Next release of Windows Intune now available

Windows Intune is a subscription service that offers PC management and security through the cloud, along with upgrade rights to Windows 7 Enterprise and future versions of Windows. The new release,
launched Monday 17 October, offers new benefits including software distribution,remote tasks, read-only access, and enhanced reporting all of which are designed to simplify PC management while ensuring PCs are operating at peak performance from virtually anywhere.

Head in the clouds

Organisations are thinking more and more about how they can integrate cloud solutions into  their businesses to save money and increase agility. In fact, in the May 2011 report,“Foresights: The Software Market In Transformation, 2011 And Beyond,” Forrester Research, Inc.  states that companies are getting serious about cloud, with an expected 50 per cent or more adopting some software as a service in
2012 and beyond.  

Our vision for Windows Intune is big – we want to take the best of the capabilities delivered through our on-premises solutions (like System Center Configuration Manager with Forefront Endpoint Protection, System Center Essentials, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, and Windows Enterprise management and security features) and enable them through the cloud. Eventually, Windows Intune will deliver more management capabilities than the on-premises solutions but with less cost and higher productivity.

As we continue to evolve Windows Intune to meet the changing needs of today’s businesses, this next release demonstrates our commitment to rapid releases and marks the next step in our wave of innovation. We’re focused on enabling these emerging workstyles – helping users complete their jobs from virtually anywhere, at any time, while still satisfying the IT professional’s need for management.

“Windows Intune gives us more ways to support our customers, more efficiently, and provide unsurpassed service. It complements our existing offerings beautifully.
Alwyn Williams, Business Development Director, Pygmalion. (Read the case study here.)

“Now, with Windows Intune, we have a single tool that enables us to provide high quality, personalised customer service without increasing staffing levels.” Matthew Garrett, Chief Technology Officer, Cloud Business. (Read the case study here.)

The path to Windows 7 and beyond

A Windows Intune subscription gives you rights to the most current version of Windows so you can standardise on one version and give your employees the best and the most modern Windows experience. Today, this means you can move off Windows XP and on to Windows 7 Enterprise to take advantage of those benefits immediately.  Support for Windows XP comes to an end in April 2014, making the move to Windows 7 a real and pressing issue for most businesses.

Learn more about Windows Intune and get a free trial.