BigFix

BigFix operates as a unified endpoint management (UEM) platform, providing solutions for discovering, managing, and remediating security and operational issues across a wide array of endpoint devices. Founded in April 1997 by David Hindawi, his son Orion Hindawi, and David Donoho in Emeryville, California, the company initially developed a self-service system management application for PC manufacturers. In 2002, the company pivoted to the enterprise market, focusing on security patch management to address a significant pain point for IT departments.

The company's journey includes two major acquisitions. In July 2010, IBM acquired BigFix for approximately $400 million, integrating it into its Tivoli software portfolio and later renaming it multiple times, including IBM Endpoint Manager. Subsequently, in 2018, HCL Technologies acquired BigFix from IBM as part of a $1.8 billion purchase of select software products, rebranding it as HCL BigFix. This acquisition was part of HCL's strategy to bolster its presence in the IT management and cybersecurity markets.

The BigFix platform is designed for large, complex, and hybrid environments, serving IT operations and security teams in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and retail. Its business model is based on selling licenses for its suite of products, with pricing typically determined by the number of managed endpoints. The platform functions through a single intelligent agent installed on endpoints, which enables continuous self-assessment and policy enforcement with minimal system impact. This agent-based architecture supports nearly 100 operating systems, including Windows, UNIX, Linux, and macOS, across on-premise, virtual, and cloud environments. The platform offers features like asset discovery, automated patch management with a high success rate, software distribution, and security compliance enforcement against standards like CIS and DISA STIG. Specific product modules include BigFix Lifecycle for comprehensive endpoint management, BigFix Compliance for policy enforcement, BigFix Inventory for software asset tracking, and BigFix Insights for advanced analytics. The system utilizes 'Fixlets,' which are pre-built automation scripts, to perform these varied tasks.

Keywords: endpoint management, UEM, patch management, cybersecurity, IT automation, compliance management, vulnerability remediation, software asset management, HCL BigFix, IBM BigFix, David Hindawi, Orion Hindawi, endpoint security, IT operations, asset discovery, configuration management, server automation, mobile device management, policy enforcement, threat intelligence