IT environments are not what they used to be. You’d be hard-pressed to find an organization that runs its entire IT infrastructure in a single location. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing , environments are increasingly distributed, spanning borders and multiple continents. Remotely managing these environments isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity.
The more granular the remote capabilities, the better. Managed service providers (MSPs) build their businesses on a remote service model, handling as many tasks as possible from a central dashboard to avoid costly trips to client sites every time a problem arises.
This model helps reduce costs for IT providers and customers while improving availability and reliability. It is used to monitor the network, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) status, and perform remote tasks on computers and servers. Now, MSPs can take advantage of a better way to manage UPS and oversee IT infrastructure. With single device remote configuration, MSPs can remotely access individual devices in the backup power infrastructure for configuration, troubleshooting, and updates.
Single Device Remote Configuration Overview
Single-device remote configuration is a game changer. It makes it possible to keep an eye on just one device from anywhere, taking mass configuration to a granular level. Now, when a provider receives an alert from somewhere in the power infrastructure, it only takes a few clicks through a web-based dashboard to quickly identify the device and the problem. A few more clicks and the problem is often resolved. If necessary, the MSP can apply configuration changes to all similar devices across the environment.
Previously, this required using a VPN connection to access equipment setup or traveling to the equipment location, which is impractical for distributed environments spread over hundreds of miles. Either way, access must be coordinated with the customer. Whether entering the building in person or establishing a network connection, the provider needs to schedule an appointment and obtain access authorization based on the existing security level. This is a clunky, time-consuming approach that can take hours or days to resolve even a simple issue.
Using a single-device configuration, let’s say a provider receives an alert about a communication outage with a UPS or cooling unit. With just a few clicks, an engineer can zoom in on the specific unit, review its settings, and determine the cause of the problem. The fix might be as simple as changing the network connection setting from “disabled” to “enabled.”
Or, suppose an engineer, while reviewing a device’s settings, discovers that it is set up to communicate using the HTTP protocol, which is far less secure than the encrypted HTTPS standard. Again, with just a few clicks, the engineer can make changes remotely, potentially preventing a security breach in the customer’s environment. Thus, remote configuration capabilities help organizations protect their infrastructure from cyber threats by resolving issues before they cause problems.
How MSPs can benefit from single-device remote configuration
MSPs are dealing with the management of increasingly complex and distributed IT environments. Innovations such as remote configuration of a single device enable MSPs to grow their business while reducing costs. By proactively preventing customer downtime, MSPs can also strengthen customer relationships and stand out from the competition.
Single-device remote configuration also helps address the data center skills shortage. Qualified technicians are hard to find, so anything that allows providers to do more with fewer staff is always welcome. Single-device capabilities also address key security needs. It is important to find a remote monitoring solution that regularly releases updates via the cloud to address security vulnerabilities, which helps providers protect their customer environments and keep them up to date.
Learn more about remote monitoring and management solutions
IT remote monitoring and management platforms have become commonplace, not only for power management, but for the entire IT infrastructure. As environments become increasingly distributed, single device remote configuration provides MSPs with another important tool to meet the IT and infrastructure service needs of their customers. Learn more about the single device configuration feature , an important step in preventing downtime through remote management.