Microsoft Updates Windows Intune

This week Microsoft (News - Alert) launched the latest upgrade to Windows Intune, the company’s cloud-based PC management. For you IT admins out there already using or considering Intune, what does the new 2.0 version offer?

Microsoft has boiled down the new features at its Windows Intune FAQ page. But here they are in a nutshell.

The biggest change is undoubtedly software distribution. No more sneakernet. Just like IT pros at the large organizations use specialized tools to roll out software to their clients, Windows Intune administrators can now do the same. You can deploy a variety of different applications to user PCs, including Microsoft’s own software, third-party applications, and even your own in-house programs. You can also roll out security patches and other updates.

Software distribution by itself is a game changer. But there’s more to be found in Intune 2.0.

You can now run certain tasks remotely on your managed PCs right from the Intune administration console. Specifically, you can run a full or quick antivirus scan, update the antivirus definitions, and even restart a PC remotely.

You can now set up different alerts to be notified if a certain event affects your client PCs. The alerts can tell you how many PCs were affected and how frequently. Microsoft has also spruced up the reporting feature so you can create, run, and save reports based on different hardware filters. Finally, you can more easily manage your licenses for software from Microsoft as well as from third parties

Beyond those obvious improvements, Microsoft said that it’s revamped some of the design elements of Intune based on user feedback. Admins will now find read-only access available so that other people can read information without being able to modify it. You’ll also be able to use context-sensitive menus, copy and paste, drag and drop, and other tricks throughout the interface.

Intune makes a lot of sense for small organizations that don’t have a large or dedicated IT staff or for consultants who manage PCs for several different clients. If you fit into either of these categories, it’s worth looking into this software.

Microsoft’s official “Windows for your Business blog” sheds more light on the new version of Intune. You can also learn more about the product by reading my past columns on Intune: “Move Your PC Management to the Cloud with Microsoft Intune” and “Microsoft Releases Windows Intune - PC Management for Businesses.”