Cost reduction features
The IT team is able to retain and use the existing tool set. There is no need to select, test and acquire more tools such as RMM, VPN, or other remote access.
You already selected and perfected usage of multiple management and monitoring software. Your team is well trained at using them and would rather use them for all your computer assets regardless if they are local, distant or even completely remote. But some of these softwares do not operate well with remote Endpoints or teleworker's computer. Lack of direct connectivity, lack of persistence and other impairments reduce the efficiency of your existing solutions.
Using the Access gateway and its VPN less remote access capability, your existing software will be able to perform their tasks as if the remote Endpoints were local, without having the user to turn on a VPN, bring the computer at a service center or do others because they are remote. All this with the security of a VPN less solution, while
- Eliminating the training cost associated with complex new tools
- Reducing the number of licenses you need to manage
- Shrinking the attack surface
Workers productivity is unimpeded by enabling IT support to work on issues unassisted. No more phone guided instructions to diagnose or resolve a trouble.
Most of the time spent at resolving issues consists of understanding what is the problem. The user must explain the situation, often help with diagnosing or take other actions. During that time, users are not productive although most issues are not blockers; if the support technician could work on the issue without help, the user wouldn't even notice the work being done.
Since direct access to the computer is always available, thanks to the Access gateway, the support technician does not need to coordinate his actions with the end-user. Also, the IT monitoring systems can constantly and reliably supervise the operation of the remote Endpoints and proceed at performing preventive maintenance should they be required.
After an Endpoint infection is detected, quarantining it protects the rest of your infrastructure. The equipment remains safely accessible, enabling deep forensic analysis.
Detecting an intrusion and the infection of Endpoints is the beginning of a recovery journey. The first step is certainly to stop the spreading of the infection to other digital assets. But forensic is an important step too; you must learn how the intrusion took place and fix the breach. For this to take place, the IT team will need to gather as much information as possible by recovering data, including from compromised Endpoints. However, quarantining computer typically involves isolating them, which usually makes them difficult to access.
The Boot component sits outside the operating system and cannot be infected by the virus that affected the compromised operating system (Windows or Linux). It will, in fact, play a major role in quarantining the asset by simply preventing the OS from starting. It also plays an equally important role in enabling forensic to take place remotely and immediately, thus speeding up both the breach remediation and recovery processes.
Technician dispatch to a remote site is eliminated due to the fact that endpoints remain always accessible, every maintenance steps are remotely executed.
Computers were not designed to provide full autonomous and unattended operation. Over time, features were added to high end data center servers to complement the original PC design, but typical remote Endpoints, particularly workstations and laptops, were never fitted with theses features. Consequently, it is not rare to have to bring physical attendance to the computer by dispatching a technician or having the user visit a support center. Both activities result in productivity losses and/or costs.
The NearEDGE solution operates outside the computer operating system (Windows or Linux) and provides continuous access to the Endpoints. The Boot component can then unlock the ability to perform a complete OS installation, repair or any other task that would otherwise require a physical attendance.
Issues can be worked on immediately. There is no need to ask the users to turn on their VPN, ship their equipment to a service center, or setup special tools.
Support calls often start with a long pre-check list of things to do, which includes calling the user, setting up remote connectivity and perform other pre-diagnosing or troubleshooting tasks. Even if the user is not busy in a meeting or otherwise unavailable at the time of call, it takes minutes before even starting the real work of resolving the issue.
With unimpeded access to the computer, regardless of his prefer method (Powershell and other shell, GUI, etc.), the technician can immediately diagnose, work, or use tools to solve the issue without involving the user. It is then possible to:
- Run pre-call checks and get facts before calling the user
- Possibly fix the issue without calling the user
- Troubleshoot multiple issues from multiple end-users while waiting for long execution tasks