Identify Network Devices and How to Securely Manage Them

The increasing digitization, the rise of remote work, and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) concepts have made organizational networks more dynamic, open, and complex than ever. Simultaneously, the number of devices connecting—with or without IT department approval—to internal resources continues to grow.

These devices are often not centrally managed, are absent from inventories, and fall outside established security policies. These are referred to as unmanaged devices. They pose significant security and compliance risks for IT departments and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

Unmanaged endpoints can include:

• Personal laptops or smartphones of employees (BYOD)
• Legacy systems without updated software agents
• IoT devices like smart printers or conference room technology
• Test or development systems that were never officially deployed
• External devices from guests, suppliers, or contractors

Often, users are unaware that their devices could serve as a potential entry point for attacks. However, for attackers, such systems are particularly appealing: they are often unprotected, unpatched, and virtually invisible to IT oversight.

This article aims to highlight:

• What unmanaged devices are
• How they arise
• The specific risks they entail
• And how IT departments and MSPs can effectively control these risks through tools, processes, and policies

How Do Unmanaged Devices Arise – and Why Are They Often Overlooked?

For many businesses, unmanaged devices aren’t the result of negligence but rather pragmatic solutions. An employee spontaneously uses their personal laptop because the company device is temporarily unavailable. A supplier is granted Wi-Fi access for a brief consultation. An IT administrator tests a new solution on a separate system that is never formally recorded in the inventory.

Scenarios like these are realistic and occur daily. They are often influenced by the following factors:

• Lax or nonexistent BYOD policies: Employees bring their own devices and use them without prior registration.
• Limited IT resources: Small IT teams cannot onboard or inventory every new device immediately.
• Growing network environments: Cloud-based infrastructures or decentralized work models make it harder for IT teams to maintain oversight.
• IoT and Edge Devices: These are often not perceived as traditional endpoints and, therefore, fall outside monitoring systems.

Why Many IT Teams Underestimate Unmanaged Devices

The main issue lies in the invisibility of these systems. Without a central agent, management tool integration, or documented ownership, they do not appear in any list or dashboard. Often, they are only discovered after a security incident has occurred.

The risk is very real. Studies show that about one-third of successful attacks occur via unprotected or unknown systems. Ignoring unmanaged devices inadvertently opens the door to malware, ransomware, or unauthorized access to sensitive data.

The following section will explore the specific risks unmanaged devices pose to security and compliance and explain why MSPs, in particular, need to remain vigilant.

What Are the Specific Risks of Unmanaged Devices?

Unmanaged endpoints come with multiple risks—not only on a technical level but also on an organizational and regulatory level. Here’s an overview of the most critical issues:

Missing Security Updates and Patches

Devices not monitored by central endpoint management systems often fail to receive regular security updates. Outdated software with known vulnerabilities provides an ideal entry point for cybercriminals.

Insufficient Access Control

Unmanaged devices typically operate without network control and can move freely within an organization. Without network segmentation or access restrictions, there is a risk that sensitive data could be accessed or systems manipulated.

No Logging or Monitoring

Since these devices are not part of the official inventory, log files and audit trails are absent. This makes it challenging to identify causes in the event of security incidents and to clarify responsibilities.

Non-compliance with Data Protection Regulations

Regulations such as GDPR, ISO 27001, or industry-specific guidelines require organizations to have full control over and documentation of IT assets. Unmanaged devices jeopardize compliance with these standards, potentially leading to fines or reputational damage.

Spread of Malware and Ransomware

An infected BYOD device can introduce malware into the corporate network within seconds. Without monitoring or safeguards, malware can spread freely, especially in flat network structures.

For IT departments and MSPs, this means that any lack of visibility represents a potential risk. The next section, therefore, focuses on how automated tools and structured processes can help increase oversight and regain control.

How can unmanaged devices be identified and recorded?

Achieving full transparency is essential to gaining control over the devices in a network. Manual tracking or sporadic visual inspections are no longer sufficient given today’s dynamic network environments. Instead, a combination of technology, automation, and processes is necessary to systematically identify unmanaged endpoints.

1. Use Asset Discovery Tools

Modern asset discovery tools like N‑sight RMM continuously scan the network and identify all connected devices—including their type, operating system, IP address, and connection duration. These automated solutions can even detect “silent” devices that do not actively communicate but are connected to the network. These tools are particularly effective in BYOD or IoT scenarios, where devices often connect briefly and then disconnect.

Some RMM and endpoint management platforms offer integrated discovery functions that are easy to incorporate into existing environments. Benefit: New or suspicious devices are automatically detected, classified, and can immediately be assigned policies.

2. Combine Network Segmentation with Monitoring

Technical visibility alone isn’t enough. Only through intelligent network segmentation can unmanaged devices be isolated in quarantine zones or their access specifically restricted. Additionally, continuous network monitoring is recommended to analyze not only device identities but also their behavior—for example, through traffic patterns or unusual access patterns.

3. Reconcile with the IT Inventory

Regular reconciliation of discovery data with the central IT inventory is vital. This is the only way to clearly identify unknown or forgotten devices. Systems not appearing in the inventory should be automatically flagged and tracked.

4. Automated Onboarding & Agent Deployment

Once an unmanaged device has been identified, the next step is integration into centralized endpoint management. Through scripts or automated workflows, agents can be installed remotely to enforce security policies such as updates, antivirus scans, or access regulations.

How can organizations secure unmanaged devices and control BYOD?

Unmanaged devices cannot be completely avoided, but they can be controlled. To effectively minimize the associated risks, a multi-layered approach is required, encompassing both organizational and technical measures. Below, we outline specific strategies that companies and MSPs can use to enhance security and gain greater control.

Clearly defined policies instead of bans

Unverwaltete Geräte lassen sich nicht vollständig vermeiden – aber kontrollieren. Besonders im Kontext von BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) und hybriden Arbeitsmodellen ist es wichtig, nicht auf pauschale Verbote zu setzen, sondern auf verbindliche, praxisnahe Richtlinien.

Unmanaged devices can’t be completely avoided—but they can be controlled. Especially in the context of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and hybrid work models, it’s crucial to establish binding, practical policies instead of imposing blanket bans.

1. Develop and Communicate a BYOD Policy

A well-structured BYOD policy should address the following points:

• Allowed device types (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops)
• Security requirements (e.g., encryption, password protection, antivirus)
• Which corporate data can be processed on personal devices
• Support protocols (e.g., handling data loss, device loss, or employee offboarding)

This policy should be transparently communicated to all employees, ideally through training or awareness campaigns. The goal is to encourage employees to take responsibility and collaborate with the IT department.

2. Technical Control with Endpoint Management

Alongside organizational requirements, technical safeguards are needed. Cloud-based endpoint management solutions allow private or external devices to be integrated and centrally managed.

Key features include:

• Automated device detection and registration
• Enforcement of security policies (e.g., patch levels, operating system standards)
• Application and data access management
• Capability to remotely wipe sensitive corporate data

3. Intelligently Manage Network Access

Trusted methods include combining Zero Trust principles with network segmentation:

• New or unknown devices are granted limited access to isolated network zones.
• Access to production systems is only granted after authentication, compliance checks, and approval.
• Monitoring systems identify suspicious behavior and trigger alerts.

This multi-layered protection approach minimizes risks while avoiding unnecessary disruption to employees’ workflows.

Achieving visibility and regaining control

Unmanaged devices are not a hypothetical risk; they exist in virtually every IT environment, from small businesses to global MSPs. Their invisibility is what makes them so dangerous: what cannot be recognized cannot be protected.

However, with a structured approach, these risks can be managed. The key lies in a combination of technology, processes, and awareness initiatives:

• Automated asset discovery delivers the necessary transparency.
• Cloud-based endpoint management platforms enable centralized management of all systems—including BYOD and IoT.
• Policies and training enhance awareness among employees.
• Zero Trust and segmentation prevent new or suspicious devices from gaining uncontrolled access.

For Managed Service Providers, this presents an opportunity. By showing clients how to systematically manage unmanaged devices, MSPs can not only improve IT security but also build trust and establish new services.

Recommendations for Increased Security and Control

Taking control of unmanaged devices begins with a comprehensive network scan. Only when all connected systems are visible can their potential risks be assessed. Next, IT teams should compare the discovered devices with the existing IT inventory to identify which assets are officially recorded–and which are not.

Building on this, it is advisable to define clear and realistic policies for handling BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and third-party devices, and to communicate these policies transparently within the organization. Automated endpoint and patch management solutions can technically assist in efficiently integrating and continuously monitoring new devices.

Equally important are defined response processes in cases where non-compliant devices are identified—for instance, quarantine measures, remote wiping of sensitive data, or the automated creation of support tickets. The earlier unmanaged endpoints are detected and integrated into existing security processes, the better potential dangers such as data loss, cyberattacks, or compliance violations can be prevented.