Deploying the Secure Endpoint Agent

The Absolute agent A small software client—comprised of the core agent, the component manager, and other agent components—that resides in devices managed in the Secure Endpoint Console. The Secure Endpoint Agent requires an internet connection only; contact with your devices is maintained when they are on or off your corporate network. is a small software client that resides on the devices managed in Absolute.

The Secure Endpoint Agent needs to be deployed to every device that you want to manage in Absolute. Currently the agent is supported on Windows and Mac devices. Chromebook devices are also supported via the Absolute for Chromebooks extension (Chromebook extension).

The Secure Endpoint Agent A small software client—comprised of the core agent, the component manager, and other agent components—that resides in devices managed in the Secure Endpoint Console. The Secure Endpoint Agent requires an internet connection only; contact with your devices is maintained when they are on or off your corporate network. is a small software client that resides on the devices managed in Absolute. After the agent is initially deployed to a device, it's activated with the device's first connection to the Absolute Monitoring Center The server responsible for maintaining two-way communication with a device's Persistence agent, to initiate self-healing if the Secure Endpoint Agent is removed or tampered with, and to send device data and receive instructions., at which time it receives a unique Identifier. A device record is then created in the database and the device information detected by the agent is made available in the Secure Endpoint Console.

Going forward, the Secure Endpoint Agent maintains regular two-way communication with the Absolute Monitoring Center, monitoring the device's data points and uploading any changes in near real-time. The agent also receives and processes all device actions requested in the Secure Endpoint Console, such as Wipe, Script, and Freeze requests.

The agent remains concealed on your device, and it does not affect system performance or interfere with Internet activities.

To learn more about how the Secure Endpoint Agent helps you manage your devices, visit the Learning Hub and view How Absolute Works. To access the Learning Hub, click (Help and Support) on the quick access toolbar and then click Resources > The Learning Hub.

The Secure Endpoint Agent needs to be deployed to every device that you want to manage in Absolute. Currently the agent is supported on Windows and Mac devices. Chromebook devices are also supported via the Absolute for Chromebooks extension (Chromebook extension).

It's best practice to avoid backing up a device with an activated Secure Endpoint Agent. Restoring the backup may lead to unexpected outcomes, depending on the policies, actions, and rules deployed to the backed up device.

If you want to create a backup, ensure that you:

  • Exclude the following folders/files from the backup:
    • Windows:
      • <System directory>\rpcnet.exe
      • ProgramData\CTES\
    • Mac:
      • /Library/.rpcnet

      • /Library/Application Support/Absolute/

  • Reinstall the Secure Endpoint Agent after the backup is restored.

Absolute partners with device manufacturers to embed Absolute Persistence technology in the BIOS of most Windows devices during the manufacturing process.

Supported makes and models

When the Secure Endpoint Agent is installed on a device, the Absolute Persistence module becomes activated. The module monitors the health of the agent and restores it if it's missing, damaged, or tampered with. Even if the firmware is flashed, the device is reimaged, or the hard drive is replaced, the Persistence module can reinstall the Secure Endpoint Agent.

For the Secure Endpoint Agent and its various components to perform as expected, you need to ensure that your network settings are configured correctly. If you use https://cc.absolute.com to log in to the Secure Endpoint Console, follow the network setting recommendations outlined here. If you use https://cc.us.absolute.com, follow the network setting recommendations outlined here.

You can then use the Network Diagnostics Tool to test the network connectivity of your account's Windows devices to the Absolute Monitoring Center.

For information about downloading the agent, see Downloading the agent.

For information about installing the agent on your devices, refer to the following topics:

After the Secure Endpoint Agent is installed on a device, you can you use the Activation report to confirm that it is successfully enrolled in your account.

Specifically, the Activation report shows the following devices:

  • Devices that have completed a first check-in to the Absolute Monitoring Center
  • Devices that have been activated at the factory but have not yet called in to the Absolute Monitoring Center

For information about deploying the Chromebook extension on your Chromebook devices, refer to Deploying the Chromebook extension.