14 DAY TRIAL // The recently updated Microsoft System Center 2012 can provide IT managers with new features and capabilities through interoperability with Windows Intune, the Redmond-based software giant announced.
The new management capabilities are needed in a market that sees an increased proliferation of mobile devices, as well as of the concept of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
Individuals bring to work devices that cannot be managed as typical corporate devices, and which are often not part of the company’s network, although they use it to access the Internet or even corporate data.
“These challenges require flexibility in the way corporate policies are defined, such as determining which policies can and should be applied to which devices, and how those devices should be managed,” Microsoft notes.
Two endpoint solutions coming from Microsoft can be used for management purposes, namely System Center 2012 Configuration Manager to address on-premises challenges, and Windows Intune to take advantage of management through the cloud.
“With System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 and the next version of Windows Intune, Microsoft is taking the first step in delivering interoperability between these products through Configuration Manager’s administration console,” the company explains.
Mobile devices can be added through the cloud with Windows Intune into System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 console, and can be easily managed from there, Microsoft notes.
Even in this scenario, Windows Intune can be still used as the company’s “fully in the cloud” management solution for PC and mobile device management.
“If you already have System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, SP1 and the next version of Windows Intune will enable you to extend the reach of your management infrastructure to include mobile devices via the cloud,” Microsoft notes.
The next release of Windows Intune will arrive with support for the management of Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT, providing IT Pros with increased flexibility when it comes to choosing the solution that best fits their needs.
They can go for either Windows Intune or Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 console when it comes to setting mobile security policies or to distribute mobile applications.
You can find the latest release of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager on Softpedia via this link. Windows Intune can be found on Microsoft’s website.