I. Introduction: The Endpoint Epidemic and a Fresh Strategy
Remember a time when “IT management” meant overseeing a handful of desktops
within the comforting confines of the office? Nostalgic, isn’t it? Today, your organization’s
digital presence has exploded into a sprawling empire, a diverse collection of laptops,
smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and a remote workforce that spans continents. It’s a
digital wild west, where danger lurks around every corner.
And here’s the rub: attempting to manage this incredibly diverse and dynamic collection
of endpoints with a monolithic, “one-size-fits-all” IT strategy is akin to herding cats in a
hurricane. It’s inefficient, consumes precious resources that could be better allocated,
and, most alarmingly, leaves gaping security holes that malicious actors are all too
eager to exploit.
But what if there was a better way? What if we could learn from history, not repeat its
mistakes, and forge a new path forward? Enter the “new” divide and conquer. Now,
before you conjure images of fragmented chaos, let me assure you – this isn’t about
creating more silos or further complicating an already complex landscape. It’s about
a strategic separation – dedicating specialized focus, resources, and tactics specifically
to your endpoint device management, distinct from your broader IT services. Think
laser-focused expertise, not fragmented effort.
The promise? This isn’t about making IT harder; it’s about making it smarter. It’s the
path to achieving unparalleled resilience, unlocking unprecedented efficiency, and
transforming your endpoints from potential vulnerabilities into your organization’s
strongest line of defense.
II. The “Old” Divide and Conquer: A History Lesson in Fragmentation
Let’s take a brief sojourn through the annals of IT history. Back in the relatively simpler
days of the 1980s and 1990s, the client-server era, “endpoint management” as a
distinct discipline barely existed. It was largely bundled in with general IT tasks. Tools
like Microsoft SMS were employed to manage basic software deployments and patches.
The landscape was relatively homogenous, and the needs were… well, simpler.
Then came the deluge. The late 2000s and 2010s witnessed a “Great Divergence,” a
period of unprecedented technological expansion that fundamentally reshaped the IT
landscape.
Device Explosion & BYOD: The arrival of smartphones, tablets, and the seismic
shift towards the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend changed everything. IT
departments were suddenly confronted with a dizzying array of operating
systems and device types – Macs, PCs, iOS, Android, and countless variations
thereof.
Siloed Solutions Take Over: The initial, reactive response was often to acquire
separate, disparate tools for each device type or operating system – an
accidental, almost inadvertent “divide and conquer” strategy. While seemingly
logical at the time, this approach quickly spiraled into complexity, compliance
nightmares, sprawling toolsets, and, perhaps most concerningly, critical security
blind spots. In short, it was a mess.
Recognizing the unsustainable nature of this fragmented approach, the industry began
to pivot towards unification. The rise of Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platforms
was driven by the desire to bring these disparate elements under a single pane of glass,
to regain control amidst the chaos.
III. Why the “New” Divide and Conquer is Your IT Superpower (Current Opinions &
Best Practices)
But here’s the crucial point: the new “divide and conquer” isn’t a regression to those
fragmented, siloed days. It’s a more nuanced, strategic evolution.
It’s NOT about more silos, it’s about focused expertise: By intentionally
carving out endpoint management as a specialized domain, IT teams can
strategically allocate their brainpower, budget, and time to where it is most
critically needed. This, in turn, frees up broader IT resources to focus on
business-accelerating initiatives, on projects that drive innovation and
competitive advantage.
The UEM “Unite to Divide” Paradox: While UEM
inherently unifies management under a single, centralized platform, it
simultaneously and intelligently applies “divide and conquer” principles within that
framework. This is where the true power lies.
Granular Policies & Segmentation: Consider the ability to group devices
by role, risk profile, or device type (e.g., containerizing sensitive corporate
data on personal BYOD devices). This granular control allows for the
implementation of precise, targeted policies, ensuring that the right
security measures are applied to the right devices, based on their specific
needs and risk factors.
Phased & Tiered Automation: Instead of attempting a massive,
disruptive overhaul, automation is introduced incrementally, starting with
high-burden, low-risk tasks, such as routine software updates. This
phased approach minimizes disruption and allows IT teams to gradually
build confidence and expertise in the automation process.
Prioritized Vulnerability Management: Leveraging the power of AI to
intelligently analyze threats and prioritize resources on the highest-impact
vulnerabilities first, rather than attempting to remediate everything
simultaneously. This risk-based approach ensures that the most critical
security gaps are addressed promptly and effectively.
Resilience as the North Star: The modern endpoint landscape demands a
relentless focus on resilience – the ability to withstand and recover from
inevitable disruptions.
Automated Self-Healing: Modern endpoint management solutions
actively monitor and automatically remediate issues as they arise,
ensuring that critical security applications remain operational and effective
(e.g., solutions like Absolute Security, with its firmware-embedded
Persistence technology, which can automatically reinstall critical apps).
Proactive Defense: The paradigm is shifting from reactive fixes to real-
time threat detection and automated responses, enabling organizations to
stop attacks before they have a chance to spread and cause damage.
Zero Trust Principles: The fundamental principle of “never trust, always
verify” is increasingly being applied to every user, every device, and every
access request. This represents a fundamental “divide and conquer”
strategy for security, assuming no inherent trust, even within the confines
of the network.
IV. The Dark Side of Division: Controversies and Challenges (When Divide &
Conquer Goes Wrong)
Of course, no strategy is without its potential pitfalls. The “new” divide and conquer is
not immune.
The Ghost of Fragmentation Past: Many organizations still grapple with the
lingering effects of the “old” divide and conquer, leading to a number of persistent
challenges:
Complexity & “Tool Sprawl”: The proliferation of too many disparate
security and management tools that fail to communicate effectively with
each other, resulting in integration nightmares and fragmented data.
Visibility Gaps: The rise of remote and hybrid work environments,
coupled with the BYOD phenomenon, has created significant security
blind spots, making it difficult to track devices, monitor software usage,
and ensure compliance.
Compliance Nightmares: Inconsistent policies across different device
types make regulatory adherence a constant, stressful challenge,
exposing organizations to potential fines and reputational damage.
Increased Attack Surface: Each unmanaged or inconsistently managed
endpoint becomes an easy entry point for cyber threats, such as malware
and ransomware, significantly expanding the organization’s overall attack
surface.
The Human Factor: Even with the most sophisticated technology, human error –
phishing attacks, social engineering, and simple negligence – remains a
significant vulnerability. Securing endpoints is, ultimately, about securing the
people who use them.
Cost & Resource Constraints: Implementing and maintaining comprehensive
UEM solutions can represent a substantial investment, particularly for small and
medium-sized businesses.
V. Peering into the Crystal Ball: The Future of Endpoint Resilience
What does the future hold for endpoint management and resilience? The trends are
clear:
Autonomous Endpoint Management (AEM): Prepare for AI and Machine
Learning to take the reins. Gartner predicts a 40% reduction in human effort by
- Expect self-healing capabilities, predictive analysis, and generative AI
assistants (like Absolute’s AI Assistant) to provide instant insights and automate
complex tasks.
Zero Trust, Everywhere: The “never trust, always verify” mantra will be deeply
embedded in every endpoint interaction. Continuous device health checks,
micro-segmentation, and adaptive access policies will become the norm.
The Expanding “Endpoint” Definition: Laptops and phones are just the
beginning. IoT devices, Operational Technology (OT), and AR/VR devices will
demand seamless integration into UEM platforms, requiring even more nuanced
“division” or segmentation strategies to address their unique security needs.
Cloud-Native is King: Cloud-based UEM solutions will become the default,
offering unparalleled scalability, flexibility, and simplified management capabilities
crucial for today’s increasingly distributed workforces.
Cyber Resilience as a Business Imperative: This is no longer solely the IT
department’s concern; it’s a strategic business objective. Expect increased focus
on immutable backups, rapid recovery capabilities, and a holistic security culture
involving every employee.
VI. Conclusion: Unite Your Focus, Conquer Your Endpoints for Unshakeable
Resilience
In summary, the “new” divide and conquer isn’t about resurrecting the fragmented IT
landscape of the past. It’s about intelligently segmenting, specializing, and automating
endpoint management within a unified framework. It means strategically allocating your
IT resources to excel at endpoint resilience, rather than spreading them thin across a
multitude of competing priorities.
Embrace this strategic approach, and you’ll fundamentally transform your endpoint
landscape. You’ll achieve heightened security, unlock significant operational efficiencies,
and build an unshakeable IT resilience that allows your business to thrive, regardless of
the cyber storms that may lie ahead.
Don’t allow your vast fleet of endpoints to become your organization’s Achilles’ heel. It’s
time to abandon yesterday’s outdated tactics. Adopt a strategic “divide and conquer”
approach, empower your teams with specialized solutions, and build a truly resilient
future for your business.