Today’s businesses are constantly evolving to meet the needs of a dynamic and digitally connected workforce. With the growing popularity of teleworking and hybrid models, there is an increasing demand for flexibility in the work environment. Employees today expect to choose what devices they use, whether it’s a traditional Windows PC or the increasingly popular MacBook. However, this flexibility brings new challenges to the security and management of corporate devices. How can we ensure that employees can securely use the devices they prefer without compromising the organisation’s security?
Flexibility For Employees: A Productivity Benefit
Offering employees the choice between Windows and macOS comes with a number of benefits. While some prefer the operating system they are familiar with, others may have specific software and application requirements that work better on one platform, than the other. Providing this choice can increase employee productivity and satisfaction, key factors in today’s competitive environment.
- Diverse needs: Employees such as developers, designers and creative professionals often prefer macOS for its stability and performance in graphics applications. In contrast, administrative and IT workers frequently rely on Windows due to its broad compatibility with enterprise applications and traditional business tools.
- Increase productivity: When employees use equipment they know and feel comfortable with, their productivity increases and the time required for training or adaptation decreases.
Security and Device Management Challenges
Offering a choice between Windows and macOS is a big draw, but it presents significant challenges for IT departments in terms of security and device management. Each operating system has its own specifics, and if not properly managed, they can pose a security risk.
- Different security policies: Windows and macOS have distinct approaches to updates, patches, encryption, and access management. While Windows traditionally offers more management features for IT administrators, macOS requires specific tools for effective management.
- Consistent security: Ensuring the same security standards across platforms can be complicated. Organizations must ensure that consistent rules are followed, such as regular updates, strong authentication procedures (including multi-factor authentication), and data encryption across both platforms.
Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): the key to secure management
Technology offers solutions to these challenges through Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) which enables efficient management of all devices – regardless of their operating system – from a central location. Modern UEM tools are designed to cover a wide range of functions to manage and secure endpoint devices across an organisation.
- Centralised management of different platforms
UEM allows IT departments to manage Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices from a single interface. This makes it easy to apply updates, install security patches, and monitor device health across the entire organisation. The centralized management ensures compliance with corporate security policies without requiring separate procedures for each platform.
- Automation of security policies
One of the advantages of UEM is the ability to automate security processes. For example, newly connected devices can automatically undergo a security scan and be added to a central management list. UEM also allows for automatic deployment of security policies, including data encryption, strong authentication or access control to key applications.
- Real-time security
Modern UEM tools provide continuous monitoring and response to security incidents. If a device is compromised (e.g., through unauthorised access or an attempt to install malware), it can be immediately isolated or locked down until the issue is resolved. This proactive approach reduces the risk of data breaches and attacks on corporate infrastructure.
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Support
As more employees use their own devices for work, security management becomes even more critical. UEM tools ensure that private devices meet security requirements without invading employees’ personal privacy. IT departments can remotely manage the work-related parts of these devices and protect corporate data without having access to the user’s private files.
Ensuring Security Across Facilities: Best Practices
While modern device management offers powerful tools, it is essential to follow certain procedures to ensure maximum security when using different devices:
- Regular updates and patches: Ensuring that all devices— whether Windows or macOS—have the latest security patches and updates is vital to protecting against vulnerabilities.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensuring that all systems require MFA at login greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, especially if the device is lost or stolen.
- Data encryption: Whether online or offline, data encryption ensures that sensitive information remains protected even if a device is compromised.
- Regular access control: UEM systems allow regular access control and auditing of company systems, ensuring that only authorized persons can access sensitive data.
Benefits for Employees and IT Departments
Deploying modern device management solutions offers significant benefits not only for employees but also for IT teams who gain better visibility and control over devices in the organization:
- Improved user experience: Employees can choose the device that best suits their work needs, leading to increased productivity and satisfaction.
- IT efficiency: IT teams can manage multiple platforms more efficiently with UEM, automating processes and minimizing manual security tasks.
- Security without compromise: Even though employees have freedom in their choice of equipment, the organisation does not lose security. UEM ensures that every device, whether Windows or Mac, meets stringent security requirements.
Conclusion
Modern device management through UEM tools allows organisations to give employees the freedom to choose their preferred platforms without compromising security. Whether using Windows, macOS or hybrid models, having the right tools and security practices in place ensures that corporate data remains protected. Flexibility in device choice increases productivity and employee satisfaction, while UEM provides the control and security needed to manage diverse environments effectively.
