Enterprise Incident Remediation: Hexnode UEM & XDR integration

In a massive 500,000-device estate, response velocity is the critical threshold between a localized incident and a catastrophic global outage. This Automation Playbook leverages the native integration between Hexnode XDR and Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) to deploy autonomous, event-driven “Agentic” workflows designed to remediate high-frequency enterprise threats.

By leveraging Hexnode’s converged XDR and UEM capabilities, this playbook facilitates a paradigm shift from reactive ticketing (manual human response) to real-time self-healing (automated system response). This technical framework enables a 500-man technician team to transition from manual task execution to an architectural oversight model, ensuring a unified, high-velocity response strategy across the entire global fleet.

The Playbook Framework: “Detect-Validate-Remediate”

By unifying the capabilities of detection, validation, and remediation into a single, cohesive engine, Hexnode orchestrates the 500,000-device fleet through a streamlined execution path. It ensures that autonomous remediation occurs instantly without the latency typically caused by fragmented security and management tools.

1. Detection: Signals are captured via the Hexnode XDR API, identifying anomalies such as unauthorized process execution, brute-force attempts, and known malware signatures.
2. Validate: The detected anomalies are cross-referenced with Open-source threat databases (OSINT) and native intelligence to filter false positives and assign a Severity Score based on asset sensitivity and threat reputation.
3. Remediate: High-velocity enforcement is executed via the Hexnode MQTT Engine, carrying out Network Isolation and Process Kill commands based on the severity of criticality score of the device.

Critical Hexnode Playbooks

1. Ransomware & Host Isolation

   Trigger: Detection of malicious file patterns or high-severity threat signatures via Hexnode XDR.

   Hexnode XDR Action:

   • Device Isolation: Severely restrict or cut off the compromised endpoint’s network connectivity, preserving only a secure communication channel with the Hexnode XDR console for continued monitoring.
   • Process Termination: Initiation of a Process Kill command directly from the XDR console to neutralize malicious processes, targeting both individual PIDs and the entire associated Process Tree.

   Optional Additional Action from Hexnode UEM:

   • Device Lock: Automatically move the affected device into a Dynamic Group, which triggers immediate, hardware-level Lock Device remote action.

2. Lost/Stolen Device Playbook

   Trigger: Location drift detected outside defined Geofencing boundaries or manual “Lost Mode” initiation via the Hexnode portal.

   Hexnode UEM Action:

   • Activation Lock Management: Force-enable hardware-level Activation Lock for iOS and macOS devices via Hexnode’s Advanced Restrictions policy, preventing unauthorized device resets or resale.
   • Selective Wipe: Execute a Selective Wipe to purge only the Work Profile on Android. This secures corporate assets by removing managed apps and data while preserving personal user data.
   • Access Revocation: Automatically trigger Conditional Access revocation via Entra ID. As the device is flagged “Non-Compliant” in Hexnode UEM, all active SaaS tokens are invalidated, blocking access to corporate cloud resources.

3. Instantaneous Threat Patching

   Trigger: High-risk CVEs (CVSS 9.0+) are detected within the Patches tab of Hexnode UEM.

   Hexnode UEM Action:

   • Automated Patching: Configure Auto Patch automations under the “Patches & Updates” module to proactively download and deploy fixes for critical vulnerabilities, ensuring the global fleet is future-proofed against emerging exploits.
   • Real-time Audit: Continuously monitor the execution and success of these automated deployments via the Activity Feed (from the Automate tab) for instant verification of the estate’s security posture.

Playbook Efficiency Metrics (Automated vs. Manual)

The table below quantifies the transition from Reactive to Agentic response times for a 500,000-device estate.

Implementation Checklist: Playbook Phase

To transition your 500,000-device estate from manual administration to an architectural oversight model, follow this technical checklist to deploy the “Detect-Validate-Remediate” framework.

1. Architecture & Integration

   • Map XDR Triggers: Configure the Hexnode XDR API to ingest signals like brute-force attempts, unauthorized process execution, and known malware signatures.
   • Network Optimization: Verify that MQTT Ports 1883/8883 are open across all global segments to ensure the Triple-Channel Architecture can deliver sub-second remediation commands.
   • Identity Sync: Establish the handshake between Hexnode Access and your IdP (Entra ID) to enable automated Conditional Access revocation for non-compliant devices.

2. Enforcement & Validation

   • Configure Device Isolation: Define the network restrictions required to cut off compromised endpoints from the production environment while maintaining a secure link to the Hexnode console.
   • Pilot Simulation: Execute a controlled end-to-end test of “Lost Mode” and “Ransomware” playbooks on a Device Group before global rollout.
   • Audit Monitoring:Review the Activity Feed in the Automate tab to verify real-time success rates across initial deployment rings.
   • Policy Lock: Finalize Advanced Restrictions (such as Activation Lock) to ensure that automated actions cannot be bypassed by local users or attackers during a security event.

By operationalizing these Agentic Playbooks, your organization moves beyond the limitations of manual intervention into a state of continuous, autonomous resilience. In a 500,000-device ecosystem, this framework doesn’t just save time—it eliminates the “window of exposure” that attackers rely on. By shifting your 500-man technician team from reactive troubleshooters to security architects, you ensure that every endpoint remains a hardened asset rather than a liability. With Hexnode’s converged XDR and UEM engine, your infrastructure transitions into a self-healing environment, providing a unified, high-velocity defense that scales as fast as the threats it neutralizes.