Key strategies for managing devices securely

Securely managing devices has become a necessity for every organisation. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops all need effective controls to safeguard sensitive data, and with the rise of remote work and personal devices, a robust device-management strategy is no longer optional. Done well, it protects data, assures compliance and improves day-to-day efficiency.

Why device management matters

Device management is the comprehensive process of overseeing and controlling the devices on your network: their administration, security, usage policies and updates. It matters for three reasons, data protection (preventing loss and unauthorised access), compliance (meeting Privacy Act and sector obligations), and operational efficiency (streamlined updating and monitoring). Surveys consistently show most organisations struggle to manage devices securely; a strategic approach focused on security, usability and compliance is what closes that gap.

The strategies that matter most

1. Phishing-resistant MFA over passwords alone. Strong passwords help, but multi-factor authentication is what stops the bulk of account-compromise attacks. Microsoft has reported MFA blocks the overwhelming majority of them; enforce it through Entra Conditional Access, ideally with passkeys or Windows Hello.
2. Patch everything, promptly. A large share of breaches stem from outdated software. Microsoft Intune handles OS updates and Patch My PC closes the third-party gap, automatically and with evidence.
3. Encrypt data at rest and in transit. Intune enforces BitLocker so a lost device is unreadable, not a breach.
4. Monitor device activity. Continuous monitoring detects irregularities early; feeding telemetry into Microsoft Sentinel lets you spot and contain a breach far faster than reactive teams.
5. Have a device-management policy. Document acceptable use, security protocols and compliance measures, involve stakeholders, review it regularly, and train people on it.
6. Use Mobile Device Management (and MAM for BYOD). MDM lets you enforce policy, monitor usage and remotely wipe corporate devices; MAM protects work data on personal ones without taking over the device.
7. Modernise remote access. Rather than a broad VPN that over-exposes the network, Zero Trust Network Access (Netskope NPA) gives per-app access evaluated each session, far less to intercept.
8. Train continuously. Brief, behavioural awareness training keeps people alert to phishing and social engineering, the human layer of device security.
9. Back up regularly, and test it. Immutable, tested backups (Veeam) mean device failure or a cyber attack becomes a recovery, not a crisis.

Final insights

Each measure reinforces the others. From strong authentication to tested backups, the goal is a secure user experience that protects your most sensitive data and keeps the business running. The landscape keeps evolving, so the winning posture is proactive: the right tools, the right policies, and people who understand their part.

This is the core of our Endpoint & Device Security practice, built on Microsoft Intune, CrowdStrike and Veeam, and covered in our BYOD work. A cyber health check shows where your fleet stands.