The new version of Windows Intune is going live today. Intune is the cloud based user device management solution that bundles:
- Windows 7 Enterprise: featuring DirectAccess (VPN without VPN client), BranchCache (WAN optimisation), BitLocker (disk encryption), and BitLocker-To-Go (USB device encryption).
- Endpoint Protection: The only way to manage Endpoint Protection without using System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.
I say “user device management” because Intune now supports:
- The expected PCs, slates, and laptops running XP SP3 or later
- Windows Phone 7
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
And as reported at MMS, this includes side-loading apps onto Android and IOS.
A unified experience across all devices through:
- Automatic discovery of mobile devices that access Exchange Server
- User-centric views for device inventory
- A single console (the Windows Intune administrator console) to manage computers and mobile devices
The ability to help secure corporate data on mobile devices through:
- Targeting Exchange ActiveSync polices to user groups. Policies include settings that let you set requirements for password length and encryption (if it is supported by the mobile device).
- Setting device access rules by device family or model
- Retiring and/or wiping lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised mobile devices.
The ability to make licensed internal line-of-business applications available for your users through:
- Hosting and targeting licensed internal line-of-business applications to user groups
- Self-service capabilities for your users, which enable them to download internal line-of-business applications to their mobile devices
- Prerequisites for supporting mobile devices with Windows Intune are as follows:
An on-premises component to orchestrate communication between Exchange Server 2010
Service Pack 1 and later, and Windows Intune
A computer that has access to the Exchange environment. The computer must meet the
following requirements:
- The computer must run Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (64-bit) or Windows Server 2008 R2.
- .NET Framework 4.0 and PowerShell 2.0 must be installed on the computer.
- The computer must be joined to the Exchange Server domain.
- The computer must have Internet access.
There is a new company portal:
Windows Intune now uses the same Azure-based AD services as Office 365. This includes the ability, by the looks of it, to synchronise with your on-premise AD. Now your internal users can appear in Intune.
You can read this getting started guide to … well … get started.