Modern endpoint solutions: What they are and why you need them
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Why should organizations use modern endpoint solutions?
Today’s employees need to connect to their workplaces quickly and securely—from virtually any location and using a variety of devices and platforms. Modern endpoint solutions, delivered through an optimized cloud infrastructure, provide individuals with the flexibility, mobility, and security required to work from anywhere, anytime.
Read on to learn more about modern endpoint solutions, including why they’re critical to business productivity, protection, and growth. Also, find out ways to cost-effectively implement them.
Why should organizations use modern end-user computing and endpoint solutions?
Gone are the days when office and other workers used primarily company-owned, onsite devices to access apps and data stored in on-premises facilities. In recent years, this traditional approach to end-user computing (EUC) prevented many companies from responding to rapidly shifting business conditions and user expectations. Innovations in endpoint solutions, such as virtual applications and desktops, have also motivated companies to evolve their end-user computing solutions.
Increasingly, to be competitive, organizations of all sizes must support:
- Hybrid and multicloud work environments.
- Secure use of personal and company-owned devices.
- Reliable access to apps, data, and other computing resources.
- Rich, robust productivity and collaboration tools for employees.
- Automated and other AI-assisted processes and tools.
- Streamlined endpoint management and security.
Whether they’re entrepreneurs running a small business or executives overseeing corporations, leaders are taking a closer look at endpoint solutions.
What are modern endpoints and what is their role?
A modern endpoint solution is any device, app, operating system, or other technology that connects to and exchanges information with computer networks. Today’s endpoint solutions are key components of end-user computing—an umbrella term that comprises the strategies, solutions, workflows, and policies for empowering employees to collaborate and work productively regardless of location.
Endpoint solutions include the following computing resources:
Employee endpoint devices
- Desktop computers, including workstations
- Notebook computers
- Laptops
- Smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other mobile devices
- Servers
- Internet-of-things (IoT) devices
Other employee resources
- Apps, such as Microsoft 365
- Operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows 11
- Virtual solutions, such as Windows 365 Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop
IT resources
- Endpoint management and monitoring platforms, including Microsoft Intune
- Mobile device and application management tools
- Virtualization software
- File sync-and-share services
Today’s endpoint solutions should have some if not all of the following characteristics:
- On-demand scalability
- Built-in security
- Easy to deploy and use
- Cross-device support
- Available in the cloud and on-premises
- AI and automation support
Benefits of modern endpoints and end-user computing
Modern end-user computing requires a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), which hosts virtualized apps, operating systems, and data on centralized servers in a secure cloud environment.
Organizations that update their infrastructures to support innovative endpoint solutions can achieve the following benefits:
- Greater productivity—Individuals and teams don’t need to be onsite in company facilities to access company resources, collaborate with one another, and stay productive. They have flexibility to securely connect to personalized digital workspaces from wherever they choose and using different devices and platforms. Virtual desktop resources, such as apps and cloud storage, can also be customized for specific job roles and requirements. For example, warehouse managers at a manufacturing company can use their team collaboration app to video conference with supply chain, quality control, and other leaders at the corporate office.
- Improved endpoint management—IT teams no longer need to use disparate management solutions to control their organization’s myriad devices and other endpoints. Instead, they can use centralized endpoint management tools to streamline critical tasks, reducing day-to-day workloads and freeing staff for higher-value activities. For instance, to quickly get building projects up and running, the IT team at a construction company can use a centralized console to seamlessly add work crews to shared, interactive workspaces that promote productivity.
- Higher employee satisfaction—Companies can embrace popular workforce trends, such as hybrid and remote work environments and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) Employees who have greater flexibility in how and where they work are generally happier in their jobs. For example, a law firm can adopt a BYOD policy that gives lawyers freedom to use their personal devices to confidentially communicate with clients and colleagues while on the go, such as when traveling to courtrooms.
- Improved security—Sensitive data is stored in secure cloud or on-premises central servers, not on end-user applications, systems, and devices—significantly reducing risks associated with remote work. In addition, with centralized visibility into and control over all user identities and endpoints, security teams can more easily enforce security protocols, including user and access requirements, and stop cyberattacks. For instance, medical professionals making rounds in a hospital can use tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices to securely access and update patient information.
- Reduced total cost of ownership (TCO)—By using cloud-based servers and storage, companies can limit upfront IT investments, including hardware and software licenses. They can scale resources up and down as needed and pay for only what they use. They further reduce IT complexity and costs with unified, cloud-based endpoint management tools. Rather than manually maintaining individual hardware devices, IT teams can automatically install systems and software and roll out security patches and other updates from a centralized console. This is especially helpful for large call centers with global workforces, who must efficiently maintain hundreds or thousands of endpoints.
- Increased resiliency—During planned and unplanned outages, employees can continue to access virtual desktops and applications remotely over a reliable network using company or personal devices. For example, during power outages, employees at retail outlets can access central point-of-sale (POS) systems using mobile devices. In addition, with greater network visibility, IT teams can take proactive steps to prepare for potential disruptions and maintain business continuity.
- Enhanced compliance—Financial, government, and other highly regulated organizations can support remote work while still adhering to strict security and privacy regulations. For example, the IT team at a financial firm can set compliance policies that define which users and devices can remotely access the firm’s networks and data. Authorized accountants can then work on clients’ income tax returns from home by connecting to secure desktop workspaces.
Implementing modern endpoints
Across industries, organizations continue to find new ways to drive value from end-user computing tools. However, deploying innovative endpoint solutions requires a comprehensive approach to modernization.
Here are key steps for planning and implementing a successful EUC strategy:
- Assess your infrastructure. A backend VDI requires high-performance servers, storage, and networking components to support your organization’s computing needs today and in the future.
- Embrace cloud technologies. As part of the assessment, determine how to best evolve your cloud-based resources. For example, large organizations can use a hybrid cloud model to accelerate their digital transformation, including running a desktop and app virtualization service in the cloud. Also, compare cloud storage versus on-premises storage solutions, such as for data backup and recovery. Cloud storage has become a must-have for small businesses seeking to provide secure file sharing and other core functions to remote workers.
- Develop a roadmap. Identify and prioritize potential business scenarios for end-user computing that consider specific user roles and responsibilities, device types, work settings, and workflows.
- Establish a budget. Look for ways to continue to get value from existing technologies, such as converting desktops, laptops, and other hardware to virtual endpoints.
- Champion AI and automation. Determine how to effectively use endpoint solutions to facilitate new ways of working across your extended network. Large organizations can provide nontechnical and technical teams with generative AI assistants and other time-saving, AI-powered solutions that boost productivity. Also keep in mind the many applications of AI for small business, including enhancing marketing initiatives and streamlining customer service.
- Create user-centric experiences. Design intuitive interfaces for virtual desktops and applications that speed access to resources and are customizable. This includes refactoring desktop apps into mobile-friendly versions.
- Establish a change management strategy. Prepare IT teams to adopt and roll out new endpoint solutions and how to use new endpoint management and security tools.
- Centralize endpoint management and security. Unified endpoint management tools simplify oversight of diverse devices, apps, and data—making them essential to EUC modernization. Look for solutions with security built in to every layer, from chip to cloud.
- Adapt and optimize. Track and measure the impact of new end-user computing tools on IT and other teams on an ongoing basis. Update your strategy as your business and IT needs change and as endpoint technologies evolve.
Security in modern endpoint solutions
Cybercriminals have traditionally targeted endpoint devices that are used outside the boundaries of secured organizational networks—and hence are more vulnerable to certain types of cyberattacks. For example, despite antivirus software, cybercriminals find ways to use remote endpoints to steal confidential information, hold assets hostage, and carry out denial-of-service attacks.
Fortunately, EUC innovations enhance not only workplace flexibility and productivity but also bolster workplace security. Companies can keep ahead of today’s sophisticated cyberthreats with comprehensive endpoint security that includes:
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
- Multifactor authentication access
- Data encryption and privacy
- Antivirus and anti-malware software
Future-proof your organization with modern endpoints
Organizations of all sizes that adopt modern endpoint solutions today set themselves up for success tomorrow. By embracing virtualized resources and cloud solutions, they accelerate their digital transformation while maintaining scalability and flexibility to grow. To stay competitive, it’s also important that organizations keep up with emerging trends in endpoint modernization, including the following:
- Cloud adoption—Cloud-based endpoint management solutions will continue to grow in popularity and prevalence as organizations seek to simplify IT operations.
- Endpoint security—Cybersecurity remains a top priority across industries. As cyberthreats evolve, IT teams will continue to transform how they secure endpoints.
- Automation—Process automation will continue to be a key driver of endpoint modernization, helping IT teams to work more efficiently and freeing them to focus on more strategic activities.
- AI—Security teams will increasingly use AI-generated insights and workflows to more quickly and accurately identify and respond to cyberthreats. IT teams will also rely on AI to improve endpoint performance and minimize downtime.
Get started with endpoint modernization
Empower productive experiences, support a flexible work environment, and simplify endpoint management—all while increasing security.
With Microsoft’s secure cloud platform, productivity and collaboration apps, and endpoint management tools, your organization can confidently deploy innovative endpoint and end-user computing solutions.
Learn more about how to empower your workforce with modern endpoints.
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