Endpoint fleets are now mobile by default, rarely on trusted networks, and often out of IT’s direct reach. As a result, remote device management must go beyond patching and basic screen sharing. It must account for loss, theft, crashes, and complete OS failure.
Modern IT teams rely on remote monitoring and management (RMM) practices that extend below the operating system and work without user involvement. When designed correctly, these capabilities reduce recovery time, limit security exposure, and increase helpdesk efficiency. The expert insights below highlight practical ways to build resilience into endpoint strategies and support a distributed workforce at scale.
Locate, lock, and wipe devices remotely
Hybrid work has changed how often devices move outside controlled environments, making loss and theft a persistent concern. According to an HP survey of 200 IT professionals, 70% of IT and security leaders say hybrid work increases the risk of lost or stolen devices, reinforcing the need for device management that works even when PCs are offline or powered down.
“HP Protect and Trace with Wolf Connect enables IT to manage and protect remote PCs, even when disconnected from the Internet or powered down. Available with select HP PCs at time of order, Wolf Connect uses cellular technology that provides global coverage through a unique HP service, allowing IT to find, lock and erase PCs worldwide.”
Parag Dixit, Technical Product Manager @ HP, previously Software Engineering Manager @ Intel Security
Source: Smart Security Starts Here: WXP with HP Protect and Trace (WXP Blog)
⭐ Action step: Define a lost‑device playbook (template here) that uses firmware‑level and cellular‑based controls. Pair location, lock, and wipe actions with asset inventory systems and identity platforms so stolen devices can be handled quickly without relying on remote management agents or user connectivity.
Use remote management, even on crashed devices
Traditional remote support tools often fail when endpoints need help most. A stark example occurred when a faulty endpoint security update in July 2024 caused approximately 8.5 million Windows PCs to crash and become unbootable. Events like this highlight the importance of out‑of‑band remote management and recovery mechanisms that operate below the OS layer.
"At HP, we shared major enhancements to the Workforce Experience Platform at CES 2026, including new Out-of-Band Remote Connect capabilities that allow IT teams to take full control of a device even when the system has crashed. This makes WXP the only multivendor platform that combines firmware-level remote support with in-band remote access in a single management experience — a meaningful step forward for IT resilience.”
Manoj Leelanivas, President of HP Solutions, previously COO @ Juniper Networks
Source: LinkedIn
⭐ Action step: Integrate out‑of‑band access into incident response and disaster recovery plans. Align firmware‑level tooling with configuration management databases and RMM workflows so IT teams can remediate kernel or boot failures without shipping devices or involving end users. CISA.gov provides cybersecurity incident and response playbooks that can help with this.
Use remote device management to optimize helpdesks
Helpdesk efficiency increasingly depends on how many incidents can be resolved without hands on hardware. One HP‑commissioned study found that 45% more IT issues can now be resolved remotely that might have caused a PC to crash and fail to reboot. When combined with remote monitoring capabilities, this approach reduces downtime and lowers support costs.
“WXP In-Band Remote Connect enables secure, real-time remote access to devices directly through the operating system, without requiring out-of-band infrastructure. It empowers IT teams to troubleshoot, configure, and support endpoints efficiently while maintaining full security and compliance controls. Designed for modern enterprises, it reduces downtime, lowers support costs, and enhances remote workforce productivity.”
Meni Grinfeld, Business Development Manager @ HP, previously customer solutions @ Dell, Lenovo, and IBM
Source: LinkedIn
⭐ Action step: Standardize helpdesk tooling around secure in‑band access and telemetry. Combine session‑based remote management with endpoint analytics, patch compliance checks, and role‑based access controls so frontline support can resolve issues quickly without escalating unnecessarily.
Key Takeaways for remote device management
- Design endpoint security for the moments when everything breaks. Prioritize firmware‑level controls and persistent connectivity so devices can still be located, locked, or wiped even when the OS is offline or compromised.
- Treat out‑of‑band access as critical infrastructure, not an emergency workaround. Build it directly into incident response and disaster recovery runbooks so IT teams can recover from kernel crashes and boot failures without shipping hardware or escalating to users.
- Turn the helpdesk into a prevention engine, not just a repair function. Combine remote monitoring, remote monitoring and management, and secure remote management workflows to detect issues earlier, resolve more incidents remotely, and reduce avoidable downtime.
