The Pivotal Role of Managed Devices in Remote Work

Remote work is becoming the norm, and the idea of a 'workplace' stretches far beyond the traditional office. While remote work has many benefits, it makes ensuring your remote team's security, productivity, and effectiveness a much more significant challenge. The solution? Managed devices.

In this article, we're diving deep into managed devices (or managed laptops), explaining what they are, their benefits and the critical role they play in today's remote work landscape. 

What are managed devices? 

First things first: what's a managed device anyway? In simple terms, a managed device is a company-provided piece of equipment—like a laptop or smartphone—overseen by your IT department or a managed service provider.

This concept of management goes much deeper than just ownership of the hardware. It's about having comprehensive control over the device and how it interacts with your corporate ecosystem.

The crux of a managed device lies in its customizability and control. Your IT team has a carte blanche to configure these devices as they see fit. They determine what software and applications get installed, ensuring only approved and necessary tools are used. This standardizes the work environment across your team and prevents unnecessary software that could slow down the system or open up security vulnerabilities.

Additionally, your IT team can ensure that these devices always run the latest, most secure versions of their operating systems and applications. Automatic updates and patches are par for the course, ensuring minimal exposure to known security threats.

Then there's the matter of security settings. Your IT department can implement stringent security protocols on these devices, things like mandatory password protection, full disk encryption, firewall configurations and more. They can also set up VPNs for secure remote access, ensuring your company data remains safe, even over less secure home networks.

Managed devices also allow your IT team to maintain strict control over data access and storage. They can control where data is saved, how it's backed up and who has access to what information. This protects sensitive data and ensures that key files and resources are always available to those who need them.

Beyond that, there's device tracking and remote management. If a device is lost or stolen, your IT team can remotely lock or wipe it clean, protecting sensitive company data from falling into the wrong hands.

Last but not least, managed devices offer a more straightforward approach to troubleshooting and support. IT teams can remotely access these devices to diagnose and fix problems, often without needing the user to stop working.

In essence, managed devices allow a company to control every aspect of its IT environment, ensuring a smooth, secure and efficient operation. And in an era where remote work is fast becoming the norm, they are an invaluable tool for any forward-thinking business.

The case for managed devices in remote work

All remote work environments are not created equal. Home offices vary widely, from a fully-equipped study with high-speed internet to a kitchen table with a patchy Wi-Fi signal. It's these inconsistencies that can make remote work a challenge for both employees and employers.

But this is precisely where managed devices shine. They bring uniformity to this diverse landscape, ensuring employees have the same reliable, secure and high-performing technology. Here are some of the top reasons why managed devices are a game-changer for remote work:

Protection of property and IP 

In a world where data breaches are common, safeguarding your company's intellectual property (IP) is paramount. Managed devices add an extra layer of protection. Since they're company-owned and maintained, you have tighter control over security measures, from firewalls and antivirus software to data encryption and secure VPN access. It's a significant step towards reducing the risk of a costly data breach.

Enhancing productivity

Managed devices also serve to boost productivity. Employees won't have to grapple with tech glitches or software compatibility issues. The IT team ensures everything runs smoothly and is readily available to troubleshoot any problems that arise. Moreover, having a dedicated work device can minimize distractions, helping your employees focus on their tasks and achieve their goals.

Simplifying IT support 

Let's face it, IT support can be a logistical nightmare. Standardizing on managed devices simplifies IT support, streamlines problem-solving, and reduces downtime. Your IT team will thank you for it!

Promoting uniformity across the board 

With managed devices, every employee works with the same hardware and software configuration. This standardization can boost collaboration and eliminate potential compatibility issues. It means everyone is on the same page, using the same tools, and speaking the same technological language. In a remote setting with limited face-to-face communication, such uniformity can streamline operations and foster better teamwork.

Reducing the risk of shadow IT 

Shadow IT refers to the use of unsanctioned software and systems in an organization. In a remote work environment, the risk of Shadow IT can increase as employees might resort to using unapproved tools to get their job done. Managed devices can mitigate this risk. Companies can keep Shadow IT in check by providing all necessary applications and restricting the installation of non-approved software.

Ensuring compliance 

Maintaining regulatory compliance is crucial for industries dealing with sensitive data, like healthcare or finance. Managed devices make it easier for businesses to comply with data handling and privacy regulations. The IT department can implement measures like data encryption, secure access controls and audit logs to ensure all data is handled per regulatory standards.

Facilitating scalability 

As your company grows, so does your need for new devices. Managed devices make scaling your IT infrastructure simpler and faster. With predefined hardware and software configurations, new devices can be set up and deployed quickly, saving valuable time during periods of growth or staff turnover.

Manage your global teams with managed devices from Outstaffer

As remote work continues to evolve, so must our approach to managing our teams and their tools. Managed devices effectively enhance security, improve productivity, simplify IT support and address privacy concerns.

At Outstaffer, we make it easy to find, hire, manage and equip top talent from around the world in just a couple of clicks. Plus, we offer #WorkFromAnywhere technology – like managed devices – to help you and your global team thrive. 

Want to learn more about our managed devices and how we help you hire global employees? Request your free demo today.