Device management, automation and the new ITOps paradigm: Key insights from IDC

Sponsored by: Kaseya

This is a guest blog post by International Data Corporation (IDC), the global market intelligence leader, sharing independent insights on the evolving device management and ITOps landscape.

The enterprise device management market is rapidly transforming, driven by the proliferation of endpoints, shrinking IT teams and the accelerating adoption of AI and automation in endpoint IT operations (ITOps). IDC has explored the evolving challenges and opportunities facing ITOps professionals as they navigate these changes.

Expanding device use cases

Enterprise environments now feature a diverse array of endpoints beyond traditional PCs, smartphones and tablets. Mobile-adjacent devices are ubiquitous: tablets have replaced clipboards, specialized Android devices serve as POS systems and kiosks are now tablet-based. Barcode scanners and inventory devices are often custom-built smartphones, reflecting the broadening scope of device management. This device proliferation trend is spreading across nearly all vertical industries and market segments.

Endpoint proliferation and user trends

According to IDC’s 2025 Endpoint Device Management Survey, organizations have seen a dramatic increase in the number of devices per user. Three years ago, only 18% of users managed three or more devices; today, that figure exceeds 52%. This surge is fueled by the use of more third and fourth endpoint devices in workers’ personal “workspaces,” as well as the rise of IoT endpoints, shared meeting room equipment and ambient devices. All of this adds complexity to IT operations and an organization’s security posture.

Growth forecasts and team dynamics

Key endpoint device types, including connected laptops and servers, are forecast to grow strongly through 2029, according to IDC Worldwide PCD and Server Trackers. However, the number of IT operations and system administrator roles is shrinking, with a steady decline projected through 2028. This means smaller teams must manage more devices, often with limited resources.

Endpoint management teams are increasingly responsible for servers, security and virtual desktops, often working closely with other IT groups. This has helped to flood some ITOps teams with multiple software tools across various management domains. According to IDC’s endpoint survey, 61% of organizations expect to use two or more endpoint management platforms by 2025. Reasons include feature augmentation, team preferences, business-unit requirements, device-type specialization and legacy tools accumulated through mergers and acquisitions.

The AI revolution in ITOps

AI is poised to reshape every aspect of IT and device management. IDC forecasts explosive growth in AI-enabled PC shipments and server revenue through 2028. At the same time, generative AI (GenAI) is expected to deliver increased speed and agility in endpoint operations, in the form of faster device patching and vulnerability management. This trend has enormous potential to enable IT staff to shift their focus from mundane, rote daily and weekly management and device upkeep tasks to more strategic, business-driving IT initiatives. Improvements to green IT initiatives and overall reduction in human error in terms of device management are also anticipated benefits.

Organizations are already leveraging GenAI for automated threat detection, script creation for device configuration and patching, compliance monitoring and natural language IT assistants. Adoption is set to accelerate over the next 12 months.

Despite the promise of AI, there are also concerns. Many ITOps professionals believe that over-automation may lead to employee pushback and negatively impact the digital employee experience. Integration complexity, security risks and uncertainty around cost versus ROI are top concerns for IT leaders.

The five-year outlook

Looking ahead, more devices per user will be the norm, while ITOps teams will continue to shrink and become leaner. This will drive more reliance on automation. Tool consolidation will streamline management, and AI-powered agents will enable autonomous ITOps and seamless service delivery. Organizations that anticipate, prepare for and embrace these trends will be best positioned to deliver secure, efficient and scalable IT services in the years to come.

To learn more, visit the IDC webinar, “Scaling endpoint management with AI-driven IT operations,” sponsored by Kaseya.