How MSPs Can Simplify Multi-OS Environments with Cross-Platform Tools

Not long ago, most organizations ran on a single operating system. MSPs could standardize their service stack around Windows, install their chosen tools, and operate efficiently. Fast forward to today and that world no longer exists.

Clients now bring a mix of Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS into the workplace. The shift to remote and hybrid work, combined with industry-specific requirements, has created a new norm: multi-OS environments. For MSPs, this introduces a unique set of challenges around monitoring, patching, security, and automation.

The good news? Cross-platform tools are helping MSPs unify management, reduce complexity, and scale services without multiplying overhead.

Why Multi-OS Environments Became the Norm

A decade ago, most MSPs would encounter environments where Windows held near-total dominance. That has changed dramatically for several reasons:

• Remote and hybrid work: Employees now use personal devices, often macOS laptops, alongside corporate machines.
• Mobile adoption: iOS and Android devices are essential in industries like healthcare, field services, and retail.
• Cloud and DevOps growth: Development teams often run Linux workstations or servers, adding another layer to the mix.
• Compliance and BYOD policies: Some industries allow or even require flexibility in device usage.

For MSPs, that means they rarely walk into a standardized environment anymore. Instead, they inherit heterogeneous ecosystems that require broad technical coverage.

The Hidden Costs of Fragmented Tools

Without a unified approach, MSPs fall into tool sprawl. Consider this scenario:

• A Windows patching tool for desktops.
• A separate MDM for iOS and Android.
• A Linux monitoring solution for servers.
• A macOS management tool layered on top.

Each additional tool increases licensing costs, onboarding friction, and technician training requirements. But more importantly, this fragmentation creates visibility gaps. Security alerts may show up in one dashboard while performance issues surface in another. Coordinating responses slows down operations.

In real terms, that translates into:

• Delayed patching cycles because tools don’t integrate.
• Inconsistent compliance reporting across OS types.
• Missed SLAs when technicians waste time context-switching.
• Client frustration from uneven service delivery.

Why Cross-Platform Tools Are a Game-Changer

Cross-platform endpoint management tools eliminate silos by centralizing control in a single dashboard. The benefits for MSPs go beyond convenience.

1. Unified Monitoring
   Instead of juggling dashboards, MSPs gain full visibility into every endpoint regardless of OS. That means faster response times and proactive issue detection.
2. Standardized Security Policies
   Encryption, patching, and compliance workflows can be applied universally. Whether the endpoint runs Windows or macOS, the same baseline security applies.
3. Reduced Operational Overhead
   One toolset means lower licensing costs and fewer hours spent training technicians on OS-specific tools.
4. Scalable Growth
   Supporting new clients with different operating systems no longer requires onboarding an entirely new platform.

Real-World Example: Patching Across Multiple OS

Imagine an MSP managing a healthcare client with:

• 300 Windows machines running legacy EHR software.
• 50 MacBooks used by doctors.
• 100 iPads in patient rooms.
• 20 Linux servers hosting backend applications.

Without cross-platform support, patching each OS family requires juggling four separate systems. That’s four patch schedules, four compliance reports, and four dashboards to monitor.

With a cross-platform RMM, patches are delivered through a single policy framework. Reports consolidate automatically, showing compliance status across the entire environment. For industries like healthcare that face strict audits (HIPAA, HITRUST), this efficiency is not optional, it’s survival.

Challenges MSPs Face in Multi-OS Management

Even with the right tools, MSPs must navigate several challenges:

• Automation gaps: Scripts often behave differently between PowerShell (Windows) and Bash (Linux/macOS). Without flexible automation, technicians still duplicate effort.
• Security baselines: macOS and Windows have fundamentally different approaches to permissions and endpoint security. Policies need to account for both.
• User expectations: Mac users often resist IT intervention, while Windows environments expect strict controls. Balancing both cultures requires diplomacy.
• Support time zones: MSPs supporting global clients must patch and monitor endpoints across OS types without disrupting business hours.

These complexities highlight why a tool built from the ground up for cross-platform parity is so valuable.

Key Features to Look For in a Cross-Platform Tool

When evaluating solutions, MSPs should focus on capabilities that genuinely simplify management rather than just checking boxes.

• Single lightweight agent that works across all supported OS.
• Cross-OS automation (PowerShell, Bash, Python) with reusable workflows.
• Policy-based patching that applies universally but allows OS-specific exceptions.
• Real-time monitoring for performance and security alerts.
• Compliance reporting that consolidates multi-OS data into one exportable report.
• Remote access that’s reliable across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Transparent pricing that doesn’t penalize MSPs for supporting diverse environments.

How Level Solves Multi-OS Complexity

Level was designed for MSPs who face exactly these challenges. Instead of retrofitting support for additional OS, we built cross-platform management as a core principle.

• Broad OS coverage: Full support for Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
• Unified automation: Technicians can run scripts and workflows across environments without manual duplication.
• Simplified remote access: Our peer-to-peer remote access delivers fast, stable connections no matter the OS.
• Scalable pricing: $2 per endpoint, regardless of whether it’s Windows or macOS, keeps costs predictable.
• Modern UI: A clean dashboard reduces the learning curve, so technicians spend less time figuring out tools and more time serving clients.

Level makes managing heterogeneous environments as simple as managing a single OS — without sacrificing depth or control.

The Future of Cross-Platform IT

Cross-platform complexity isn’t going away. If anything, it’s accelerating:

• IoT adoption: MSPs may soon be asked to manage smart devices, sensors, and wearables, each with unique OS quirks.
• Edge computing: Remote nodes running lightweight Linux distributions will become common in manufacturing and logistics.
• AI and automation: Advanced cross-platform automation will reduce technician burden further, letting MSPs manage thousands of endpoints with smaller teams.
• Compliance expansion: Regulations like GDPR and CMMC are expanding, making consolidated reporting across OS families even more important.

MSPs who adopt cross-platform tools now will not only simplify today’s challenges, they’ll be positioned to handle what comes next.

Final Thoughts

MSPs can’t afford inefficiency in a world where clients expect speed, security, and flexibility. Juggling multiple OS-specific tools creates silos, raises costs, and slows down service.

Cross-platform tools change the equation. They centralize monitoring, standardize security, and streamline automation across every endpoint, regardless of OS. With the right platform, MSPs gain the agility to scale, the visibility to secure, and the efficiency to deliver consistent results.

At Level, we believe MSPs shouldn’t have to choose between simplicity and capability. That’s why we built a solution that treats cross-platform management not as a feature, but as a foundation.

For MSPs, the message is clear: simplify multi-OS environments now, and future-proof your operations for the next wave of IT complexity.