Device control solutions manage and secure access to endpoint devices in an organization’s network. They enable administrators to monitor and control data transfers between all connected devices, lowering the risk of data loss and preventing insider risk. Device control is also an integral part of endpoint security and management, providing protection against threats originating from devices like USB drives, wireless devices, and other hardware peripherals.
Device control solutions enable admins to configure policies and rules that determine which devices have access, what level of access they have, and to what data or resources. Admins can, for example, restrict the use of USB storage devices to prevent unauthorized data copy or restrict access to sensitive networks from insecure devices. They also provide comprehensive reporting to monitor the health of endpoint devices across your network. They are sometimes included as part of a broader unified endpoint management, or data loss prevention solution. Device control solutions help teams to safeguard critical data, ensure compliance with data protection laws, and maintain a safer digital environment.
The device control market is competitive. These tools form a part of the broader endpoint security solutions ecosystem, which may also include features like antivirus/antimalware protection, firewall, Intrusion prevention system (IPS), and data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities.
This guide will explore the top device control providers based on their capabilities (including policy enforcement, device, and user-level control), integration with other security platforms, and user feedback. The list is based on our own in-depth technical analysis and market research.
NinjaOne is a unified IT management solution designed to facilitate remote, centralized management of IT assets, enhancing support outcomes, driving user productivity, securing endpoints, and improving the IT experience.
Key features of NinjaOne include full visibility into managed endpoints, full control over user devices, automations, and security workflow, at scale. The solution allows IT teams the to manage business networks, servers, and end-user devices from a central admin console, supporting workflows such as new device setup, vulnerability identification, patch deployment and application installation.
NinjaOne provides automated patch management tools across endpoints to minimize vulnerabilities, protect endpoints, backup and restore critical business data against advanced threats. NinjaOne can reduce operational cost and complexity by replacing multiple point solutions traditionally used by IT teams with a single software, cutting licensing costs and reducing the attack surface.
Offering fast and secure remote access, NinjaOne enhances control over endpoints. It also supports the management and deployment of antivirus and security applications to improve endpoint security, protecting critical business data. The product provides a holistic view of all IT assets, offering a single-pane-of-glass visibility for efficient management.
Sophos Intercept X is a leading endpoint security solution designed to protect against data breaches, ransomware, and data loss. The platform extends beyond simple endpoint management with advanced EDR and XDR tools that allow businesses to discover, explore, and address suspicious activities and attack indicators.
Sophos Intercept X provides a multi-layered approach to endpoint protection. It manages controls for web, application, and peripherals to minimize the attack surface and block common attack routes. The solution uses artificial intelligence and behavioral analysis to block new and emerging malware.
This solution features patented CryptoGuard technology, capable of detecting and halting ransomware. If any ransomware-encrypted files are identified, they are automatically reverted to their original, unencrypted state, minimizing the business impact. Intercept X also harnesses over 60 proprietary, pre-configured, and tuned exploit mitigations to protect against fileless attacks and zero-day exploits.
Sophos Intercept X aids in reducing the complexity of setup and management through Sophos Central – a cloud-based platform that manages your Sophos products. Additionally, Sophos Intercept X enables full disk encryption and safeguards lost or stolen devices. The platform assures effective web protection and filtering. It employs application and peripheral controls to reduce your attack surface and block common attacks.
Safetica offers data protection for businesses and is currently in operation on over half a million devices worldwide, spanning 120 countries. The software is largely centered on preventing the unauthorized distribution of sensitive business data, performing security audits, and providing transparency within organizations.
Safetica DLP allows businesses to secure, manage, and monitor USB and peripheral ports to prevent unauthorized data access and limit the risk of data theft or loss. The software achieves this by automatically scanning, identifying, and classifying external devices used by employees, enabling organizations to set granular device control policies and monitor all activity on endpoints.
The Device Control functionality extends to a wide variety of USB drive types, including flash drives, external HDDs, and mobile devices, offering flexible management of data security within varied work settings. This feature also enables alerts and reports on USB activity across all endpoints, ensuring businesses have a complete overview of potential data security risks.
Implementing Safetica DLP is straightforward. The solution integrates with existing IT infrastructure, aiming to minimize compatibility issues. The software offers persistent data classification, extending protection even to new documents and files. With its focus on clarity, ease of integration, and persistence in data protection, Safetica DLP enhances security without impacting user productivity.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is a mobile device management solution designed to boost employee productivity and security. The system supports management of multiple devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and TVs. It can manage multiple operating systems including Android, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS. The platform enables swift enrollment and authentication for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and corporate devices from a simplified interface dashboard.
Features of ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus include easy app and document distribution, management of in-house and store apps for numerous operating systems, and the ability to lock down devices to run single or specific apps with Kiosk Mode. Additionally, the platform provides details of apps and manages app licenses on mobile devices whilst ensuring corporate data safety by separating company work profiles from personal profiles.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus can remotely monitor devices and execute lock and wipe commands from the central MDM server. This feature is particularly beneficial for lost devices where it’s crucial to secure corporate data.
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus effectively protects corporate data without impacting employee productivity. It creates a safe vault to protect corporate data, establishing a clear separation between corporate and personal information on every device.
Kandji is an endpoint management platform designed to manage corporate Apple devices. It offers comprehensive device management and provides a variety of features, such as automated app and OS updates, CIS compliance security templates, and zero-touch deployment. Kandji combines device management, vulnerability management, endpoint detection and response, and endpoint compliance into one solution.
Kandki provides effective management of Apple endpoint devices, including iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS. A key feature is the Liftoff service, which ensures new devices are ready-to-use out of the box with all the required security controls and applications in place. Devices can be easily organized based on department or location.
Kandji provides admins with a high degree of visibility into endpoint devices. It allows them to maintain a check on all activities with a detailed log of all actions taken. Kandji’s Prism feature allows instant reporting on the status of all Apple fleet for quick compliance and troubleshooting. The software also provides a self-service feature, allowing users to get what they need without needing help from IT.
Kandji allows IT managers to enforce compliance, manage OS updates, and manage profiles effectively. Their one-click compliance templates make it simple to meet specific mandates, like CIS or FedRAMP. Auditor access mode ensures you’re always ready for scrutiny. Real-time alerts and ability to enforce encryption or remote lock provides added security.
IBM Security MaaS360 is a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) product designed to manage and protect a workforce that uses various devices, including laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, wearables, and IoT devices.
The product is primarily geared towards ensuring a secure user experience. It’s a suitable service for large remote workforces and supports both corporate-owned and BYOD endpoints. MaaS360 integrates artificial intelligence (AI) to provide actionable insights derived from contextual analytics.
Key features of IBM Security MaaS360 include endpoint management, endpoint security, and AI analytics. The endpoint management capability allows easy scalability and integration with existing infrastructure and devices. The platform provides enterprise-grade threat defense to detect threats and automate remediation across users, devices, apps, data, and networks. The inclusion of AI analytics provides a UEM platform designed with Watson AI that delivers relevant and actionable security insights across an enterprise.
MaaS360 by IBM has various benefits, which include protecting information and ensuring protected access. It supports safe ways to access, create, edit, and sync business documents on mobile devices. Also, the system grants protected access to company resources from any mobile device without needing a VPN.
Other benefits include its ability to integrate frictionless identity, and access management with UEM. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and can fully deploy in an average of two minutes.
Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys is a comprehensive device control solution designed to monitor, control, and limit access to USB and peripheral ports. This solution aims to prevent data theft and loss by providing businesses with precise management over data accessibility across various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, through a user-friendly web-based interface.
The product offers remote monitoring and temporary access capabilities, enabling admins to grant USB accessibility even when computers are offline. Additionally, it features auto-detection for new external devices along with providing a reliable and private connection to all devices no matter the location. Endpoint Protector can expand to incorporate full data loss prevention capabilities at the endpoint with Content Aware Protection.
Endpoint Protector provides granular control over USB device permissions and manages user access to removable media connections, preventing the accidental transfer or loss of vital data. Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys identifies all USB connected devices and removable media, blocks unauthorized device usage, or enforces encryption remotely.
Endpoint Protector enables organizations to protect sensitive and regulated data types. This solution aids in compliance with various regulations such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, NIST, GDPR, and others, thereby minimizing the risk of fines imposed by regulatory entities. Additionally, the solution also offers enhanced security measures through its Enforced Encryption feature for all USB storage devices used throughout the organization.
Citrix Endpoint Management is an endpoint management solution offering over 300 management policies for enhanced device security. The platform is compatible with all mobile devices, supporting high-quality experiences. Additionally, it can be used to manage device compliance, mobile apps, Single Sign-On (SSO) requisites, and micro-VPN settings.
Citrix Endpoint Management is designed to improve the overall IT support experience. It helps increase productivity and reduces support calls by maintaining the delivery, monitoring, and scaling of endpoint infrastructure.
The solution supports both on-premises and cloud environments, presenting a 99.9% uptime guarantee for constant workforce connectivity. Automatic updates ensure quick access to new features and bug fixes for users. With options for seamless integration across leading platforms, it stands as a one-stop solution for device management needs.
Device Control Solutions are software applications that help organizations manage and control the access and use of endpoint on a network. The core benefit and use case of a device control solution is to enforce access controls, audit access to endpoint devices, enforce policies, such as preventing unauthorized software from being installed, and enforce Data Loss Protection (DLP) policies, including monitoring data uploads or external media drives.
Device control solutions are typically installed on endpoint devices via a software agent. Once installed, admins can enforce policies, monitor endpoint devices and manage updates from a central admin console.
Typical controls include access policies, endpoint security measures such as anti-virus controls, data loss prevention policies (such as blocking data uploads to cloud services or removable media), remote endpoint management, and live user monitoring.
Device control solutions can come under several categories, sometimes being classed as endpoint management solutions, and sometimes being classed as compliance or data loss prevention solutions to monitor data usage on remote endpoint devices.
When choosing a Device Control Solution, some important features to consider are:
Device Control Solutions offer several benefits, including:
Joel Witts is the Content Director at Expert Insights, meaning he oversees all articles published and topics covered. He is an experienced journalist and writer, specialising in identity and access management, Zero Trust, cloud business technologies, and cybersecurity. Joel is a co-host of the Expert Insights Podcast and conducts regular interviews with leading B2B tech industry experts, including directors at Microsoft and Google. Joel holds a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from Cardiff University.
Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.