IT management vendor ManageEngine launched on Tuesday voice assistant and geo-fencing features for Desktop Central, its unified endpoint security and management solution.
Desktop Central is a unified endpoint management solution that helps in managing thousands of servers, desktops and mobile devices from a central location. It automates the complete desktop and mobile device management life cycle, ranging from a simple system configuration to complex software deployment.
Used by over 6,500 global customers, it helps businesses cut costs on IT infrastructure, achieve operational efficiency, improve productivity and combat network vulnerabilities.
Available immediately, the latest version of Desktop Central allows IT teams to manage endpoints via voice commands from the solution’s mobile app. This version includes a geofencing feature that closes IT security gaps by enforcing location-specific IT policies on mobile devices.
ManageEngine employs artificial intelligence (AI) in Desktop Central’s new virtual assistant, which comes integrated with its mobile app for Android devices.
With the AI-powered virtual assistant, IT teams can perform complex tasks — such as scanning, detecting and deploying missing patches; performing asset scans; uninstalling software; blocking unauthenticated executables; prohibiting software; establishing remote connections; and shutting down and waking up computers — with a few quick voice commands.
To further streamline endpoint management, Desktop Central adds geofencing capabilities that provide IT teams with location-specific security commands.
Administrators can use voice commands on Desktop Central’s mobile app for Android devices to patch management by scanning a network for patches, detect and deploy missing patches, and ask for details on which computers in the network are vulnerable; software deployment by uninstalling software, prohibiting or blocking non-productive software and applications, and applying for licenses. It also features tools that remotely can wake up and shut down computers.
The geofencing feature will help IT teams automate IT security policies on a device based on its location, including locking it or completely wiping corporate data from the device if it leaves the established geographical range.
OS deployment to remote computers, being the most challenging and time-consuming task, is now made easy with the newest version of Desktop Central. Deploying OS images to a computer anywhere in the world at any time with a few simple clicks allows IT teams to master onboarding activities.
“Endpoint management is critical to IT security because most security breaches originate from the endpoints,” said Mathivanan Venkatachalam, vice president at ManageEngine. “IT teams today spend a lot of time on redundant tasks, with one or more tools. Infusing AI, we could automate most of the complex endpoint management tasks using simple voice commands, saving a lot of time. Also, features like geo-fencing and remote OS deployment will reduce IT time and efforts as well as increase productivity.”
Desktop Central is priced at US$15 per device per year and available for download online. A fully functional, 30-day trial version is also available for download. Desktop Central can be installed on-premises or hosted on various cloud platforms and has a fully-functional free edition that can manage up to 50 endpoints.
