5 Benefits of Centralized Management for Peripheral Devices

As docks, keyboards, headsets and mice get smarter, IT administrators need a centralized solution to manage their peripheral devices. 

In enterprise IT, larger and more expensive devices such as servers, workstations, laptops and smartphones tend to command the most attention. Meanwhile, peripherals including keyboards and headsets are often overlooked. But as these smaller devices grow smarter and more connected, it’s critical for organizations to manage and secure them just as they would any other tech tools. 

Early this year, we launched Dell Display and Peripheral Manager, which consolidated two separate applications into one streamlined solution that provides more visibility into these often ignored devices. This spring will see the debut of Dell Device Management Console, a cloud-based dashboard that can integrate with Microsoft Intune and provides enterprisewide visibility and management capabilities. 

Here are five benefits of centralized management for peripherals. 

With a centralized console, IT administrators can push updates to devices across the organization with the press of a button. This stands in sharp contrast to the status quo, in which users mostly manage peripherals themselves day-to-day — until something breaks. Currently, users will open up service tickets with IT when they’re experiencing problems, which could be the result of malware or outdated firmware. That puts everyone in reactive mode, and it also puts organizations at risk. Centralized management results in better outcomes with less effort. 

As peripherals become increasingly sophisticated, they aren’t just simple electronic accessories anymore. Keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, displays and docks now contain firmware to adhere to industry standards and to provide improved features. Industry standards are often updated to respond to potential cybersecurity threats. So, the centralized management approach offered by Dell Device Management Console allows IT teams to identify devices with outdated firmware and instantly deploy critical security patches across the organization. 

Not all end users want to manage their peripherals and monitors or even tinker with settings. They just want plug-and-play keyboards, headsets and mice that will help them get their jobs done. A centralized management approach lets IT administrators roll out and maintain fleets of peripherals that work as expected, every time. Administrators can even set enterprisewide policies, such as establishing a specific field-of-view angle for all webcams in the organization or setting mic noise-canceling parameters to ensure a standardized video meeting experience for all users. 

Modern peripherals aren’t always cheap, disposable devices. They’re sophisticated tech investments that can improve over time through firmware updates. For example, software updates might enhance the low-light performance or audio processing capabilities of a webcam. This ability to improve products through remote management means that organizations can extend the useful life of their peripherals, helping to save money, meet sustainability goals and reduce the frequency of time-consuming rollout efforts. 

No one shows up for work wanting to spend their day thinking about their headset or their keyboard. High-quality peripherals that work reliably contribute directly to employee productivity and satisfaction. When workers have access to artificial intelligence-enhanced noise-canceling headsets, thoughtfully designed keyboards with customizable function keys and webcams with excellent image quality, they can focus on their work instead of wrestling with technology. By bringing all of these peripheral devices under one management umbrella, IT administrators can create a seamless, unified technology environment that enhances the employee experience.