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As the number of devices connecting to business networks continues to grow, managing and securing those endpoints has become a top priority for IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs). But when it comes to protecting and controlling devices such as laptops, desktops, and mobile phones, terms such as endpoint management and endpoint security are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion and gaps in coverage.
In reality, endpoint management and endpoint security serve two distinct but complementary functions. Understanding the difference is critical for building a comprehensive IT strategy in 2025 that supports both operational efficiency and cyber resilience.
In this blog, we’ll break down endpoint management vs. endpoint security, explain how they work together, and help you decide which capabilities your organization needs right now.
Key takeaways
Endpoint management focuses on maintaining, configuring, and monitoring devices to ensure performance, compliance, and operational control.
Endpoint security protects those same devices from threats such as malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access using tools such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), extended detection and response (XDR), and managed detection and response (MDR).
Relying on one without the other creates visibility and protection gaps. Both are essential for complete endpoint resilience.
Integrated solutions help MSPs and IT teams reduce risk, meet compliance standards, and improve operational efficiency.
ConnectWise delivers unified endpoint management and security through tools such as ConnectWise RMM™ and ConnectWise MDR™, which are built on the ConnectWise Asio® platform.
What is endpoint management?
Endpoint management refers to the centralized control, maintenance, and configuration of devices connected to a network. Whether it’s a corporate laptop, a mobile device, or a remote or virtual desktop, endpoint management ensures each device is operating efficiently, securely, and in line with IT policies.
Key functions of endpoint management include:
Device provisioning and inventory tracking: Ensuring every device is properly configured and accounted for
Patch management: Deploying operating system and application updates to prevent compatibility issues or vulnerabilities
Application deployment and configuration: Rolling out and managing software installations remotely
These capabilities are typically delivered through endpoint management software, such as remote monitoring and management (RMM) or unified endpoint management (UEM) tools. For MSPs and IT teams, using robust endpoint management software streamlines device oversight, reduces manual workloads, and helps ensure compliance across the entire device ecosystem.
What is endpoint security?
Endpoint security, on the other hand, is focused specifically on protecting endpoint devices from cybersecurity threats such as malware, ransomware, phishing, and zero-day exploits. While endpoint management ensures that devices are maintained and up to date, endpoint security ensures that those devices are defended against attack.
Core features of endpoint security include:
Antivirus and anti-malware protection: Stopping known and unknown threats
Behavioral monitoring and threat intelligence integration: Stopping suspicious activity in real-time
Application control: Enforcing policies on allowed application installation and usage
Device control: Enforcing policy on device connections, such as blocking USB drive connections as a data loss prevention strategy
Firewall and intrusion prevention systems: To block access to endpoints from other devices
Disk encryption and data loss prevention: As a data loss prevention strategy
Endpoint security tools are designed to detect suspicious activity, prevent breaches, and respond quickly to incidents. Modern solutions, often marketed as EDR, MDR, or XDR, combine threat detection, analysis, and automated response in one solution.
While EDR, MDR, and XDR offer automation and centralized visibility, MDR adds 24/7 monitoring and threat response capabilities delivered by a team of cybersecurity experts, making it especially valuable for MSPs and IT teams with limited in-house resources. Together, these tools help organizations strengthen endpoint protection, reduce dwell time, and rapidly contain threats before damage is done.
Key differences between endpoint management and endpoint security
While endpoint management and endpoint security both focus on devices connected to a network, they serve fundamentally different purposes, and understanding this distinction is essential for building a secure and efficient IT environment in 2025.
Feature
Endpoint management
Endpoint security
Primary goal
Operational control and performance optimization
Threat prevention, detection, and response
Focus area
Configuration, updates, and software deployment
Malware defense, threat detection, data protection
Typical tools
RMM, MDM, UEM solutions
EDR, MDR, XDR, firewall software, SASE, and SIEM
Responsibility
IT administrators
MSP/IT support teams, SOC personnel
Outcome
Stable, compliant, up-to-date devices
Secure devices with reduced risk of breach
The distinction matters because relying solely on one approach creates blind spots:
Without endpoint security, even well-managed devices can be compromised by malware, phishing, or ransomware
Without endpoint management, outdated or misconfigured systems become vulnerable, increasing the risk of successful attacks
Many regulatory frameworks, including HIPAA, GDPR, and CMMC, require strong operational controls and active threat protection. Overlooking either side can result in failed audits, data breaches, and downtime.
MSPs bridging the gap between management and security is how service providers can deliver true endpoint resilience in today’s digital landscape.
How endpoint management and security work together
In a modern IT environment, endpoint management and endpoint security are interconnected disciplines that reinforce each other.
Consider this scenario:
Your endpoint management solution detects that a remote laptop missed the latest security patch
An automated workflow pushes the update, while the endpoint security tool scans for any signs of known exploit attempts related to the missing patch
If a threat is detected, the security solution isolates the device, while the management tool provides remote access for remediation
This synergy enables IT teams to prevent incidents before they happen, detect threats in real time, and recover faster when issues occur. Unified solutions or well-integrated tools ensure:
Centralized visibility across devices and their security posture
Faster incident response through coordinated alerting and remediation
Reduced overhead from manual processes and disconnected systems
By combining both, MSPs and IT teams can protect their endpoints holistically, from system health to cybersecurity defense.
Choosing the right solution: A guide for MSPs and IT pros
Choosing between endpoint management and endpoint security, or more accurately, knowing how to prioritize and combine them, depends on your organization’s size, complexity, and risk exposure.
Here are key questions to guide your decision:
Are your devices regularly patched and compliant?
Do you have real-time visibility into device health and user activity?
Can you detect and isolate a compromised endpoint automatically?
Are you meeting your industry's cybersecurity and compliance requirements?
For smaller businesses or MSPs supporting lean IT teams, bundled or integrated solutions are often the most effective. Look for solutions that offer RMM and EDR/MDR/XDR capabilities, or at least ensure seamless integration between your tools.
For larger organizations, deploying best-of-breed tools with robust APIs for multi-tool integrations and centralized dashboards may offer more flexibility and depth. But success still depends on how well management and security strategies are aligned.
The goal isn’t to choose between endpoint management and endpoint security. It’s to implement both in harmony, so you can safeguard your endpoints and the data they carry, without sacrificing performance or usability.
Unifying endpoint management and security for complete protection
Managing and securing endpoints requires a unified strategy. ConnectWise delivers both sides of the equation with powerful tools built for MSPs and IT professionals.
ConnectWise RMM gives you centralized control over all your endpoints, enabling streamlined patch management, remote support, and automated workflows to maintain device health and compliance
ConnectWise MDR provides advanced threat detection, 24/7 monitoring, and expert-led response to quickly identify and contain attacks before they escalate
By combining robust endpoint management with world-class endpoint security, ConnectWise helps you reduce risk, improve operational efficiency, and deliver stronger outcomes for your business and end users all within the ConnectWise Asio platform.
Ready to protect and control every endpoint without compromise?
What is the difference between endpoint management and endpoint security?
Endpoint management focuses on maintaining, configuring, and supporting devices (e.g., through patching, remote access, and software deployment), while endpoint security protects those devices from cyberthreats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing. Both are essential for comprehensive endpoint protection.
Do I need both endpoint management and endpoint security tools?
Yes. Relying on one without the other leaves gaps. Endpoint management keeps devices compliant and functional, while endpoint security detects and stops threats. Together, they reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
Can endpoint management software include security features?
Some endpoint management tools offer limited security functions, such as patching third-party applications or enforcing security policies. However, full protection requires dedicated security tools such as EDR, XDR, or MDR to detect, analyze, and respond to threats in real time.
What are some examples of endpoint security tools?
Common examples include antivirus software, EDR, XDR, and MDR solutions. These tools help prevent, detect, and contain threats targeting endpoint devices.
How does ConnectWise help with endpoint management and security?
ConnectWise provides both capabilities through its integrated solutions. ConnectWise RMM handles endpoint monitoring, patching, and maintenance, while ConnectWise MDR delivers advanced threat detection and 24/7 response. Together, they help MSPs and IT teams manage and protect endpoints at scale.
