BYOD Basics: What's New For Mobile Device Management in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager

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Over the past couple weeks, we at CANITPRO.NET have been covering aspects of people centric IT (PCIT) enablement through our BYOD Basics series. We feel providing proper tools to enable planning and discussion around BYOD enablement helps organizations properly plan their deployments and ensure their workers are provided the necessary tools to be more effective in field with very little impact on IT. One of these tools has recently been updated and we'd like to ensure IT professionals have the necessary information in order to make proper planning fruitful in enabling people they support.

System Center Configuration Manager, since SP1 with the inclusion of Windows Intune, has become a great tool for IT professionals enabling connected devices such as tablets, smartphones and notebook/desktops. With all these connected devices made available in today's market, it is comforting to know tools possibly already deployed within one's infrastructure. Recently, Microsoft has announced further upgrades in regards to people centric IT (PCIT) enablement and System Center Configuration Manager. 

These upgrades include:

  • The ability to manage compliance settings which include password, camera, and encryption settings.
  • When deploying Android apps, the option to install the apps directly to the device is now available.
  • Users can enroll Android devices by using the company portal app which will be available on Google Play. The company portal app is supported on Android devices as of Android 4.0. When users download the company portal app the installation includes the management agent. The management agent gives you the following management capabilities.
  • Users are prompted to take required actions, such as app installations or updating device passcodes by using Android notifications.
  • Users can enroll iOS devices by using the iOS company portal app which will be available in the App store. The company portal app can be installed on iOS devices as of iOS 6. The company portal app will allow users to perform the following actions:
    • Change or reset passwords.
    • Download and install company apps.
    • Enroll, unenroll, or wipe company content from their devices.
  • Devices that run Windows RT, iOS and Android now support a deployment purpose of Required. This allows you to deploy apps automatically to devices according to a configured schedule.
  • Wipe and retire functions now include the option to only remove company content from devices.
  • You can configure enrolled devices as company-owned or personal-owned. Company-owned allows you to get software inventory on company content on all devices.
    • You can configure devices as personal-owned or company-owned by using the Change ownership action. Change ownership is only available for devices that are not domain-joined and do not have the Configuration Manager client installed.
    • Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 will only report inventory on company content when configured as company-owned.
    • If they are configured as company-owned, iOS and Android devices will report full inventory. If they are configured as personal-owned, iOS and Android will only report company content.
    • Windows Mobile 6 devices will report full inventory if they are configured as company-owned.
  • You can use Windows Intune to manage Windows 8.1 Preview devices that are not joined to the domain and do not have the Configuration Manager client installed.

Try System Center 2012 R2  today to get a head start in researching enablement of your organization.