Microsoft Intune

[Edmund]

What is Intune ?

Intune is a cloud application in the form of subscription that allows IT managers to manage PCs within an organization have a simple, Web-based console from any location and secure to install new software or add to existing applications. In April 2010, Microsoft Windows Intune had already made a small circle of companies. In the coming weeks, now 10,000 customers and partners in ten countries, including Germany, to test the online console through its paces. The launch of the software is planned for early 2011. Windows Intune is another building block in the cloud strategy of Microsoft.

With Windows Intune provides IT managers a comprehensive review of the status of each computer of a company - no matter where is this PC or the administrator. Intune goes beyond the current capabilities of Microsoft System Center addition. Thus allowing the new software update the definition of company-wide rules for installed software. Service Packs can be centrally controlled and recorded. Buy also has the option of Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 Enterprise upgrade without additional license costs.

About the Malware Protection Engine in Windows Intune can a computer secure effective against malware. In an emergency, the software informs the administrator of attempted attacks on a specific PC. Intune created a comprehensive list of all installed hardware and software of a computer. This facilitates administrators to search for specific components or applications, should a fault occur. Intune also supports the individual user. Using a Microsoft Easy Assist the user can get in touch with his system administrator if it needs technical support.

Intune is an all-in-one that enables companies to manage and secure their computers park based on a simple Internet connection. Every computer connected to the corporate network can be equipped with the Windows client software Intune side and directors, an online interface allows access to service features Intune. The latter being partly hosted in the cloud, it may evolve in functionality over the months. We find the management of updates, protection against malware, making remote control is still inventory capabilities and implementation of safety rules.

Regarding the management of Windows Intune, it ensures that all PCs in the park are the latest updates and service packs required. Microsoft Malware Protection Engine handles the same manner, updates on security, and management of security policies, even for PCs that are outside the network. Windows Intune will also proactively monitor PCs on vulnerabilities related to possible attacks, so it could be remedied in time. The manager of IT application in this way the hands that allows him to make an inventory of all hardware, software and licenses. Finally, it can also correct problems remotely.

Features:

• Protection against viruses, spyware and malware based on the same engine package Forefront Endpoint Protection;
• Event notification on updates, virus and processes Intune;
• Remote Assistance on multiple accounts, also useful for transferring files and documents;
• Implementing security policies on 'access for user groups; hardware and software inventory of' whole company;
• License management software packages and updates, like Windows 7 Enterprise;
• Automatic creation of event logs and statistics analyzed and exported to external programs;
• Monitor processes, services, hard drives and system performance;
• Scripting dedicated to custom analysis;
• Encrypted communication channel between client and data center;
• Full support for virtual machines.

[Edmund]

What you can do with Intune

With the new service can also be input via a web interface updates, PCs protect against malware, hardware and software inventory, monitor clients and set security policies. There is also a remote access function in Intune with which we can switch on us quickly and easily on the problem client. Who had ever been in the cloud on the road, who knows the benefits? Admins can wait for the PC from anywhere and control if necessary. Prerequisite for a browser and Silverlight.

OS Support

What is more associated with Microsoft's service Intune license Windows 7 Enterprise in order to allow for uniform versions of Windows through PC fleet. For a monthly fee of 11$ per item, the software giant thus offers a kind of leasing of its operating system while providing a service does it seem pretty well designed for its maintenance and administration. Optional and for an additional monthly cost 0.91 per item, Microsoft MDOP pack or Desktop Optimization Pack, which includes several additional tools improve the compatibility and deployment options for applications including.

Windows License

Via Windows Intune, the entire IT environment that can be standardized on the Windows version seems to be the most appropriate to the company. Each entry in Windows Intune also includes a license for Windows 7 Enterprise, including opportunities for advanced research and advanced data security with BitLocker. The entire environment can be aligned on a single version of Windows to the latest version of Windows 7. As long as the subscription remains active license upgrades, updates to the newest operating system from Microsoft, are included in the offer. In addition, diagnostics and troubleshooting solutions like setting up group policies, the use of virtualization or launch PC remotely are features that are included in this service.

Microsoft sells these cloud services on the one hand directly to IT managers, on the other hand, through partners who can manage on the same Web console, the fleets of multiple customers. As Christian Wohlgensinger that in Switzerland the Microsoft SME and partner responsible for Business said, on request, the interest of the channel is enormous. Example, would have signed up in just two days more than 120 resellers for an information session on Intune.

Intune offers a Web console from which you can perform tasks such as deployment of Microsoft updates and service pack on all PCs, centralize security with the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine, or manage problems anywhere by taking remote control. With this solution, simply to have an Internet connection to intervene. Its principle is to ensure the maintenance (updates, remote assistance, application of IT policies) and the security of computers where they are, provided they have access to the Internet, that if they are inside or outside the corporate network through a cloud architecture.

Security

Intune allows you to control the security of every PC monitor the presence of malware and viruses direct the management and alerting in case of problems found on a single machine on the network. A firewall and other security policies can be assigned separately for groups of computers or individual machines in the company. The operation of Intune is similar to that of a managed service for a server machine, and in this sense is proactive, that is the same system to warn of possible problems on the monitored machine, also providing advice and steps for their solution. This means that the client communicates constantly with Intune service server to monitor all activities that occur.

[Edmund]

Ideal for Windows Seven

Windows Intune was created especially for the management of systems with Windows 7 on board, but you can also administration SP2 or Windows PC with Windows SP3 (recommended by Microsoft for the presence of updates still valid). In an era where virtualization is the host, it must be said that Microsoft does not limit in any way like this: in our case the PCs used are all VMware virtual machines run on a single host with different addresses seen by the system as physical machines. Intune for this may be a good solution even if the infrastructure VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure), where all the corporate clients are actually virtual machines running on thin clients.

Pricing & Availability

After a public beta launched in summer 2010, Windows Intune is now entering its commercial phase and is to meet the needs of all businesses, from small to large. The cloud solution is available in 35 countries (including France) and is offered as an annual subscription, with a free trial period of 30 days (the subscription is 11 dollars / month / extension).

Benefits

The advantage of Intune is first and foremost to be a cloud solution, so Microsoft has focused heavily on developing a comprehensive management interface, accessible from more directors and to further ensure a complete monitoring of its infrastructure, on the face of updates system and protection from viruses and malware (Figure 1). Going into details and try to understand what you can actually do with Windows Intune; Intune primarily to keep you updated all the computers connected to it, not only with regard to the operating system but also for the Microsoft software on it. The administrator can choose which now elect to update software on its infrastructure in general, having an almost complete list of Microsoft products in the business in the consumer field. Updates are performed and reported on specific PC or directly on the entire infrastructure from a client installed on each of which has the responsibility to communicate with Microsoft servers .

In addition to administrators of particular benefit to Microsoft partners from the new cloud software. Key tools for system management, although common in group networks in medium-sized rare. Due to lack of IT resources at their customers and systems integrators implementing partners do at the same time maintenance and support tasks for medium-sized enterprises. Intune will help them retain their customers a variety of PC structure in view and first-level remote support to offer. Microsoft partners offer so new revenue opportunities.

• Manage updates
• Protect PCs from malware
• Proactively monitor PCs
• Provide remote assistance
• Track hardware and software inventory
• Set security policies

Deficiency in Intune

No Backup & Restore, no management of other AV solutions. This Intune actually a viable solution for complete remote management of desktop environments, but still lacking some features. Thus, with Intune Backup & Restore cannot be managed, as well as third-party security solutions cannot be co-managed.

Clearly, Intune is only for client PC and can manage servers. In addition, we restrict ourselves with the updates on the patch and can update and failed to patch third-party. may also software deployment is not on Intune and Group Policy to configure only in terms of updates, and firewall protection.

Requirements for hardware and memory

To install the Windows client software Intune on a computer, it must have the hardware requirements for the operating system and have, at minimum, the following:

• Internet connection
• For Windows XP, a clock frequency of 500 MHz processor and 256 MB RAM minimum
• 200 MB disk space

Conclusion

Intune Windows is available in SaaS mode and takes place within the Online Services offer the company. It is designed for businesses with 25 to 500 PCs. Intune windows can be seen as a 'super Windows Update', able to perform the duties of administration, support, update and inventory of PC. This product comes in the form of a complete administration console and software agents deployed on computers. This solution also has the advantages of Software Assurance. Thus, each workstation will enjoy an upgrade to Windows 7 Enterprise. Companies with older machines will notice too that the installation of earlier versions of Windows is also possible. The goal here is to allow professionals to easily standardize their fleet.

Microsoft Intune can also be used to manage the software and hardware resources of a company. Ultimately, Microsoft sees this online service a way to democratize the offers fleet management. Windows Intune is currently undergoing beta testing private (applications are now closed). Microsoft is not a pioneer, as often happens GoToManage or Kaseya to offer this service for some time and can also manage server. Whether its worth it probably depends also strongly on the price, because Microsoft does not announce until now has.

Intune Windows is not the only solution on the market like this, but Microsoft can put on the plate a number of other synergies with our products and services. In addition, Windows is an exciting opportunity for Intune partners of Microsoft, in fact, based on technologies in the cloud can offer complete products and services to companies.