Best UEM for MSPs: Feature Comparison & Platform Capabilities

Managing multiple client environments across devices, operating systems, and compliance requirements can create substantial operational complexity. Fragmented tools and processes can increase operational effort and put pressure on service margins.

Modern MSPs oversee an expanding ecosystem of endpoints, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, rugged devices, kiosks, and IoT devices. These endpoints span multiple operating systems, geographic regions, and regulatory requirements. Tool fragmentation can make this more difficult, as MSPs may rely on separate consoles for mobile devices, Windows endpoints, and compliance reporting. This can create inconsistencies and increase technician overhead.

An MSP-oriented UEM can centralize device enrollment, policy enforcement, remote support, reporting, and license administration, while client invoicing may remain within a connected PSA or billing system.

What Is MSP UEM?

MSP UEM enables managed service providers to monitor, manage, and secure devices across separate client organizations through centralized administration and client-level access controls.

MSP UEM extends endpoint management with controls for administering multiple client organizations, whereas many enterprise deployments operate within a single organizational tenant. MSP-oriented platforms can separate each client’s devices, policies, and data into distinct tenants or management nodes while giving authorized MSP administrators centralized visibility.

With an effective UEM for MSP operations, service providers can:

• Onboard new clients without duplicating configuration effort
• Enforce policies consistently across heterogeneous device fleets
• Automate routine tasks such as patch management and compliance checks
• Scale operations without proportionally increasing headcount

Why MSPs Cannot Afford to Get This Wrong in 2026

The managed services market faces pressure from clients demanding stronger security and compliance coverage, while internal margins may be squeezed by rising technician costs.

Key dynamics shaping MSP UEM requirements in 2026 include:

• BYOD and hybrid work are important considerations for endpoint-management teams. Many organizations have employees and contractors who access resources from external locations, so MSPs should account for devices operating outside the corporate network. MSPs should compare enrollment, policy, security, and remote-support capabilities by operating system because iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux expose different management controls.
• MSPs serving HIPAA-regulated covered entities or business associates should assess the safeguards and contractual arrangements required for their services. For clients that store, process, or transmit cardholder data, PCI DSS responsibilities apply to the relevant cardholder-data environment. Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, MSPs should evaluate the applicable GDPR transfer mechanism and safeguards.
• Inconsistent configurations across client environments can create operational and security risks. Managing clients through disconnected portals can make configuration differences harder to identify and correct.
• MSPs managing large endpoint portfolios can compare platforms’ AI-assisted administration and automation capabilities as part of their evaluation. Platforms with reusable policies, automation workflows, and assisted troubleshooting can help reduce repetitive configuration work at scale. MSPs evaluating automation should compare the supported triggers, conditions, device actions, compliance workflows, and operating-system update capabilities available in each platform.

How MSPs can adapt to the changing IT landscape with UEMs

Key Features of a Good MSP UEM Solution

An MSP UEM should be evaluated for client separation, administrative scope controls, automation, platform coverage, remote support, reporting, and license management. The importance of each capability depends on the MSP’s client mix, service model, supported operating systems, and regulatory requirements.

Multi-Tenant Architecture

Each client’s data, policies, and devices must remain logically isolated. At the same time, the MSP administrator should have top-down visibility across all tenants from a single pane of glass, without switching logins or tools.

Mixed-Fleet Management

MSPs routinely manage mixed fleets that include Windows laptops, iOS and Android devices, macOS endpoints, and specialized hardware such as rugged terminals and kiosks. A UEM platform’s operating-system coverage can affect how many tools an MSP needs to manage its clients’ device fleets.

Workflow Automation and Policy Reuse

Configuring each client environment from scratch is unsustainable at scale. MSPs should determine whether a platform can import, clone, or reuse policies across client environments and which onboarding, patching, and compliance actions its automation engine supports.

Remote Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Real-time visibility and remote control can help administrators diagnose and resolve issues without dispatching a technician, which may support SLA performance and client satisfaction.

Security and Compliance Management

MSPs can assess whether each platform supports encryption policies, compliance monitoring, and actions in response to policy violations. MSPs operating in regulated industries should evaluate each platform’s audit logs, compliance reports, export options, retention controls, and applicable plan requirements.

Billing and License Management

MSPs need clear records of device counts, license allocation, subscription charges, and client-billing data. License dashboards can simplify subscription reconciliation, while integrations with PSA or billing systems may be required to generate and manage client invoices.

Top MSP UEM Platforms Compared

The selected platforms use different approaches to multi-tenant administration, automation, endpoint management, remote support, identity, and Apple device management.

Feature Comparison

Platform Breakdown: Strengths and Limitations

This section looks at how each platform supports MSPs managing multiple client environments.

Hexnode UEM — Multi-Tenant, Multi-OS Management for MSPs

Hexnode combines multi-tenant MSP management, cross-platform UEM, Hexnode Automate workflows, MSP-specific controls, and AI-powered assistance through Hexnode Genie.

Centralized MSP access with separate UEM nodes

Hexnode’s MSP portal allows administrators to log in once and access all authorized client instances. Each client can be provisioned as a separate UEM node, isolating its devices, policies, and data from other client nodes. Administrators can select a data-center region when creating a client node, supporting regional data-residency planning.

Node-scoped roles and administrative access

Hexnode supports role- and scope-based administration in MSP environments, helping restrict technician access across client nodes. Hexnode lets MSP administrators assign technicians to authorized customer nodes and use roles and scope groups to limit access to designated client environments and administrative functions.

Cross-platform endpoint management

Hexnode manages iOS/iPadOS, Android and Android TV, Fire OS, Windows, macOS, tvOS/Apple TV, visionOS, Linux, and ChromeOS, with kiosk options for supported devices. It also manages Zebra printers running Link-OS 5.0 or later, including printer settings, certificates, label templates, firmware, and remote recovery. MSPs overseeing mixed-OS fleets can consolidate management for these operating systems and device types within Hexnode.

Hexnode Automate and policy reuse

Hexnode Automate combines time- or activity-based triggers with target conditions and actions such as app installation, device locking, compliance actions, and operating-system updates. Within each UEM node, administrators can clone existing policies and start from preconfigured policy templates to reduce repeated configuration work.

AI-powered assistance via Hexnode Genie

Hexnode Genie is an AI assistant integrated with Hexnode UEM. Administrators can use it to query live device inventory, identify non-compliant devices, interpret failed actions, and generate scripts conversationally.

MSP license and subscription visibility

The MSP dashboard displays license consumption, an Invoice Catalog, and an Estimated Monthly Bill to support Hexnode subscription reconciliation.

MSP program and kiosk expansion

Hexnode’s MSP multi-tenant management and cross-platform kiosk management can help MSPs support client device and kiosk deployments.

Scalefusion

Scalefusion offers UEM, kiosk management, remote control, workflows, AirThink AI, and an MSP partner portal. It provides MSP partners with a dedicated portal for deal registration, partner resources, co-branding, and deal-progress tracking. The platform supports kiosk software, retail use cases, POS management, rugged device management, and multi-OS device management. Its product capabilities include Workflows, reports, remote commands, OS update and patch management, PowerShell and shell scripting, API and webhooks, and AirThink AI. Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Android, iOS/iPadOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android TV, and Apple TV.

NinjaOne

NinjaOne is an MSP-focused RMM and endpoint management platform with monitoring, alerting, patch management, remote access, automation, documentation, PSA, ticketing, and MDM capabilities. It combines remote monitoring, alerting, patch management, and endpoint management in one console. The platform supports multi-tenant RMM with organization- and site-level management, policy inheritance, automation, patching, and remote access for Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints. It also supports automation, scripting, auto-remediation, and patching across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.

NinjaOne MDM supports iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Android, while Windows and Linux are managed through its endpoint management and RMM capabilities. Its RMM combines endpoint automation, patching, remote access, PSA, billing, and ticketing, alongside MDM for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Android devices.

JumpCloud

JumpCloud combines cloud directory, identity, access, and device management within one platform. It supports SSO, MFA, cloud directory, identity lifecycle management, conditional access, device management, patch management, remote access, and system insights. The platform combines identity, access, and device management, including Windows management, Apple MDM, Linux management, Android EMM, patch management, and remote access. It also combines MFA, SSO, conditional access policies, device management, and device-security signals to control access by user and device context. For MSPs, JumpCloud offers multi-tenant management through its Multi-Tenant Portal, with centralized visibility across client organizations, users, devices, and AI identities.

Jamf

Jamf Pro manages Apple devices including Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, while Hexnode UEM manages Windows, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, and Apple endpoints from one console. Its platform offers Apple-focused management and security for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and Apple TV.

Jamf also provides Apple-focused security, identity, ZTNA, endpoint protection, threat prevention, remediation, content filtering, and security visibility capabilities. For MSPs, Jamf includes Jamf Pro, Jamf Protect, and Jamf Connect, while Jamf Insights, Simplified Device Enrollment, Onboarder for MSP, and Toolkit for MSP support multi-tenant Apple management, onboarding, remediation, scripts, utilities, and patching.

For MSPs managing mixed-OS fleets, compare each platform’s management coverage for Windows, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, and kiosk devices alongside Jamf’s Apple device-management capabilities.

Why MSPs May Choose Hexnode UEM

NinjaOne is centered on RMM and endpoint operations, JumpCloud combines identity, access, and device management, Jamf focuses on Apple management and security, and Scalefusion covers UEM, kiosk, workflow, remote control, and MSP partner workflows. For MSPs managing diverse, multi-OS client environments, the key comparison is how each platform handles tenant isolation, OS coverage, automation, remote support, reporting, billing, and reusable management workflows.

Hexnode addresses these evaluation areas through the following capabilities:

• Separate client UEM nodes with node-level data isolation and centralized access for authorized MSP administrators.
• Hexnode supports endpoint management for iOS/iPadOS, Android and Android TV, Fire OS, Windows, macOS, tvOS/Apple TV, visionOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. It also offers kiosk management options for supported device types.
• Hexnode Genie for querying device inventory, identifying non-compliant devices, interpreting failed actions, and generating administrator-reviewable scripts.
• Hexnode Automate workflows support time- and activity-based triggers, target conditions, and supported device actions. Administrators can also clone policies and use preconfigured templates within each UEM node.
• Remote View and Control for supported Android, Windows, and macOS devices; Remote View for iOS/iPadOS; GUI-dependent Remote View and Control for supported Linux distributions, with Linux Remote Control limited to X11; and attended Remote Access for ChromeOS.
• MSP dashboard visibility into license consumption, the Invoice Catalog, and the Estimated Monthly Bill to support Hexnode subscription and license reconciliation.

Hexnode brings MSP multi-tenancy, regional data-center selection, and license visibility into one UEM platform for MSPs. It also offers cross-platform endpoint management, kiosk management, Automate workflows, and Genie AI assistance.

Best Practices for MSP UEM Implementation

Deploying a UEM for MSP environments effectively requires more than selecting the right platform. Implementation discipline helps translate the investment into operational efficiency.

Standardize onboarding workflows

Define enrollment and configuration templates for common client device types before onboarding begins. This can reduce per-client setup time and lower the risk of configuration inconsistencies.

Leverage policy cloning and templates

Within each client’s UEM node, use policy cloning and preconfigured policy templates to reduce repeated configuration work.

Scope technician access by client

Assign individual administrator accounts and scope their roles to the client nodes and functions each technician is authorized to manage. Node-scoped role-based access control helps prevent technicians from accessing client environments outside their assigned responsibilities.

Automate compliance monitoring

Configure compliance monitoring, reports, and supported automation triggers. This can surface policy violations and device issues without relying only on periodic manual reviews. Automated monitoring and scheduled reports can surface compliance changes between manual reviews.

Document tenant-specific configurations

Audit-ready documentation simplifies client reporting and internal troubleshooting when configurations need to be reviewed or replicated.

Real-World Use Cases

MSP UEM supports service delivery across a broad range of client industries:

• Healthcare: Supports encryption, access, audit, and compliance controls that healthcare MSPs can map to HIPAA-aligned endpoint management requirements.
• Retail: Centralizes kiosk management across distributed locations. Hexnode supports single-app kiosk, multi-app kiosk, web app kiosk, and platform-specific kiosk workflows for frontline deployments.
• Education: Manages and monitors student devices at scale, with the ability to apply age-appropriate restrictions and content controls.
• Logistics: Supports location tracking and remote actions. It also supports management workflows for Android rugged devices and other supported field endpoints operating across distributed locations.

Conclusion

An MSP UEM should provide client-level separation, centralized administrative access, and scoped technician roles. It should also offer cross-platform management, automation, reporting, and clear license visibility. It should support multi-client operations through tenant isolation, scoped technician access, automation workflows, cross-platform endpoint coverage, reporting, and billing visibility.

NinjaOne, Scalefusion, JumpCloud, and Jamf combine different endpoint-management capabilities for MSPs. Hexnode UEM offers separate client nodes, regional data-center selection, role- and scope-based administration, and license visibility. It also provides cross-platform endpoint and kiosk management, Automate workflows, and Genie AI assistance.