Do you think endpoint management is a complex task? And, is it because you face a lot of challenges while managing endpoints at your organization? If yes, then you have landed at the right place.
As an IT admin who manages multiple endpoints (be it 25, 50, 100 or 1000), the struggle you go through would definitely be a nightmare. So, how about we understand what these challenges are and take some load off by providing you with their solutions.
Top 12 endpoint management challenges and their solutions
Major endpoint management challenges faced by IT Teams
Enterprises face a long list of problems when securing and managing their endpoint devices. Below are twelve of the most common challenges you would be experiencing:
1. Complex IT environments
Devices run across OSs (Windows, macOS, Android, Linux) and ownership models (BYOD, COPE, COBO). Add in USB drives and IoT assets, and standardizing policies becomes nearly impossible. Without a single platform to manage each device, endpoint security management suffers, leading to major endpoint security threats.
2. Lack of visibility and control
An increase in remote and hybrid teams, multiple devices operating on-premise, and BYOD make it difficult for IT teams to monitor and keep track of activities on each device. Moreover, remote devices may never connect to corporate networks directly.
In such situations, IT admins don’t know which devices are being used, what apps are installed, or if the devices follow company policies. This lack of visibility creates blind spots. IT can’t remediate what it can’t see, so breaches and security issues may go undetected.
3. Mitigating security risks
Every new endpoint raises the “front door” to breaches. From malware and ransomware to phishing links and rogue Wi-Fi networks, the threats are evolving faster than traditional security models can keep up.
Employees unintentionally expose devices to attacks by clicking on malicious links or accessing unsecured public networks. A compromised device can quickly lead to domain-wide infection or data theft.
4. Controlling user access to corporate data
Ensuring only authorized users and devices reach sensitive resources is a major challenge. Traditional perimeter-based authentication is insufficient. Modern security calls for Zero-Trust controls such as role-based and attribute-based access control, and context-aware access that grants users access only after verifying the user’s identity and device compliance. Without such security measures, stolen credentials or rogue devices could freely harvest corporate data.
5. Shadow IT
When employees use unauthorized apps or hardware, it multiplies risk. This hampers security because IT lacks visibility into these rogue endpoints, which often have weak security or missing patches. Controlling shadow IT requires both policy enforcement and tools that can discover unknown devices on the network.
6. Rising compliance mandates
Industries face an ever-growing list of regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc. Each of these demands strict data security and audit-readiness. Failing to prove endpoint compliance can result in hefty fines and legal penalties. This makes it critical for IT admins to enforce encryption, access controls, and reporting on endpoints to meet these mandates.
7. Keeping up with evolving threats
The cyber threat landscape never stands still, with new malware and attack vectors emerging constantly. This makes it difficult for IT managers to adapt quickly. Deploying last month’s patch isn’t enough for protection against today’s ransomware or fileless malware. Endpoint strategies need real-time threat detection or endpoint threat management. and automated isolation/remediation so that endpoints are updated or quarantined instantly.
8. Offering remote IT support
Supporting a distributed workforce strains IT resources. A Computerworld/ESG survey found that 99% of organizations now require “support at a distance” for at least half of help-desk tickets[1]. Troubleshooting a remote endpoint working on a home Wi-Fi or an unknown network is inherently harder.
IT teams need remote diagnostic and management tools so they can patch issues, reset passwords, or solve hardware problems without being on-site. Lack of effective remote support leads to device downtime and user frustration.
9. Scalability and cost management issues
Growing device count increases complexity and expenses. As endpoints multiply, organizations often add solutions for endpoint management, monitoring, and patching. This multiplies the integration hassle and licensing fees. More licenses, more consoles, and more manual oversight inflate headcount needs.
10. Integrations with other systems
Endpoint management tools cannot operate in isolation. They must plug into an organization’s existing infrastructure – ticketing systems, identity providers, network security tools, etc.
Integration failures can mean gaps in policy enforcement or cumbersome manual workflows. For example, if an endpoint tool can’t send alerts to ITSM, incidents may slip through. Ensuring seamless integration is a common hurdle.
11. Security sprawl
Ironically, trying to address all these challenges often leads to ‘security sprawl’ – the proliferation of too many disparate tools. Check Point warns that deploying separate point solutions for endpoint protection and endpoint detection (EPP and EDR) leads the security personnel to manage multiple solutions and waste time context-switching between dashboards.
This slows response times and raises costs. Consolidating security capabilities into unified platforms is necessary; otherwise, the sheer volume of sudden alerts and unorganized logs overwhelms IT teams.
Identifying the Severity of Endpoint Management Challenges: Industry-wise
The impact of these endpoint issues varies by sector, driven by each industry’s unique devices and risks:
a. Logistics and Transportation: With mobile endpoints like scanners and GPS devices constantly on the move, remote patching and cost control are tough. Managing a dispersed fleet demands strong endpoint threat management.
b. Retail: POS systems, scanners, and IoT devices increase the attack surface. Breaches disrupt operations and expose payment data, making managed endpoint security essential for PCI-DSS compliance.
c. Education: Campuses host thousands of endpoints but have limited IT staff. Without automation, endpoint security management becomes overwhelming, especially with BYOD and remote learning.
d. Healthcare: Medical devices and clinician endpoints store sensitive patient data. Breaches impact care and violate HIPAA. Robust managed endpoint protection is critical for compliance and safety.
e. Government: Agencies face tight budgets and shifting regulations. Without effective endpoint security management, they risk breaches, non-compliance, and service outages.
f. Aviation: Airlines rely on secure access to cockpit tablets, kiosks, and TSA systems. Managed endpoint security helps meet regulatory demands and ensures uninterrupted operations.
g. Hospitality: Hotels use POS systems, kiosks, and in-room devices to handle guest data. A breach can halt services. Continuous endpoint threat management prevents financial and reputational damage.
h. Manufacturing: Legacy OT systems and growing IoT adoption increase vulnerabilities. Unpatched devices can halt production, making managed endpoint protection and segmentation vital.
Best practices to tackle these challenges
Addressing these challenges requires a strategic mix of tools and policies. Key best practices include:
Best practice 1. Invest in a multi-OS/device solution
Choose an endpoint management platform that natively handles all major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Chrome O,S and device types including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops and rugged devices. It must also support COPE, BYOD, and COBO scenarios.
Best practice 2. Aim for automated OS update and patch management.
Automate patch management across all endpoints. Use a UEM solution that can push OS and application patches globally, on schedule, and on demand and even retry on failures. Regular patching hardens your network against known exploits.
Best practice 3. Implement consistent security policies
Enforce organization-wide security baselines. Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) on device logins and critical applications, and mandate full disk encryption on endpoints. Use centralized policies so that firewall rules, USB restrictions and AV settings are uniform everywhere. This ensures that compromised credentials or missing controls aren’t easy entry points.
Best practice 4. Enforce Zero-Trust access
Adopt a Zero-Trust model for corporate data. Grant access only after continuously verifying user and device trust levels. A UEM-driven Zero-Trust approach can check device health in real time.
This ensures only managed and/or trusted devices can access corporate resources. Also, implement role-based (RBAC) or Just-in-Time access, so that users and devices have just enough privilege for their tasks.
Best practice 6. Monitor compliance continuously
Don’t wait for audits – actively track endpoint compliance. Automate compliance checks and generate instant reports. Modern platforms let you define policies as code and continuously audit endpoints against regulations (e.g., encryption, patch levels, config baselines).
These tools can produce audit-ready reports on demand. Additionally, set up alerts for non-compliant devices (e.g., missing check-ins, disabled AV) so you can remediate issues immediately.
Best practice 7. Use remote troubleshooting tools
Equip your IT team with capabilities to support any endpoint off-site. Good solutions provide remote control, screen sharing, and diagnostic tools to fix issues on smartphones, laptops, or kiosks anywhere.
For example, Scalefusion allows IT to view and control device screens and resolve remote device issues directly. This reduces downtime and support costs by eliminating the need for on-site visits.
Best practice 8. Evaluate solutions on capabilities, support, and cost
Before selecting a platform, carefully compare features (multi-OS support, EDR integration, reporting, etc.), technical support responsiveness, and pricing models. Some vendors offer per-device licensing; others bundle unlimited devices.
Factor in total cost of ownership – often an integrated solution costs less than managing multiple point tools. As Trio recommends, consider platform modularity and volume discounts to manage scaling costs.
Best practice 10. Choose unified management
Finally, aim for a unified platform that spans endpoints, access, and security. A modern unified endpoint management platform supports device management, identity and access management, and endpoint security under one agent and console.
A unified approach ensures consistent policies, reduces admin overhead, and simplifies managed endpoint security and endpoint threat management for your team.
Scalefusion: Go-to solution to your endpoint management and security challenges
Endpoint management requires continuous vigilance, as devices and threats multiply. The good news is that comprehensive, unified solutions exist to tame this complexity. Scalefusion UEM offers one such integrated approach. It provides auto software updates, remote support, and zero-touch deployment for all endpoints.
With built-in security features such as VPN, web content filtering, and data loss prevention, Scalefusion helps enforce policies across devices. It gives IT admins one pane and one agent to manage hundreds and thousands of endpoints, enforce identity and access management, and endpoint security in one go, improve visibility and protection against security threats.
