Microsoft rolls out Windows Intune cloud management update

Microsoft has officially gone live with the second release of its Windows Intune cloud-based PC management service, just seven months after the original was launched, with a promise of further updates that will eventually see Intune match the capabilities of Microsoft's on-premise tools.

Windows Intune was officially launched back in March, but Microsoft said it has listened to customer feedback in producing this update and added capabilities such as the ability to deploy applications to managed PCs, remote access for tech support, and remotely initiate a malware scan or restart a machine.

"Software distribution was high on the wish list of feedback we got from both partners and users, as it allows them to deploy applications like Office 2010 without an IT pro having to physically visit that machine," said Eric Main, Windows Enterprise Director at Microsoft.

Like the first version of Intune, the new release also combines security with management, protecting endpoint systems with technology based on Microsoft's Forefront Endpoint Protection.

It also still provides users with licensing rights to download and install Windows 7 Enterprise edition onto each PC.

However, while the first release was aimed mostly at smaller businesses, the company now sees Intune appealing to two customer segments; those currently lacking any centralised management capability such as SMBs, and those who might have management servers but who are having difficulty with mobile workers that seldom connect to the corporate LAN.

"Large organisations tend to be good with on-premise management, but some employees may not connect their laptop to the network for maybe a month or more. With Intune, they can manage those PCs whenever they connect to the internet," Main explained.