Remote IT management is evolving from a support function into a strategic enabler of business continuity. As organizations expand hybrid work and deal with increasingly distributed endpoints, traditional tools fall short—especially when devices are offline, unresponsive, or unmanaged. This article explores expert-backed strategies to modernize remote IT infrastructure, improve resilience, and reduce downtime across today’s dynamic work environments.
Enable IT to remotely access devices below the BIOS
Outages caused by system crashes or OS-level failures often lead to lost productivity and increased support overhead. When traditional tools fail due to a device not booting, IT teams historically had few good options. But hardware-based technologies are unlocking new capabilities, becoming available around the same time as Microsoft sunsetting its blue screen of death, part of a broader effort in the IT community to improve the resiliency of remote endpoints.
“When PCs won’t boot, employee productivity comes to a screeching halt. Historically, that meant delays, shipping devices back and forth, and a lot of frustration on both ends. But with Out-of-Band Diagnosis & Remediation from HP and Intel Corporation, we’re changing that. Even if the OS is down, IT can remotely access the device below the BIOS, run diagnostics and fix the issue – with no need for the PC to boot, and almost no user involvement.”
Tom Saathoff
Data Science, AI Solutions Lead – Nordics @ HPSource: LinkedIn
Out-of-band management enables IT to troubleshoot issues that were once unreachable, dramatically accelerating response times. For organizations dealing with remote IT challenges, this approach reduces support delays and enhances user experience, setting the foundation for broader modernization efforts.
Enable IT to remotely access devices that are powered down
Hybrid work introduces added complexity, particularly when devices are offline or powered down. This limitation undermines the efficiency of remote IT management, making device recovery and updates nearly impossible. As IT leaders are more likely to see gaps for their hybrid workforce compared to their always-in-the-office workforce, closing that gap has become a key priority.
“Hybrid work has made remote management at scale more complex, yet more essential. The cloud has helped but hasn’t solved IT's ability to manage devices that are powered down or offline. HP Wolf Connect’s highly resilient connection opens new doors to remote device management, enabling efficient and effective management of dispersed workforces.”
Ian Pratt
Global Head of Security @ HPSource: CSO Online
Solutions like HP Wolf Connect make remote IT management more resilient by maintaining connectivity even when a device is powered off. This allows IT to push policies, perform security actions, and recover lost or stolen assets more effectively—especially in distributed environments where time zones and connectivity gaps present ongoing hurdles.
Consolidate tools for better remote IT management
The complexity of managing remote IT environments is compounded by tool sprawl. Many IT departments rely on a patchwork of disconnected platforms, leading to inefficiencies and gaps in visibility. As two-thirds of endpoint managers using more than ten tools to manage and protect their digital estate reveals, integration challenges are now a primary obstacle to effective endpoint control.
“Even if IT and security organizations are becoming accustomed to supporting and protecting remote and hybrid work, our surveys show there is still much work to be done to improve enterprise endpoint security. Only 43 percent of endpoint management and security professionals said that their organization actively manages more than three-quarters of their endpoints. Put another way, 57 percent of organizations do not have visibility or control over a quarter of their endpoints or more.”
Michael Wallent
Corporate Vice President @ MicrosoftSource: Microsoft Security Blog
Reducing the number of platforms in play and moving toward unified solutions like Microsoft Intune Suite not only simplifies operations but also improves security posture. As organizations mature their remote IT management strategies, centralization will be key to scaling operations without increasing risk.
In conclusion, modernizing remote IT hinges on expanding visibility, enabling access beyond the OS, and reducing tool fragmentation. Solutions that provide below-BIOS control, connect to powered-down devices, and consolidate management functions can significantly improve response times and reduce endpoint risk. As hybrid work becomes standard, IT leaders must evolve their approach to stay ahead of technical limitations and deliver better user outcomes.
