Subj : Qualcomm Guardian is its rival to Intel's popular vPro platform m
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Sun Sep 28 2025 14:15:08

Qualcomm Guardian is its rival to Intel's popular vPro platform management 
system - it can even work without Wi-Fi, but I'm not sure whether it's such a 
good thing

Date:
Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:03:00 +0000

Description:
Snapdragon Guardian is an always-on PC management system that works offline 
but there are concerns about privacy and user device control.

FULL STORY
======================================================================Snapdrag
on Guardian extends PC management beyond Wi-Fi with built-in cellular 
connectivity Always-on access raises new questions about privacy and control 
of devices Adoption may depend on balancing technical benefits with trust and 
transparency 

Managing and securing the growing number of connected PCs is becoming harder 
as cyberattacks and data breaches continue to rise. 

Qualcomm is positioning its new Snapdragon Guardian platform as a rival to 
Intels widely used vPro system, offering out-of-band management and security 
features designed for PCs. 

Unlike conventional approaches, Guardian works even when devices are powered 
down, offline or unbootable. Snapdragon X2 Elite 

The technology will debut in the upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite platform and 
combines hardware, firmware and cloud services. 

Qualcomm says Guardian is compatible with existing IT management systems and 
can scale from individual users to entire fleets. 

Guardians reliance on built-in cellular connectivity is what sets it apart 
from other solutions, as by integrating 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi 7 modems directly 
into the platform, devices can be tracked, updated and even wiped remotely 
without relying entirely on Wi-Fi. 

For IT teams, that means management continues even when laptops are switched 
off or disconnected. 

Security teams warn about unmanaged or unprotected devices, with some 
research suggesting most ransomware attacks begin from endpoints outside IT 
oversight. Out-of-band management can close that gap, but Guardian extends 
the model beyond the local network. 

Qualcomm also highlights Guardians ability to support features such as 
geofencing, location tracking and remote remediation. 

These are managed through a new web and app-based dashboard that aims to 
simplify oversight. 

The system can be used by enterprises, smaller businesses and even individual 
consumers seeking better theft protection. 

However, a device that remains reachable even when powered down inevitably 
raises privacy and user control questions. Yes, Guardian could make IT 
oversight more effective, but then theres still the issue of who holds access 
and under what circumstances. 

With Guardian, Qualcomm is exploring new ways to blend connectivity with 
security here, but for businesses to adopt it over established platforms like 
vPro will come down not only to technical performance but also how concerns 
around data access and trust are addressed. You might also like These are the 
best data recovery tools you can use right now Is Qualcomm finally about to 
take the data center plunge? Qualcomm's mobile CPU has something no other 
processors offer - onboard RFID



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/qualcomm-has-a-rival-to-intels-popular-
vpro-platform-management-system-called-guardian-and-it-can-even-work-without-w
i-fi-but-i-dont-know-whether-it-is-such-a-good-thing


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)

.