and give users a consistent solution across all their devices. From an IT management perspective, a single solution reduces the complexity of managing multiple platforms and operating systems.
Leverage Machine Learning / AI / Automation
Some estimates suggest that ineffective endpoint management processes cost organizations millions of dollars. Any solution that is able to identify threats or automate repetitive processes such as deployment or patch management will simplify the management of endpoint devices.
Reduce Shadow IT
Today’s users are self-reliant, finding and downloading their own “solutions” to remain productive. Shadow IT reduces visibility and introduces risk, contributing to $1.7 billion lost to downtime and data loss. Give users an alternative way to solve their problems with a customizable self-service kiosk filled with approved applications, content, and resources.
Self-Healing Security
Leverage layered endpoint security reinforced by automated self-healing to ensure that critical security layers remain effective for both corporate-owned and BYOD devices without infringing on user productivity
Improve Patching
Most organizations are more “porous” than they think, with 90% of hacks attributed to unpatched systems. It is not difficult to tie the cost of these breaches (now an average $3.86 million) to the TCO for endpoint devices, so perhaps the biggest IT savings are going to come from better patch management.
Optimize Device Lifecycle
For corporate-owned devices, newer really is better. Devices over five years old require more IT time, introduce more security risks, and reduce employee productivity from slow systems & software incompatibility issues.
IT departments across every industry face the same challenge of rising IT costs and often shrinking IT budgets. In Part 1 of this series, we explored how school districts have responded to the rising costs of technology and lifecycle challenges by carefully tracking and managing the TCO for K12 devices. Effective endpoint management has emerged across industries as a proven solution to reduce IT costs and increase efficiencies throughout the organization.
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