Welcome to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Configuration Manager 2012 is finally here! We are having a great time at MMS talking to everyone about the new features and functionality that they now have access to in the GA product. For those folks that couldn’t make it to the conference, I definitely encourage you to watch Brad Anderson’s day 2 keynote and point you to the track sessions you can access online (registration required). But I’d also like to highlight some of the great materials that the team has already published over the last six months to help you prepare for the new release.

We have 13 Configuration Manager virtual labs that you can explore and more than 30 how-to videos that step you through key capabilities. The team has also posted a steady flow of articles on key concepts and improvements in Configuration Manager 2012 – everything from how you should think about application delivery to what changes you need to think about in your hierarchy design. I’ve listed these below so that you have one central place to reference them as you start your deployment planning.

• Let System Center Configuration Manager 2012 Help You Enable Consumerization of IT
• User Centric App Deployment Part 1: Thinking User First
• User Centric App Deployment Part 2: User/Device Affinity
• Configuration Manager 2012 Will Help You Modernize Application Delivery in Your Organization
• Key Concepts of User Centric Application Delivery in Configuration Manager 2012: Part 1
• Key Concepts of User Centric Application Delivery in Configuration Manager 2012: Part 2
• Streamlined Client Management and VDI with Configuration Manager 2012
• Managing Security with System Center Configuration Manager 2012
• Managing Settings and Compliance
• Keeping System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Clients Active and Healthy
• Top 10 Admin Console Improvements in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
• Managing Software Updates in Configuration Manager 2012
• Options for Managing Remote Offices with Configuration Manager 2012
• Hierarchy Design in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
• Data Replication in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
• The Biggest Changes in Hierarchy Design in Configuration Manager 2012
• Migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
• Business Hours vs. Maintenance Windows with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

We’re extremely proud of Configuration Manager 2012 and hope that you will be able to use these resources in deploying this release. As always, let us know your comments and questions.

Deb McFadden
Principal Group Program Manager
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager