Endpoint Management Best Practices for UK Businesses

Every laptop, desktop, tablet, smartphone, and IoT device connected to your business network represents both a productivity tool and a potential security vulnerability. As UK businesses embrace hybrid working and employees access corporate resources from an ever-widening range of devices and locations, effective endpoint management has become not just an IT best practice but a business-critical necessity.

In this guide, we cover what endpoint management is, why it matters, the seven best practices every UK organisation should adopt, the tools and technologies available, GDPR compliance considerations, and how to build a comprehensive endpoint management strategy that protects your business without hindering productivity.

What Is Endpoint Management?

Endpoint management is the process of securing, monitoring, and administering all the devices (endpoints) that connect to your corporate network and access your business data. This encompasses the entire lifecycle of each device, from initial provisioning and configuration through ongoing maintenance, security updates, and monitoring, all the way to secure decommissioning and data wiping at end of life.

Modern endpoint management goes far beyond simply installing antivirus software. It involves centralised control over device configurations, operating system and application patching, security policy enforcement, software deployment, remote troubleshooting, and compliance reporting. The goal is to ensure that every device accessing your data meets your security standards, regardless of where it is located or who owns it.

Why Endpoint Management Matters

The importance of robust endpoint management has grown dramatically in recent years, driven by several converging trends:

Expanding attack surface: With hybrid working, devices regularly connect from home networks, coffee shops, and co-working spaces, each with different security profiles. Every unmanaged endpoint is a potential entry point for cyber attackers.
Rising cyber threats: Ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats increasingly target endpoints as the weakest link in organisational security. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) consistently identifies endpoint compromise as a leading attack vector.
Regulatory obligations: GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018 require organisations to implement appropriate technical measures to protect personal data. Unmanaged endpoints with outdated software or missing encryption represent a clear compliance gap.
Device proliferation: The average UK business now manages significantly more devices per employee than five years ago, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and increasingly IoT devices.

Seven Best Practices for Endpoint Management

1. Maintain a Comprehensive Device Inventory

You cannot secure what you do not know about. The foundation of effective endpoint management is a complete, accurate, and up-to-date inventory of every device that accesses your network and data. This inventory should include hardware details (make, model, serial number), operating system and version, installed software, assigned user, location, and compliance status.

Automated discovery tools can scan your network to identify connected devices, including those you may not be aware of. This is particularly important for identifying shadow IT, where employees connect personal devices or install unauthorised software without IT knowledge. Your inventory should be reviewed regularly and updated automatically as devices are added, removed, or changed.

2. Implement Automated Patching

Unpatched software is one of the most common attack vectors exploited by cyber criminals. Yet manual patching is time-consuming, error-prone, and difficult to enforce consistently across a distributed workforce. Automated patch management solves this by ensuring that operating systems and applications are updated promptly and reliably.

A robust patching strategy should cover the operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux), third-party applications (browsers, PDF readers, Java, and other commonly targeted software), firmware updates for hardware components, and driver updates. Patches should be tested in a controlled environment before broad deployment, and you should establish clear timelines for critical security patches, ideally within 14 days of release, or sooner for actively exploited vulnerabilities.

3. Enforce Security Policies

Consistent security policies ensure that every endpoint meets a minimum standard of protection, regardless of who uses it or where it connects from. Key policies to enforce include:

Encryption: Full disk encryption (such as BitLocker for Windows or FileVault for macOS) ensures that data on lost or stolen devices cannot be accessed by unauthorised individuals.
Password and authentication policies: Enforce strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and automatic screen lock after periods of inactivity.
Firewall and antimalware: Ensure that endpoint protection software is installed, running, and up to date on every device.
Application control: Restrict which applications can be installed and run, preventing users from downloading potentially malicious software.
USB and peripheral controls: Manage the use of removable media to prevent data exfiltration and malware introduction.

4. Use MDM and UEM Solutions

Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platforms provide the centralised control and visibility needed to manage endpoints at scale. These solutions allow you to configure devices remotely, deploy applications, enforce security policies, track compliance, and remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices.

UEM takes this further by unifying the management of all device types, including Windows PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices, and even IoT endpoints, into a single console. This eliminates the need for multiple management tools and provides a holistic view of your entire endpoint estate. Leading UEM platforms include Microsoft Intune, VMware Workspace ONE, and Ivanti, each offering different strengths depending on your environment and requirements.

5. Monitor Endpoint Health

Proactive monitoring enables you to identify and address issues before they become security incidents or cause downtime. Effective endpoint monitoring should track device compliance status (are policies being enforced?), software update status (are patches current?), security alerts and threat detections, hardware health indicators (disk space, battery health, performance metrics), and network connectivity and behaviour anomalies.

Automated alerts should notify your IT team when devices fall out of compliance or exhibit suspicious behaviour. Dashboards that provide a real-time overview of your endpoint estate's health enable informed decision-making and rapid response to emerging issues. For organisations without dedicated security teams, managed endpoint monitoring services can provide this capability without the overhead of in-house resources.

6. Plan for BYOD

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are a reality for most UK businesses. Employees increasingly expect to use their personal smartphones and sometimes laptops for work purposes. A well-designed BYOD policy balances employee flexibility with organisational security.

Key elements of a BYOD strategy include clear acceptable use policies that define what employees can and cannot do with personal devices, enrolment requirements that ensure personal devices meet minimum security standards before accessing corporate data, containerisation that separates business data from personal data on the same device, remote wipe capabilities that can erase corporate data without affecting personal content, and exit procedures that ensure corporate data is removed when employees leave the organisation.

It is essential that BYOD policies are communicated clearly to employees and that they understand both their responsibilities and the extent to which the organisation can manage their personal device. Transparency builds trust and improves adoption.

7. Conduct Regular Security Audits

Even the best endpoint management programme requires regular review to remain effective. Security audits should assess whether policies are being enforced consistently, whether new device types or use cases have created gaps, whether patching is meeting defined timelines, whether access controls are appropriate, and whether the organisation is meeting its compliance obligations.

We recommend conducting comprehensive endpoint security audits at least quarterly, with more frequent spot checks on critical areas. Audit findings should be documented, prioritised, and addressed through a clear remediation plan. External audits by independent specialists can provide an objective assessment that internal reviews may miss.

Tools and Technologies

The right tools make endpoint management scalable and sustainable. Here are the key platforms UK businesses should consider:

Microsoft Intune: A cloud-based UEM solution that integrates natively with Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory. Ideal for businesses already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, Intune provides device management, application deployment, conditional access policies, and compliance reporting across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
Microsoft SCCM (Configuration Manager): A more traditional, on-premises management tool that excels at managing large Windows estates. SCCM provides deep control over software deployment, patching, inventory, and compliance. Many organisations use SCCM alongside Intune in a co-management configuration to leverage the strengths of both.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: An enterprise-grade endpoint security platform that provides threat detection, investigation, and automated response capabilities. It integrates seamlessly with Intune and Azure AD to enforce conditional access based on device risk levels.
Third-party solutions: Platforms such as VMware Workspace ONE, Jamf (for Apple device management), and Ivanti offer strong alternatives, particularly for organisations with diverse device ecosystems or specific requirements that Microsoft tools do not fully address.

GDPR Compliance for Endpoints

Endpoints are where personal data is most frequently accessed, processed, and stored, making them a critical focus for GDPR compliance. Under the regulation, organisations must implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data. In the context of endpoint management, this translates to several specific requirements:

Data encryption: Personal data stored on endpoints must be encrypted to protect against unauthorised access in the event of device loss or theft.
Access controls: Only authorised individuals should be able to access personal data. Endpoint management policies should enforce role-based access and strong authentication.
Data minimisation: Endpoints should only store the personal data necessary for the user's role. Policies should discourage local storage of large datasets and encourage the use of cloud-based platforms with appropriate controls.
Breach response: In the event of a device being lost, stolen, or compromised, you must be able to assess whether personal data has been exposed and report to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours if required.
Remote wipe capability: The ability to remotely erase data from lost or stolen devices is essential for limiting the impact of a physical security breach.

Effective endpoint management directly supports GDPR compliance by ensuring that these measures are implemented consistently across all devices. Compliance reporting features in UEM platforms can also help you demonstrate your compliance posture to auditors and regulators.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In our experience working with UK businesses, several common mistakes undermine endpoint management efforts:

Treating endpoint management as a one-off project: Effective endpoint management is an ongoing programme, not a one-time setup. Devices, threats, and business requirements all change continuously.
Ignoring non-Windows devices: Many organisations focus their management efforts on Windows PCs whilst leaving Macs, smartphones, and tablets unmanaged. Every device that accesses corporate data needs to be managed.
Relying solely on antivirus: Traditional antivirus software is necessary but far from sufficient. Modern threats require a layered approach including behavioural detection, application control, and network-level protections.
Neglecting user education: Technology alone cannot prevent all threats. Employees need regular training on recognising phishing attempts, handling data responsibly, and reporting security incidents promptly.
Overly restrictive policies: Security policies that are too restrictive frustrate employees and encourage workarounds that create even greater security risks. The best policies balance security with usability.

Building an Endpoint Management Strategy

A successful endpoint management strategy starts with a clear understanding of your current environment and objectives. Begin by auditing your existing devices and identifying gaps in visibility and control. Define the security policies that are appropriate for your organisation's risk profile and compliance requirements. Select the tools that best fit your environment, budget, and technical capabilities.

Implementation should be phased, starting with the highest-risk areas, typically device encryption, patching, and access controls, before expanding to more advanced capabilities such as behavioural monitoring and automated threat response. Ensure that your strategy includes clear ownership, defined processes for common tasks such as device onboarding and offboarding, and regular review cycles to assess effectiveness and adapt to changing requirements.

At Guruji Tech Global, we help UK businesses design, implement, and manage comprehensive endpoint management programmes. Whether you need help selecting the right tools, configuring Microsoft Intune, establishing BYOD policies, or conducting security audits, our IT management specialists are ready to help you protect your devices, data, and business. Get in touch to discuss your endpoint management requirements.