Hexnode in 2020: Reflections on an unforgettable year

 In January 2020, the team at Hexnode was pretty excited over being a part of MWC (Mobile World Conference) 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Plans were made and preparations were in full swing to make it a memorable experience for everyone. However, MWC had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I think it was around then that the full seriousness of the situation registered. Back then, we were still optimistic and felt like it would all pass over in a couple of months. We all know how that turned out, don’t we? The COVID-19 pandemic affected billions of lives around the world, either directly or indirectly. While it was certainly an unanticipated disaster, I must say that I am impressed with how we banded together regardless of race, creed, or gender to fight the pandemic in a million different ways. We saw no dearth of innovations as everyone endeavored to make lives just a little bit easier in the “new normal”. 

At Hexnode, the utmost priority was the customers. Now that working from the office was no longer an option, employees from around the world started working remotely from the safety of their homes. Remote device management was not a luxury, it was a requirement. To continue providing seamless device management capabilities to customers around the world, Hexnode took prompt action against the pandemic. 

Read more on Hexnode’s response to the pandemic. 

While ensuring continued service to the customers, the team at Hexnode also worked relentlessly to release new features that were in demand. Here are some features you cannot miss: 

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The features listed here are really just a drop in the ocean. For a complete list of all the new features released, refer to our release notes. 

Hexnode had other great things planned for 2020. We had planned to host Hexnode’s own User Conference to interact with our customers and partners and to provide networking opportunities to endpoint security experts throughout the world. Hexnode made history with HexCon20, Hexnode’s first ever user conference. The event was conducted entirely virtually and was joined by experts and endpoint security enthusiasts from different parts of the world. Spanning over two days (Dec 2-3, 2020), HexCon20 was a resounding success. It was such a success that initially, our streaming servers broke from all the traffic. But that is a story for another blog.

Key highlights of HexCon20 

HexCon 20 – The first ever Hexnode User Conference 
Call me biased, but HexCon20 was unarguably one of the best user conferences I have ever attended. Despite the limitations of conducting the entire conference virtually, there was something for everyone. New feature announcements, breakout sessions for knowledge-hungry peeps, a golden opportunity to get certified as an Hexnode expert, excellent networking opportunities, fun games, exciting gifts, the list does go on.  

New Feature Announcements 

A whole new look for Hexnode MDM was revealed, with new customizations and an even more attractive UI. The most exciting part was undoubtedly the unveiling of the new product: Hexnode Do.  

“Hexnode Do aspires to be a pinch of data loss prevention a whole lot of SaaS operations, with equal parts of User security and Employee lifecycle management”, says Bijo, Co-founder and COO at Hexnode. 

The first version of Hexnode Do is expected to be up and running by Q1 of 2021.  

Breakout sessions 

Dr. Chase Cunningham chats with Rachana, CMO at Hexnode, on
Zero Trust Security

Staying updated and educated is important in the field of enterprise security. We got to hear from some best minds in the industry on trending topics such as Zero Trust, cybersecurity, tips for endpoint security and more.  

Training sessions were also held for Hexnode enthusiasts on popular topics like Mac and Windows Management. 

Check out HexCon 20 Day 1 and Day 2 Highlights to know more.

Hexnode Academy and Hexnode Certification 

The path to becoming a Hexnode expert
Hexnode Academy was introduced for Hexnode geeks who wished to become an expert in endpoint management. There are two levels of certification: Hexnode Certified Professional and Hexnode Certified Expert.  

Hexnode Certified Professional covers all the basics of UEM, enrollment methods, app management, kiosk management, remote management capabilities, and more. This program is designed so that even absolute beginners can learn the ropes around endpoint management.  

Hexnode Certified Expert is an expert level program for Hexnode Certified Professionals. This program covers advanced device management capabilities, security policies, integrations, and more. This certification proves the expertise in device management with Hexnode. 

Networking events, fun games, and SWAG 

Apu Pavithran, CEO at Hexnode, chats with customers live 
With live meeting rooms and chat sessions, there were plenty of networking opportunities for like-minded enterprise security enthusiasts. The attendees even had the chance to have a one-on-one chat with Apu Pavithran, CEO at Hexnode.  

Now, what is a conference without some games? At HexCon, the attendees had fun playing games like Among Us, Pictionary, Scavenger Hunt, word puzzles, and virtual trivia. With lucrative prizes and even swag directly mailed to their homes, there was certainly some excitement

Summing up 2020 

One of the most commonly heard phrases in 2020 was “in these turbulent/trying times”. The term is quite apt, as all of us kept trying to acclimatize ourselves to this new, unfamiliar world, all the while trying to keep fear of the pandemic at bay. While we cannot say that 2020 was the best year, we can be absolutely proud that we did not let the pandemic defeat us. Hexnode played its part in keeping up the standards of endpoint security and device management, with new and essential features, and even hosting the first ever HexCon virtually. We look forward to what this year brings, a year (hopefully) defeating the pandemic for good.