In the heart of Africa’s tech boom, where the digital revolution is sweeping across the continent, reshaping economies and redefining possibilities, one question looms large for IT teams: how do you manage an ever-growing constellation of devices while keeping security tight and resources lean? Apu Pavithran, founder and CEO of Hexnode, believes the answer lies in a bold vision: Autonomous Endpoint Management.
In this exclusive interview, Pavithran shared how his Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform is empowering African businesses to navigate this challenge, why automation is redefining IT roles, and where the industry is headed next.
Hexnode’s story began with a simple but powerful idea: to streamline how businesses secure and manage their devices. What started as a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution has evolved into a comprehensive UEM platform, capable of overseeing everything from smartphones and laptops to kiosks and IoT devices, all from a single dashboard.
“The core idea behind Hexnode was to simplify the way businesses secure and manage their devices. We started as a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, helping teams get a handle on mobile devices that connect to the corporate network,” Pavithran explains.
“As workplaces evolved, so did we, expanding into a full-fledged Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform that empowers businesses to manage everything from phones and laptops to kiosks and IoT right from a single dashboard,” he added.
Today, Hexnode is a trusted partner for organisations worldwide, with a growing footprint in Africa, where digital transformation is accelerating at a breathtaking pace. The continent’s digital economy is projected to reach $63.3 billion by 2030, fuelled by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and government agencies racing to digitise.
From Lagos, recently crowned the world’s fastest-growing emerging tech hub in 2025, to South Africa’s bustling enterprise ecosystem, the proliferation of devices is driving both opportunity and complexity.
“Every new endpoint expands the digital footprint, and with it, the responsibility to manage and secure that growth,” the founder says.
Hexnode’s mission is to shoulder that burden, enabling businesses to focus on innovation while keeping their devices secure, compliant, and efficient.
Strategic partnerships with South African distributors like DCC Technologies, Cyber1 Solutions, and Matlala Group bolster this mission, offering not just technology but also localised expertise and training.
Automation: The force multiplier for lean IT teams
Africa’s tech surge comes with unique challenges. With fewer than 25,000 certified IT professionals serving a population of over 1.4 billion, IT teams across the continent are often stretched thin.
Yet, the demand to manage an expanding array of endpoints, phones, laptops, IoT devices, and more, has never been greater. This is where Hexnode’s recent innovations, particularly in automation, are making a tangible impact.
Pavithran points to Hexnode Automate, a new module that allows IT teams to build tailored workflows triggered by specific events, such as a device falling out of compliance or needing a reboot.
He asserts that automation significantly enhances efficiency. “It lets lean teams respond instantly to issues, like flagging a device without a password policy or locking one in an unapproved location.”
For routine tasks like employee offboarding or securing a lost device, predefined workflows can be executed with a single click, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Patching, a critical yet time-consuming task, is another area where automation shines.
With ransomware and phishing attacks surging, South African SMEs face 143% more hits than larger firms; delays in applying updates can be catastrophic.
“New threats surface in under an hour, but 77% of organisations take over a week to apply patches,” Pavithran notes.
Hexnode’s automation tools enable IT teams to schedule updates during off-hours, target specific devices, and track rollouts in real time, reducing vulnerabilities without disrupting operations.
Then there’s Hexnode Genie, an AI scripting assistant that democratises automation. By allowing admins to describe tasks in plain language and generating scripts automatically, it removes the need for deep coding expertise.
“Even entry-level admins can contribute meaningfully,” Pavithran says, highlighting how tools like Genie are levelling the playing field for resource-constrained teams.
Pavithran believes automation redefines IT roles, not replace them
The word “automation” often sparks fears of job displacement, but Pavithran sees it differently.
“Automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about refining their roles,” he says. By offloading repetitive tasks, Hexnode’s tools free IT admins to focus on strategic priorities like tightening security, anticipating threats, and driving business growth.
“Instead of reacting to every ping, admins can set the rules, build smarter workflows, and stay ahead of problems.”
This shift is giving rise to new roles, such as automation engineers, who specialise in optimising these systems. With AI-powered tools lowering the barrier to entry, even those without extensive coding skills can design effective workflows.
“It’s not about knowing how to code everything from scratch anymore,” Pavithran explains. “It’s about giving people the space to do their best work.”
For African businesses, where IT talent is scarce, this evolution is transformative. By automating routine tasks, Hexnode empowers lean teams to manage complex environments with confidence, turning resource constraints into opportunities for innovation.
Pavithran envisions a future where endpoint management and security are inseparable, woven into a single, intelligent fabric.
“We believe the future of endpoint management is inseparable from endpoint security. The two can no longer live in silos. Our vision is to unify them, creating an experience that allows IT teams to anticipate and counter threats without losing control or compromising productivity,” he says.
Hexnode’s roadmap reflects this, with plans to expand visibility beyond devices to applications, networks, and access points, creating a unified system for threat detection and response.
The ultimate goal?
Autonomous Endpoint Management. While today’s automation enables admins to execute predefined workflows, autonomy takes it further, allowing endpoints to make context-aware decisions in real time.
Imagine devices that not only detect risks but also resolve them and adapt policies to prevent recurrence – self-healing systems that reduce administrative oversight while enhancing security and usability.
“We’re building toward a future where AI evolves from a supportive assistant into a trusted decision-maker,” he says.
This vision will take centre stage at HexCon’25, Hexnode’s annual user conference, where the company plans to unveil innovations driving this shift.
Hexnode’s growth mirrors Africa’s own digital ascent. From supporting SMEs in Lagos to partnering with government agencies digitising public services, the platform is helping organisations navigate the complexities of a device-driven world.
Recent expansions, like support for Linux, ChromeOS, and even Apple Vision Pro, alongside the launch of Hexnode UEM MSP for service providers, underscore the company’s commitment to versatility and scale.
For Pavithran, the mission is clear: to make device management simpler, smarter, and more secure. “Security must never come at the expense of usability,” he emphasises. As Africa’s digital economy races toward a $63.3 billion future, Hexnode is positioning itself as a trusted partner, empowering businesses to embrace transformation without losing control.
In a world where endpoints are multiplying and threats are evolving, Pavithran’s vision of autonomous endpoint management feels not just ambitious but essential.
As Hexnode continues to innovate, it’s clear that the future of IT isn’t just about managing devices but about empowering teams to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
