Microsoft have recently announced that Windows Intune will be available on March 23rd 2011. This is their new product aimed at simplifying PC management for SMB organisations.

What is it and what does it do?

Windows Intune is a cloud based, central management system aimed at SMB’s of up to 250 machines (or so).

“Windows Intune simplifies how businesses manage and secure PCs using Windows cloud services and Windows 7—so your computers and users can operate at peak performance, from virtually anywhere.”

Intune covers many of the areas that IT Managers find difficult and time consuming such as:

• Managing Updates
• Pro-active monitoring
• Malware Protection
• Asset Tracking (Hardware & Software)
• Remote Assistance
• Setting Security Policies

As much as it is a Web based management console, it is also more than that…and this piece, despite being pretty huge, doesn’t seem to be getting mentioned that much:

It includes Windows 7 with Software Assurance.

For $11 a month (or whatever your currency equivalent will be) you get a hugely impressive central management console, Windows 7 Enterprise (so features such as Bitlocker), new version rights for Windows 8 and beyond and the ability to add on MDOP and give yourself a truly dynamic IT Infrastructure.

You can read my more in-depth original post here:

https://richardgibbonsuk.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/windows-intune/

Can I get a trial?

You certainly can, head over to:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/reminder.aspx

register, and get notified when trials are available.