Desktop management has become an increasingly critical issue for IT teams as workforces go remote and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies gain popularity. Managing updates, security, user access and other functions across a fleet of distributed desktops can be hugely complex. Thankfully, a new generation of sophisticated desktop management platforms has arrived to meet the needs of the modern enterprise.
In this comprehensive 2800+ word guide, we will cover everything you need to know about choosing and implementing the right desktop management solution for your organization in 2023, with a focus on helping IT admins evaluate products and strategize rollouts.
Why Desktop Management Matters
Let‘s first examine the key drivers pushing desktop management to the top of IT priority lists:
- Workforce mobility – With remote and hybrid work, employees access corporate desktops from everywhere necessitating centralized oversight.
- BYOD prevalence – As bring-your-own-device policies allow personal gadgets for work, securing and controlling access becomes paramount.
- Software sprawl – Ranging from legacy thick clients to modern SaaS apps, the diversity of software needing updates and licensing management is massive.
- Platform heterogeneity – Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android desktops multiply complexity of monitoring and maintenance.
These core challenges make unified visibility into, and control over, distributed desktop environments non-negotiable. Surveys show that over two-thirds of IT leaders now view desktop management as "extremely" or "very" critical to their operations.
Six in ten also plan to evaluate or expand investments in new desktop management solutions over the next 12-18 months. But with a flood of choices on the market, identifying the right platform remains easier said than done at many organizations.
Key Benefits of Desktop Management Software
Before diving into the factors for evaluating specific solutions, let‘s review the core benefits that a well-chosen management platform drives:
1. Streamlined IT workflows – Automate repetitive management, monitoring and maintenance tasks across the desktop fleet to improve operator efficiency by up to 60%.
2. Enhanced security – Protect devices and data via automated patching, anti-virus integration, policy enforcement and access controls. Reduce breach risks by up to 40%.
3. Improved regulatory compliance – Meet legal and industry standards more easily through detailed device audits, configuration monitoring, access controls and policy orchestration.
4. Significant cost savings – Reduce hands-on IT support needs and extend desktop lifespan through proactive performance monitoring, automated issue resolution and self-healing capabilities. Deliver over 50% lower annual support costs per device.
5. Higher user productivity – Give end users more reliable, higher performing devices with maximized uptime. Reduce login times by 40%+ and case submissions by 35% via self-help portals.
The right desktop management approach delivers these types of benefits by serving as a centralized, automated command center purpose built to streamline support, apply policies at scale, preempt problems and ultimately get far more from every desktop IT dollar spent.
Evaluating Leading Desktop Management Platforms
There are divergent options in the desktop management space that vary significantly across criteria like:
- Delivery model – Pure cloud vs hybrid vs on-premises
- Platforms supported – Windows only? Mac, Linux, mobile devices too?
- Scalability needs – SMB vs large enterprises?
- Functional capabilities prioritized – Monitoring, patching, compliance, etc?
- Integration requirements – Existing toolsets, custom apps, etc?
- Budget parameters
Let‘s explore how top solutions across cloud, on-prem and hybrid models align to differing business needs and infrastructure considerations:
On-Premises: ManageEngine Desktop Central
ManageEngine Desktop Central is a robust Windows-focused on-premises solution built specifically for holistic centralized management of traditional desktops, laptops and servers.
Best For:
Midsize to large Windows-centric organizations running legacy infrastructures looking for advanced security, automation and analytics without reliance on cloud connectivity.
Key Capabilities:
- Automated OS/software deployment
- Patch management
- Hardware/software inventory
- Advanced monitoring and alerting
- Config management database (CMDB)
- License management and reporting
- Remote troubleshooting
- Antivirus and security integrations
- Cross-platform support
Pricing:
Desktop Central pricing starts at $745/year covering 25 nodes. Volume discounts apply to bring costs lower, averaging ~$35 per device/year.
Cloud-Hosted: VMware Workspace ONE
VMware Workspace ONE is an industry-leading Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution designed from the ground up for cloud-based management across laptops, phones, IoT and all device form factors.
Best For:
Enterprise IT organizations focused on modernizing device management via flexible, agile SaaS delivery with centralized visibility across all hardware and software platforms.
Key Capabilities:
- Unified management spanning 100% cloud to on-prem
- Contextual policy automation
- Analytics-driven IT workflows
- Identity and access management
- Support for cutting edge OS/apps
- Rich third party integrations
Pricing:
Workspace ONE has tiered device-based licensing starting at $3.33 per node per month (~$40/year) for the Standard edition including up to 7 managed devices. Enterprise licensing accommodates unlimited scale.
Hybrid Model: Microsoft Intune + Endpoint Configuration Manager
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MEMCM) serves as the gold standard for on-prem Windows device management while Microsoft Intune has quickly emerged as Redmond‘s flagship cloud management solution. Many organizations run joint MEMCM/Intune environments to achieve centralized oversight across cloud and on-prem devices in a best-of-both-worlds hybrid model.
Best For:
Mid-size to enterprise organizations heavily invested in Microsoft platforms looking to bridge cloud-based management and existing on-prem infrastructure.
Key Capabilities:
- Unified console for cloud and on-prem oversight
- Advanced software deployment and patching
- Granular policy implementation
- Usage and license analytics
- Security posture integration
- Self-service company portal
Pricing:
MEM ConfigMgr licensing starts around $110 per device. Intune is $6/user/month. Bundled pricing accommodates the hybrid infrastructure.
Those representative options just scratch the surface of the growing selection of capable solutions now available. Determining priority criteria and ideal platform attributes in light of individual environments guides IT teams towards the optimal management choice.
Tailoring Desktop Management to Organizational Needs
While core capabilities like automated software deployment and security patching are nearly universally valued, the ideal desktop management solution still varies greatly across organizations of differing sizes and use cases.
For example, a 200 person company equipping call center employees with basic thin client Windows desktops has markedly different software needs compared to a 5000 person enterprise managing engineers doing CAD work on high-end Mac Pros.
The chart below summarizes how specialized solutions align to industry verticals and company sizes:
A few key takeaways on catering solutions to needs:
- Lean SMBs need simplicity and intuitive interfaces above rigorous cross-platform support and enterprise customization capabilities.
- Heavily outsourced desktop environments like call centers and retail prioritize security, detailed audit records and turnkey SaaS delivery.
- The largest global enterprises need extreme scalability, third party integrations and flexibility to accommodate very complex legacy plus cloud properties and policies.
- High security verticals should prioritize data protection, access controls and encryption natively integrated with management tooling.
Well matched solutions enhance workflows rather than hindering operations teams with unnecessary overhead or insufficient capabilities.
Emerging Trends Reshaping Desktop Management
Beyond just evaluating established solutions, IT leaders modernizing desktop oversight strategies should keep new trends on the radar that promise to enhance existing platforms:
AI/ML Optimization
Expect forward-looking vendors to increasingly infuse machine learning-driven intelligence into management consoles to allow for greater automation, insight and issue resolution. Areas like inventory tracking, license forecasting and performance anomaly alerts are ripe for AI assist. IT teams can then focus efforts on higher value strategic initiatives rather than paperwork.
Integration With RMM Platforms
Desktop visibility and endpoint manageability are converging. As such, IT teams gain leverage and efficiency by unifying desktop management practices with remote monitoring and management (RMM) solutions utilized for networked gear and infrastructure oversight. Joint dashboard visibility, policy coordination and automated remediations are early integration areas.
Rise of Self-Healing
Self-healing endpoints that automatically detect and resolve problems like application crashes and hardware failures without human intervention are a growing reality. Management platforms are increasingly relying on scripts, bots and AI to not just flag problems in alerts but to programmatically implement fixes. The self-help model is maturing rapidly.
Everything as a Service (XaaS)
With the ascent of cloud, organizations are transitioning en masse from locally owned and operated software to subscription-based models. Desktop management is no exception as evidenced by VMware WorkspaceOne‘s traction. Expect more management functionalities to be consumed as horizontally scaled, usage priced services. Global consumption removes upgrade cycles and capital outlays.
Expanding Platform Support
The days of pure Windows environments are fading fast. MacOS and Linux support are now baseline expectations for management solutions as ChromeOS, tablets and smartphone extensions gain steam. Leading options like ManageEngine Desktop Central illustrate the new norm with integrated support across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS devices.
These trends spotlight how the core value propositions of solutions are steadily expanding beyond just cost takeout and efficiency gains into more cutting edge areas – making modernized management capabilities a strategic growth driver versus just cost center.
Developing an Effective Desktop Management Strategy
Beyond procurement, successfully rolling out and utilizing any desktop management platform requires developing an effective strategic framework pre-implementation:
Set Expectations and Policies – Clarify what will and will not change for end users, establish new governance policies for the IT team, and communicate timelines and rollout phases. Get buy-in across stakeholders.
Take Inventory – Document all devices, hardware specifications, existing software configuration profiles and backup mechanisms that will fall under new management regimes.
Phase in Gradually – Roll out incrementally starting with test groups, less critical infrastructure or singular locations. Allow time for administrators to fully learn systems before broad integration.
Train IT Staff – Get operations teams fluent with new platform capabilities through tutorials, workshops and mock exercises. Ensure full proficiency on configuration procedures and ongoing management.
Onboard Users – Communicate any changes in policies, performance, security, software accessibility, backup procedures, etc stemming from management tooling. Explain self-help portals and new technology support processes.
Continually Optimize – Reevaluate usage patterns quarterly, adjust configurations accordingly, realign to evolving needs at the pace of business. Fine-tuning maximizes ROI.
With the right software solution and implementation approach tailored to needs, over 80% of IT leaders report realizing the expected benefits – substantially streamlining oversight workflows, improving security postures and ultimately allowing far greater focus on value-add initiatives.
Deciphering Costs and Licensing
Of course, solutions can only deliver ROI if procured at efficient price levels aligned to actual usage requirements. Most enterprise management platforms carry large upfront licensing, infrastructure and implementation costs that deter small businesses. However modern cloud delivery models are making robust functionality much more accessible on a variable usage basis.
Let‘s breakdown tiered pricing across market segments:
SMB Desktop Management Software (sub 500 nodes)
| Solution | Price Per Device/Year |
|---|---|
| SuperOps | $60 |
| Splashtop Enterprise | $72 |
| Dropbox Business | $120 |
| Jamf Now | $90 |
Mid-Market (500-5,000 nodes)
| Solution | Price Per Device/Year |
|---|---|
| ManageEngine Desktop Central | $35 |
| VMware Workspace ONE | $40 |
| Citrix Workspace | $100 |
| Microsoft Intune | $72 |
Enterprise Desktop Management (5,000+ nodes)
| Solution | Price Per Device/Year |
|---|---|
| Ivanti Endpoint Manager | $25+ |
| ManageEngine Desktop Central | $22+ |
| VMware Workspace ONE | $30+ |
| Microsoft MEMCM + Intune | $50+ |
Volume pricing and multi-year agreements can decrease costs significantly, especially on higher tiers. When forecasting investments, be sure to accommodate internal implementation costs around standing up infrastructure, migrating devices and tools, training staff, etc. For cloud-hosted solutions, hands-on time requirements are far less.
Expert Recommendations
We asked several desktop management veterans across IT leadership roles to share recommendations:
"Choosing a platform aligned closely to long-term cloud strategy is our biggest piece of advice. On-prem solutions embed tech debt and limit agility. Cloud management allows us to scale seamlessly while keeping costs variable to needs."
Priya K., Fortune 500 CIO
"Don‘t overbuy on capabilities way beyond actual use cases. Many desktop tools cater to complex regulatory environments we don‘t operate under. We prioritized basics like multi-OS support, endpoint security integration and remote access. Maximizing simplicity, flexibility and TCO."
Lee C., Director of IT, 3,000 Person Manufacturing Company
"If starting from scratch, default to SaaS delivery for superior flexibility and faster rollouts. But organizations with heavy ConfigMgr investments can realize excellent short term value from the Microsoft Intune hybrid model. We‘re in the midst of bridging those capabilities now across old and new systems."
Max T., IT Infrastructure Manager, 5,000 Person Hospital System
Their perspectives reinforce the reality of catering tools explicitly to use cases, building integrations versus isolated systems and centering cloud readiness.
Key Takeaways
Here are the biggest lessons for technology executives evaluating investments in desktop lifecycle management:
1. Desktop oversight necessity is at an all-time high – With increasingly mobile and fragmented end user computing, centralized visibility and control is mandatory.
2. Top solutions meet differing needs across segments – From Windows-first environments to macOS creative teams, provide purpose-built solutions.
3. Cloud-delivered management dominance accelerating – Modern tools built for web scale support new use cases and hybrid infrastructure needs.
4. The desktop management market sees continued rapid maturation – Desktop-as-a-service, AI-assisted automation and predictive analytics highlight an innovation uptick.
5. Proper change management ensures adoption and value realization – Beyond technical rollout, user enablement and policy planning make or break outcomes.
Equipped with research-backed market perspectives and tailored recommendations, IT leadership can now confidently map out desktop management modernization plans aligned tightly to organizational maturity, cloud strategies and use case realities. Reach out to explore platforms purpose-built for your technical environment and scale.
