In the beginning, there was endpoint management and there was mobile device management (MDM). They required separate products because desktop computers and laptops were so different from smartphones and tablets. IT administrators were not happy managing in these separate worlds, but they made it work.

Then, consolidated endpoint management came with the second wave. The processes and workflows for desktop computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets were still different and separate, but at least admins could execute them from a single console. They were happy that they no longer needed separate tools, but they looked forward to the day when processes would be the same for all devices.

Now is the time of the third wave, and unified endpoint management (UEM) lets admins use the same processes to enroll, inventory, manage and secure all devices from a single product. Admins like it.

This paper explores the evolution of UEM and the most useful characteristics in a UEM product. Readers will take away ideas on unifying endpoint management for all devices in their organizations.