14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft recently launched the July 2011 Beta of the next generation of Windows Intune, and the company is also offering guidance for customers that want to take the Cloud-based PC management and security suite out for a spin. The Windows Intune Getting Started Guide can be downloaded free of charge from Microsoft, along with additional resources such as the Software Deployment Best Practices documentation and the July 2011 Beta FAQ and Factsheet, that I’ve already told you about.
Although the first release of Windows Intune came earlier this year, there are bound to be customers that are yet to test the service.
As such, the Windows Intune Getting Started Guide could prove useful, especially in conjunction with the Windows Intune July 2011 Beta.
“In the first of three tutorials, we will help you set up your Windows Intune environment so that you can manage and secure enrolled PCs through the web-based administration console,” Microsoft promises.
“The second tutorial will help you install the client software on PCs you will manage and configure groups to help organize the computers you have added to the service. In the final tutorial, you will learn how to assess the health of your computers and take action on a day-to-day basis.”
The guide offers insight on how to work with the Administrator Console, how to add admins, manage updates, set up alert notifications and default policies, creating reports as well as working with remote assistance and multiple accounts.
“This document is designed to help you setup your new Windows Intune environment and explore the main features of Windows Intune. To help in this, we have created an example environment for a business called Coho Winery,” the company said.
“Throughout this paper you will see example screenshots taken from this environment to help illustrate how you can similarly configure your Windows Intune environment. Subsequently, you can take the steps we have documented to create and customize them to meet your own business needs.”