PC management tool for cloud computing: Windows intune

One of the characteristics of cloud computing is self-service, automation, and virtualization. virtualization is one of the two foundations of private cloud. On Virtualization management tools, Microsoft uses system center and its product family for management. In terms of PC management and security management of cloud computing, Microsoft uses Windows intune. In March 23 this year, Microsoft released the official version of the cloud computing PC management and security solution windows intune. Although the official version has been released and Windows intune has been tested for a year, but Windows intune is not well known, this article will unveil the secrets of Windows intune.

　　Windows intune entry:

Windows intune is a public cloud service that helps you manage and protect computers in your environment through a combination of Windows cloud services and upgrade licenses. Windows intune provides cloud-based management and security functions through a web-based console.

Windows intune is suitable for managing 25 to 500 desktop PCs, including Patch Management, Malware Protection, PC active monitoring, remote assistance, recording hardware and software directories, and implementing security policies. Windows intune cloud computing service not only helps users save the trouble of deploying hardware, but also provides timely updates. As long as the network is connected, you can manage other machines from any machine.

　　Windows intune customer base:

Windows intune is intended for small and medium-sized enterprise users and provides management and security services for Windows PCs through the network front-end. Traditional software requires support from local servers. However, Windows intune is a cloud computing service hosted by Microsoft servers, saving enterprises with server configuration costs.

Windows intune is currently available in 35 countries and regions, with $11 per PC per month. Users can obtain cloud computing management services, anti-virus software, and Windows 7 Enterprise Edition upgrade licenses. If you are confused about the functions of Windows intune, you can download the 30-day free trial.

Windows intune function:

The functions and Business Value of Windows intune are embodied in three aspects, as shown in 1:

▲Figure 1 functions and values of Windows intune

This article describes how to manage and secure the use of PC functions, specifically, it is divided into System Overview, computer, update, Malware Protection, alerts, software, licenses, policies, reports, and management, as shown in Figure 2:

▲Figure 2 nine management functions of Windows intune

The following describes the top ten features:

　(1) System Overview

System Overview The workspace displays the overall running status of computers in an organization, determines problems, and executes basic management tasks (such as creating a computer group and Viewing Reports ), in fact, it is similar to the main interface of server management on Windows server. The functional interface of the system overview is shown in 3:

▲Figure 3 system overview options

Alarms in the announcement panel area provide information about key management tasks and links to other areas of the configuration settings and console, this allows you to complete tasks such as automatically approving and downloading windows intune client software for update configurations. You can use the status summary in the "system status" area of "Endpoint Protection", "Update", and "agent running status" to quickly identify issues that need immediate attention, determine the priority of these problems. An additional tool is provided for the list of all active alerts grouped by type and sorted by severity in the "List by type" area, used to assess the running status of computers in the organization and actively solve problems.

　　(2) Computer

You can use the computer workspace to create and manage computer groups for easy and flexible management. The functional interface is shown in Figure 4:

▲Figure 4 Computer options

The computer overview page provides status summaries for alerts, updates, and Endpoint Protection to quickly evaluate the health of computers in your organization.

(3) Update

You can use the Update Workspace to effectively manage software update processes for all managed computers in your organization. The updated functional interface is shown in Figure 5:

▲Figure 5 update options

When a managed computer in an organization requests a new software update released through Microsoft Update, an update notification is displayed on the Windows intune Administrator console. Each UPDATE contains a set of Applicability Rules. Whether the update is applicable depends on the hardware and software installed on the managed computer.

　　　　　

　(4) Malware Protection

Malware Protection helps improve the security of managed computers in an organization by protecting potential threats in real time and keeping malware definitions up-to-date and automatically running scanning. The functional interface is shown in Figure 6:

▲Figure 6 protection options of malware

By protecting potential threats in real time, keeping malware definitions up-to-date and automatically running scanning, you can improve the security of managed computers in your organization. The windows intune Administrator console provides an endpoint protection status summary, in this way, you can quickly find the affected computer and take appropriate measures when malware is detected on the managed computer or when the computer is not protected.

　　(5) Alarm

You can use the alarm workspace to quickly evaluate the overall health of the computers managed in your organization. With alerts, you can identify potential problems or current problems and take appropriate measures to prevent or minimize the negative impact on business operations. The functional interface is shown in Figure 7:

▲Figure 7 alarm options

(6) Software

The software workspace lists programs installed on all client computers managed by Windows intune and allows you to sort the list by software publisher, name, number of installs, or category. The interface is shown in Figure 8:

▲Figure 8 software options

　　　　(7) License

"License" workspace, you can upload Microsoft software license terms to Microsoft volume license services (mvls) (Microsoft bulk License Service (mvls )), you can also determine the license authorization that corresponds to a group of Microsoft batch license agreements. The functional interface is shown in Figure 9:

▲Figure 9 license option Function

　　　

(8) Policy

You can use the policy workspace to configure windows intune policies that manage updates, Endpoint Protection, Windows Firewall, and Windows intune center settings on your computer. You can create a policy based on the template, configure policy settings, and deploy the policy to the computer group. The Policy template includes the set description and recommended values. You can also search for a policy by name or description. The functional interface is shown in Figure 10:

▲Figure 10 policy options

　(9) Reports

Although other work zones in the Windows intune Administrator console also provide the search and filter functions, you can also use the report work area to obtain more detailed reports and print or export this information. The report workspace provides updated, software, and licensed reports. The interface is shown in Figure 11:

▲Figure 11 Report options

　　　(10) Management

The management workspace allows you to download the latest version of client software, view detailed information about Windows intune accounts (such as account name, status, and number of active seats), and add administrators to accounts. You can also use tools in the "manage" workspace to configure the types of updates that you want to deploy to the computers managed in the Organization, and send email notifications to other people in the organization when a specific alarm is generated. The functional interface is shown in Figure 12:

▲Figure 12 Management Options

In addition to the top ten features, there are remote assistance functions. Remote Assistance Alerts provide an important tool to solve problems on managed computers. Users on managed computers can initiate remote assistance requests, which generate alerts. When you view the alert on the Windows intune Administrator console, you can accept the request. If you accept the request, the Microsoft easy assist session is opened to allow remote troubleshooting on your computer.

　　Summary

Windows intune is a PC management and security tool for Microsoft cloud computing. It is also a public cloud service. Specifically, Windows intune provides the top ten management and security functions including System Overview, computers, updates, Malware Protection, alarms, software, licenses, policies, reports, and management. You can use the upgrade permissions provided by Windows intune to upgrade any computer managed by Windows intune that meets the minimum Windows 7 system requirements to Windows 7 Enterprise Edition.

 

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