A Glance at Windows Intune

These days most homes and offices have both desktops and laptops. But managing and securing both systems can be become quite tedious. Now you can imagine the plight of a System Administrator or the one you call "IT Guy" in office in such a situation. In small, medium or large organizations, management of IT assets is quite difficult and time consuming. With the advent of Cloud computing, several solutions like automatic software and anti-virus database updates keep PCs and Macs up-to-date.

Now imagine a situation where you don't have to look around, call or scream for the IT guy to fix your machine. Nor do you have to call your system vendor (one who sold you the PC) to attend to your query. Instead, the issues are taken care of remotely and without having the IT guy visit you personally. Yes, that's quite possible with Microsoft's new Cloud computing service based solution - Windows Intune

What is Windows Intune?
Microsoft's Windows Intune is a Cloud-computing based service meant for PC management and protection from virtually anywhere. Though it's Cloud-based, Windows Intune interface is accessible via all major Web Browsers that support Microsoft Silverlight plug-in. One can manage the PC systems and take action against the alerts from anywhere and while on the move. Only an internet connection is required and the client system should have the 17MB initiation package installed on it.

Since it is a cloud-based service, Windows Intune offers PC management, Inventory reports, licensing management, assets tracking, deploying Microsoft updates as well as patches and quickly addressing security issues in the client system.

How and where does it work?
Microsoft Windows Intune management console connects the account holder to the Cloud computing based services that fetches notifications, alerts, reports and reminders about the issues existing in the client computers. A simple web browser with Microsoft Silverlight support is usable to get the Windows Intune console after Windows Live login. One must download and install the client software program on the client computer to let it connect with the Windows Intune management console.

Windows Intune helps managing and securing PCs with the help of Windows 7 and Windows Cloud based services. With this web-based management console one can,

- Manage system updates and patches
- Protect computers from malware
- Monitor the computers
- Provide remote assistance
- Track report of hardware and software inventory
- Set security policies
- Efficient software and hardware reporting
- Alerts management

Though the PC is managed remotely via cloud-based PC management interface, any action on the client PC requires the user to accept and allow the Windows Intune account holder to make necessary changes. For instance, if Windows Intune got an alert from a client computer about a software update, then the update would only be successful when the computer user accepts the administrator's request to update the software.

Windows Intune is available through Microsoft's partners at a subscription price of $11 per month per system with update rights to Windows 7 Enterprise. 

Interview with Sumeet Khanna:

Here's the transcript of my interaction with Sumeet Khanna, Director - Windows Client Business Group, Microsoft. For the product demo we had Arun Subramanian, Product Marketing Lead - Windows Client Business Group, Microsoft (Below: TT = Techtree, SK = Sumeet Khanna, AS = Arun Subramanian).


TT: What's Indian contribution in the development of Windows Intune?

SK: Microsoft teams located in Redmond and Hyderabad collaborated to work on Windows Intune. Since Windows Intune involves and overlaps several Microsoft products as well as technologies, different teams have worked together in their respective areas.

TT: Is Windows Intune capable of controlling other Operating Systems such as GNU\Linux distros or Mac OS X?

SK: Cloud-based Windows Intune is like the first version of our offering and we currently offer discounts on purchase of 250 or more licenses. We've no announcement to make about cross-platform support as of now.

AS: Windows Intune was launched with a motive to work seamlessly across Windows eco-system. That was our basic aim and we've achieved it. It's a complete suite that offers management tools, anti-malware protection, and upgrade rights to Windows 7 Enterprise.

TT: Any plans to work on/include cross-platform management controls?

SK: As of now, we have nothing to announce. This product is like the first version of our efforts and we hope to bring more enhancements in due course of time.

TT: Companies face trouble finding experts to run and manage basic IT infrastructure in the company. Do you think SMEs and SoHos will get the required manpower for efficient Windows Intune usage?

SK: The beauty of Windows Intune is the ease to use its interface. IT organizations need not hire any specifically skilled manpower to manage it. Windows Intune allows IT management anywhere and anytime, so companies with multiple offices across India can have one or more System Administrators at a centralized location. Microsoft is happy to have about 300 Microsoft Software Partners on board for its launch in India. Small and large organizations can leave IT management with Windows Intune solution partners.

TT: Would you shed some light on the security aspect in the Windows Intune?

SK: Security of the end-users systems and the MSPs is a major concern for us. Hence, we've taken good measures in the development of Windows Intune and also integrating enough features to secure the client systems.

AS: One of the several functions of Windows Intune is to protect the systems against malware and secure them. Windows Intune has been built using Microsoft Malware Protection Engine and other security technologies such as Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Security Essentials. With this dual-layer security incorporated Windows Intune is secure and alerts are available to keep the client systems secured against root kits, spyware, viruses and other kinds of malware.

TT: Can we expect an end-user edition of Windows Intune for someone like an independent developer?

SK: Well, it's ready even for the Small Office Home Office and even home user environment. All it requires is initiating the transaction of enabling the Windows Intune subscription with Microsoft Software Partners. It's quite a viable solution for home users who wish to secure and manage several PCs in their family from one end. Hence, you won't have to run around to fix your uncle's computer in case of any software issue or malicious attack query.

TT: Microsoft Windows Intune's billing control lies in the hand of Microsoft instead of Manager Services Providers? Are there any plans to put more partners on the list?

SK: Microsoft has launched Windows Intune in India with about 300 partners on board and it's a simultaneous launch globally as well. As of now, our goal is to make these partners completely comfortable in the usage and implementation of Cloud-based Windows Intune solution. As mentioned earlier, we'd be investing about 60 per cent of Income from Windows Intune to help MSPs improve and the faster implementation of Windows Intune. We've received feedback about the billing from partners and would be working on a harmonious solution.

In Conclusion:

Cloud-computing based services are going to take India by storm. Small, medium and large business would be able to optimize their productivity and resolve day-to-day IT issues quickly with Windows Intune.

Windows Intune's web based console requires Silverlight plug-in supporting web browser. At this moment, no mobile web browser supports Silverlight by default except Skyfire mobile web browser. So one needs to install and use the latest Skyfire mobile browser to access and use the Windows Intune console on the go.

Microsoft Windows Intune is usable and available for Managing Services Providers as well as the end users. You can always register at http://www.microsoft.com/online/windows-intune.aspx for a free 30-day trial of Windows Intune and get a hang of cloud-based PC management.