Managing and maintaining client systems is one of the standard tasks that every IT administration has to deal with. The spectrum ranges from update and patch management through software distribution and inventory to comprehensive lifecycle management. For all this task, there are good and extensive software solutions that can meaningfully support and relieve a trained IT team.
However, such complex software tools, which make it possible to centralize and automate the system administration, will be used less frequently in smaller companies. For there are often no dedicated employees here, whose sole task is the care and maintenance of the client systems. Small and medium-sized companies in particular, but also office communities with perhaps only ten IT workplaces, are thus an ideal target group for the administrative and support options that a cloud-based approach has to offer:As a console for the supervisor, it usually requires only a web browser and even the most complex server installation of a large management solution is eliminated when using such solutions. Here is an overview of two solutions that meet exactly these requirements: Microsoft Intune and Syspectr from the Berlin-based provider O & O Software.Comprehensive for Windows and more: Microsoft Intune
Microsoft's solution, called Intune, was initially called "Windows Intune" and was renamed "Microsoft Intune" in October 2014. Also the cloud platform Azure lost at that time the addition "Windows". Microsoft wanted to make it clear that the functionalities of these Microsoft cloud offerings are not limited to the Windows platform alone.
With the help of Intune, users can manage both Windows 7/8 / 8.1 and 10 devices as well as mobile systems on Android, iOS and Windows Phone (or Mobile). Even the only Windows 8 / 8.1 available Windows RT mobile devices are captured by Intune.
Among other things, the cloud solution enables the management of updates and patches and provides an integrated anti-virus solution (Microsoft Intune Endpoint Protection). Furthermore, the administrator has support in the inventory, the reporting as well as the distribution of software and the monitoring of used licenses. In addition, the use and operation of the devices and software can be controlled and controlled via Intune via guidelines.
IT professionals looking to see if this solution fits their IT landscape can sign up for a free trial subscription on the Microsoft Intune web page . This can then be tested without restrictions with all functionalities for 30 days. Positive: No credit card or other payment details required to use this trial offer.
Getting started
As it is for a pure cloud application, the user needs only an Internet connection and a browser to start. That's why we only used these resources in our tests. It showed - as in previous tests with this solution - that administrators should still use Internet Explorer as a browser when using the web console. Because the developers have often used the in-house technology Silverlight, which can still cause problems with browsers such as Google Chrome and Firefox.
Curiosity in passing: The use of the new Edge browser rejected Microsoft Intune as "Unsupported Browser or Browser Mode" when we tried to switch from our Office 365 console to the Intune administrator console. It remains therefore the advice to use when accessing the Microsoft Intune Portal, if possible, Internet Explorer as a browser. It works fine on both the Windows 10 Professional and Enterprise systems in our test network, as well as on computers running Windows 8.1 Professional and Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.
Basic introduction to Microsoft Intune
Users who log on to the Intune service for the first time must first create a so-called company account. Logging in with an existing Microsoft account is also possible, as well as logging in and merging Intune with an existing Office 365 account. By default, the user has the domain name ".onmicrosoft.com" as an extension. This can then be supplemented by your own name choice - for example, "TestInstallation.onmicrosoft.com". Of course, administrators can also add their own existing domain later. Those who try the 30-test version can currently do so with 25 test licenses for client systems, which are also fully functional. If the IT team decides to continue using Intune after the test phase against payment (Currently € 5.10 per user per month ), these systems can be seamlessly adopted.
Windows 10/8 / 8.1 / 7 and Windows RT
If you want to manage Windows systems of versions 10/8 / 8.1 / 7 and Windows RT, you need to install a client component on the systems. This basically consists of a ZIP file with an executable installation file and a certificate file. It can be applied to the client systems either manually or in the usual distribution channels by means of policies or as an integral part of a system image.
The installation package contains information about the Intune account you are using. So, if you own this package, you can easily register a computer with the account that owns the embedded certificate. During our tests, we were able to easily integrate both physical and virtual systems under Windows 10 (Professional and Enterprise), as well as under 8.1- and 7-Professional, and manage them using Intune.
If mobile devices with Intune are also to be managed, the system administrator must define the so-called "authority for the management of mobile systems". It defines the individual management service with authority to manage a group of devices and provides the necessary infrastructure. Mobile device management authorizations include Intune, Configuration Manager with Intune, or Office 365 MDM solutions. If iOS devices (version 6.0 and higher) are to be managed, IT must obtain an Apple Push Notification Service certificate (APNS certificate) directly from Apple and upload it via the Intune console. If Android devices are used, the user must download and use the app called "Microsoft Enterprise Portal" from the Google Playstore.
