What is an Endpoint?

An endpoint is any device that is physically an end point on a network. Laptops, desktops, mobile phones, tablets, servers, and virtual environments can all be considered endpoints. In the context of our companies, the endpoints we are responsible for are company-owned devices like laptops, servers, and network equipment.

What is Endpoint Management? 

Endpoint management is the practice of authenticating and supervising the access rights of endpoint devices to a network and applying security policies that prevent any external or internal threats posed by that access. Network owners typically use endpoint security management software to:

• Apply and monitor endpoint security policies throughout the entire network with small software apps on each managed device (agents)
• Enable security administrators to manage these devices and processes from one central console or application

What is a Management Agent?

A management agent is a small program that runs in the background on your computer, essentially making it a managed device. It communicates with a central management system that provides the security policies for the organization. Your computer has many such agents. Anti-virus software is essentially an agent running in the background. Virus definitions are automatically updated from a central management system and the agent enforces virus policies locally. Your VOIP software is a type of agent running in the background, waiting for an incoming call. So, agents are commonly found on all computers.

Can the management agent "spy" on me?

No. The management agent is not designed to monitor your activities. Its function revolves on security enforcement. It checks the status of the computer's updates and ensures that critical updates are installed, it manages the anti-virus software on the computer, and it ensures that your password is sufficiently complex.

I have personal information on my computer. Is that accessible to the management agent?

Remember that your company-owned device is company owned. You're essentially a guest on the computer. The management agent does not have access to your password protected accounts, like your online email account or files. We strongly discourage the storage of personal files on the computer. A better solution is to store your personal files in password protected cloud storage like your personal Google Drive or iCloud.