Extending Deep Freeze Cloud to Remote and Hybrid Workforce: Best Practices for Policy-Based Endpoint Control

Many organizations have experienced a plethora of benefits by employing a remote or hybrid workforce. A hybrid workforce is very attractive to many job seekers, so offering it can attract top talent; a remote or hybrid schedule may be even more appealing to candidates than a fully in-office role with a slightly higher wage. And a fully remote position is, in theory, open to anybody anywhere in the world, so organizations can cast a very wide net looking for the best possible candidate. There are numerous overhead costs that can be saved with these work configurations, such as by maintaining a smaller office, or even no office at all.

It’s not all ice cream and daisies, though. Remote and hybrid working present some challenges. There are work culture debates that are tough to quantify and murky arguments about productivity. However, IT administrators can probably think of one concrete example of a difficulty with remote and hybrid work: endpoint control.

Endpoint Control

Endpoint control is the endeavor to protect workstations — computers, servers and other internet-connected devices — from cyberthreats. Securing endpoints can involve numerous strategies and tools to defend against malware, ransomware and unauthorized access.

Each device that an organization’s staff uses to connect to its network represents a risk factor. Every device is a potential vulnerability that a cybercriminal can exploit to steal corporate data and make unauthorized changes. 

And every device is an endpoint, so as companies scale up and hire more personnel, the list of endpoints grows and the job of securing them becomes ever more difficult. That’s why it’s crucial for organizations to deploy tools and solutions that protect all endpoints, whether they’re in the office or in employees’ homes, cafés, libraries or co-working spaces.

Securing Remote and Hybrid Working

Non-traditional work configurations, such as remote and hybrid working, or any other bring your own device (BYOD) scheme, can complicate endpoint control. Such policies can boost morale, productivity and revenues, but they also make it harder to ensure users are working securely. An out-of-office workstation or personal computer is an attractive target for threat actors to exploit. Protecting the device with a comprehensive solution is essential.

Endpoint Control With Deep Freeze

At Faronics, we developed Deep Freeze with hybrid and remote workforces in mind. We’re aware of the challenges these work plans can create, so we made sure Deep Freeze can offer solutions the IT departments of these companies need.

Here’s how Deep Freeze can help with hybrid and remote endpoint control:

Reboot-To-Restore Technology

Reboot-To-Restore is the crown jewel of all of Deep Freeze’s features. For remote workers, who often operate in less secure environments, this technology ensures that any malicious changes, accidental misconfigurations or malware infections go away with a simple restart. This effectively makes the remote endpoint indestructible and immune to a wide range of common threats, significantly reducing the number of help desk tickets. There’s much less need for staff to make a panicky phone call to IT when they know they can fix the problem simply by switching their computer off and on again.

Centralized Cloud-Based Management

Unlike the traditional on-premise version, Deep Freeze Cloud provides a single, web-based console. This allows IT administrators to remotely manage and control devices from anywhere, without needing a VPN or a local network connection. They can monitor device health, push updates and execute tasks on demand, regardless of the machine’s physical location.

Automated Maintenance and Updates

Deep Freeze Cloud enables IT to schedule and automate maintenance tasks for remote devices. Administrators can remotely push security updates and software patches to all devices at once, ensuring every system stays protected and compliant. This eliminates the need for remote workers to manually install critical updates, a task that many remote staff procrastinate or forget altogether.

Simplified Endpoint Management

Deep Freeze automates the restoration process, which helps maintain a consistent endpoint state across a dispersed workforce. This simplifies management and helps ensure all remote devices meet compliance standards, which is a major challenge given the expanded attack surface of remote work.

Remote Access and Troubleshooting

Deep Freeze Cloud includes remote access tools, such as RDP and VNC, allowing IT administrators to troubleshoot issues in real time without physically accessing the workstation. This is crucial for resolving problems quickly and efficiently for employees who are not on-site. The ability to “shadow” an active user session also helps with real-time troubleshooting and collaboration.

Deep Freeze — Efficiency, Security, Peace of Mind

With patented Reboot-To-Restore technology, Deep Freeze can ensure your devices and systems are always running efficiently by restoring them to a pristine state with every reboot — no matter where the devices are. With such a powerful solution, organizations cannot only simplify IT management, but also maximize security, minimize downtime and extend the lifespan of hardware.

Reach out to our experts today to learn how Deep Freeze can help your specific organization.