Desktop management is a comprehensive approach to managing all the computers within an organization. Despite its name, desktop management can include overseeing, monitoring and upgrading laptops, smartphones and IoT computing devices, as well as desktop computers.
Desktop management is a component of systems management, which is the administration of all components of an organization's IT systems.
Traditional desktop management tasks include installing and maintaining hardware and software, using spam filtering and administering user permissions.
However, security-related tasks have become an increasingly large part of desktop management for IT departments in recent years. As a result, an ever-larger proportion of administrative resources has shifted to security-related tasks, including the following:
Desktop Management Interface (DMI) was a framework to centrally manage and track hardware and software elements in a system of PCs. It officially reached its end-of-life status on March 31, 2005, when it was replaced by a collection of DMTF standards known as Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware (DASH).
DASH relies heavily on the Common Information Model (CIM), which helps system administrators control devices and applications from multiple manufacturers. Using CIM and the WS-Management specification, DASH facilitates collecting, monitoring and managing several desktop and mobile systems.
When properly implemented, desktop management tools can boost efficiency and productivity, improve security and help IT administrators support endpoint devices through their lifecycle.
Organizations can use desktop management and unified endpoint management (UEM) to ensure that users apply security best practices, patches are pushed out and installed regularly, and only authorized users and devices are permitted access to the network.
As remote work grows increasingly prevalent, organizations must adopt tools and processes that allow work and tech support to remain seamless.
A remote desktop enables a user to connect to a computer in another location and interact with it as if they were accessing it locally. Remote desktop management also allows IT to oversee a user's local desktop, regardless of its location, and ensure that patches are correctly installed, only authorized devices connect to the network, and any system or software errors are identified and solved with minimal disruption to work. A remote desktop connection is made possible with one of several protocols, including Microsoft's remote desktop protocol, virtual network computing or others.
Managing endpoint devices has necessitated the use of multiple specialized tools. Over time, these tools have consolidated into UEM. Whether presented as individual offerings or aspects of a UEM platform, these tools include the following:
Choosing the right desktop management software has become increasingly complex as the number of an organization's mobile devices, desktops and software components grows. The rise of UEM aims to simplify this process by creating a centralized platform.
When comparing desktop management and UEM tools, the determining factor will often be how a particular offering handles certain features, such as patch management, remote access, asset management and tracking, content management, security and more.
While Windows continues to be the dominant OS in many organizations, macOS is becoming increasingly popular, and IT must find the right endpoint management tool to support it. These platforms are either specially tailored for macOS -- and other Apple devices -- or have tools that can support multiple OSes. Choosing the best macOS management software is dependent on the organization's endpoint and user requirements, budget and a close examination of the offered features.
As organizations consider what OSes they plan to support, many vendors are beginning to offer alternative models for endpoint procurement and management. Device as a service and PC as a service are device lifecycle management models that outsource hardware and management services to the vendor in exchange for a lease or monthly subscription.
These as-a-service models ease the strain on IT and can be especially beneficial for smaller organizations or those with a strict budget. It's important to note that these are different from desktop as a service, a cloud computing offering for virtual desktops.
There are several benefits associated with implementing a desktop management initiative within an organization, including the following:
The IT department faces several challenges, including those listed below, as they focus on desktop and endpoint management across an organization:
23 May 2022