Today’s businesses are constantly evolving to meet the needs of a dynamic and digitally connected workforce. With the increasing popularity of teleworking and hybrid models, there is a growing demand for flexibility in the work environment. Employees today expect to be able to choose what devices they use, whether it’s traditional Windows PC or the increasingly popular MacBook. However, this flexibility also brings new challenges for the security and management of corporate devices. So how can we ensure that employees can securely use the devices they prefer without compromising the security of the organisation?
Flexibility for employees: a productivity benefit
Offering employees the choice between Windows and macOS has a number of benefits. While some prefer the operating system they are used to, others may have specific software and application requirements that are better on one platform than the other. Providing this choice can increase employee productivity and satisfaction, a key factor in today’s competitive environment.
- Diverse needs: Some employees, especially developers, designers and creative professionals, prefer macOS for its stability and performance in graphics applications. In contrast, administrative and IT workers often rely on Windows for its broad compatibility with enterprise applications and traditional business tools.
- Increase productivity: When employees work on equipment they know and feel comfortable on, their productivity increases and the time required for training or adaptation decreases.
Security and facility management challenges
Offering a choice between Windows and macOS is a big draw, but it presents significant challenges for IT departments insecurity and device management. Každý operační systém má svá specifika, a pokud nejsou řádně řízena, mohou představovat bezpečnostní riziko.
- Different security policies: Windows and macOS have different 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 securityA: 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 brings solutions to these challengesUnified Endpoint Management (UEM)that enable efficient management of all devices – regardless of their operating system – from one central location. Modern UEM tools are designed to cover a wide range of functions to manage and secure endpoint devices in an organisation.
- Centralised management of different platforms
UEM enables IT departments to manageWindows, macOS, iOS and Androiddevices from a single interface. This means they can easily apply updates, install security patches and monitor device health across the entire organisation. This centralized management ensures that all devices are compliant with corporate security policies without requiring different procedures for each platform.
- Automation of security policies
One of the advantages of UEM is the ability to automate security processes. For example, all 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 authenticationoraccess controlto key applications.
- Real-time security
Modern UEM tools providecontinuous monitoring and responseto security incidents. If a device is compromised (for example, by unauthorised access or an attempt to install malware), it may be immediately isolated or locked down until the problem is resolved. This proactive approach reduces the risk of data leaks and attacks on corporate infrastructure.
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) support
More and more employees are using their own devices for work, which puts additional emphasis on safe management. UEM tools ensure that even private devices meet security requirements without invading employees’ personal privacy. IT departments can remotely manage the working parts of these devices and protect corporate data without having access to the user’s private files.
Ensuring security across facilities: Best practices
Although modern device management offers powerful tools, it is important to follow certain procedures to ensure maximum security when using different devices:
- Regular updates and patchesA: Ensuring that all devices, whether Windows or macOS, have the latest security patches and updates installed is key to protecting against vulnerabilities.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)A: Ensuring that all systems require MFA at login greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, especially if the device is lost or stolen.
- Data encryptionA: Whether the device is online or offline, data encryption ensures that sensitive information remains protected even if the device is compromised.
- Regular access control: UEM systems allow regular access control and auditing of company systems, ensuring that only authorized persons have access to sensitive data.
Benefits for employees and IT department
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:
- Improving the user experienceA: Employees are empowered to 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 tasks related to security.
- Safety without compromiseA: Although employees have freedom in their choice of equipment, the organisation does not lose security. UEM ensures that every device meets high standards of protection, whether it’s Windows or Mac.
Conclusion
Modern device management through UEM tools allows organisations to give employees the freedom to choose between platforms without compromising security. Whether it’s Windows, macOS or hybrid models, having the right tools and security practices in place will ensure that corporate data remains protected. Flexibility in device choice increases productivity and employee satisfaction, while UEM
