Getting started with Device Usage policies

Device Usage policies control the collection of device usage information from your devices. Device usage is based on the following activity:

  • User authentication events:

    • Login: A user logged in to the device, either directly or remotely, by entering their username and password on the login screen.
    • Logout: A user or system logged out of the device and all applications are closed.
    • Unlock: A user unlocked the device, either directly or remotely, by dismissing the Lock screen (if applicable) and entering their password on the login screen.
    • Lock: A user or system locked the device. The user is still logged in to the device and open applications are still running, but a username and password is required to unlock the device.
    • Sleep: A user or system put the device in sleep mode. The user is still logged in to the device, but all actions are paused.
    • Wake: A user or system wakes the device up from sleep mode.
    • Shutdown: A user or system restarts or turns off the device.

    Login and Unlock are the only events that apply to Chromebook devices.

    Depending on the device's operating system, power settings, and the method used to power off the device, you may see different events. For example, when you restart a Windows device and unlock it with a password, Logout, Shutdown, and Unlock events are recorded. When you restart a Mac device and unlock it with a password, Shutdown and Login events are recorded.

    When the device is restarted using a hard reset (the power button is held down to restart the device), only a Login event is recorded.

  • Device Activity: the amount of time the device is actively in use

    Depending on the page you're viewing, activity may be presented as minutes of activity over a 24-hour period, or average daily usage The daily usage of a device, averaged over the 30 days prior to the most recent agent check-in and expressed in total hours and minutes. Note that any days with no usage are not included in the calculation. Applies only to Windows, Mac, and Chromebook devices with an activated Device Usage policy..

    A Windows or Mac device is deemed to be in use if it is unlocked. Activity ceases when the screensaver shows, the monitor is powered off, or the device is locked or shut down.

    A Chromebook device is deemed to be in use if the display is active (not dimmed). Activity ceases when the display is dimmed, or the device is sleeping, locked, or shut down.

    Note that if a device shuts down unexpectedly, the most recent activity is saved.

Activate the Device Usage policy if you want to view a report of the devices that were in use during a given time period. For example, a school district may want to see how many of the Mac devices issued to a particular school were used in the past six months. They can also compare device usage across multiple schools in their district.