Windows Intune Available to Businesses of All Sizes

LAS VEGAS, March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Microsoft Management Summit 2011, Microsoft Corp. today announced new IT solutions to streamline PC and device management, empower productivity and enable the modern enterprise, highlighting the release of Windows Intune, System Center Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 and the next version of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). Windows Intune is generally available today in 35 countries, bringing PC management through the cloud and upgrades to Windows 7 Enterprise to businesses. Windows Intune delivers cloud-based management and security capabilities through a single, Web-based console, so computers and users can operate at peak performance from virtually anywhere.

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"Microsoft is focused on providing management solutions to help IT organizations give employees access to what they need, when they need it, from anywhere and on a wider variety of devices," said Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of Management and Security for Microsoft Corp. "A solution like Windows Intune is the perfect example of how customers and partners of all sizes can take advantage of cloud computing for easy-to-use PC management and security."

Lower Cost of Ownership Comes With Windows Intune

By leveraging the power of the cloud, Windows Intune helps IT staff relieve the burden of managing and maintaining a complicated PC infrastructure, which translates to more IT efficiency, user productivity, security and cost savings.

Microsoft recently commissioned a study from IDC that revealed a total savings of $702 per PC, per year, with Windows Intune, which includes savings from IT labor reduction of $521 per PC, per year, user productivity savings of $63 per PC, per year, and cost recovery from not having to use other tools at an average of $118 per PC, per year.(1)

Windows Intune Brings Opportunities to Partners

In a separate Microsoft-commissioned study, IDC arrived at a conclusion that clearly outlines the partner opportunity, stating, "Windows Intune would help them grow their PC management businesses by an average of 19 percent over the first full year of operations."(2) Windows Intune offers real opportunity for partners that are looking to take advantage of the cloud to reach more customers, to start or grow their managed services business, and to drive annuity-based revenue. For example, partners can support more customers with the cloud-based system than a traditional onsite business model, without increasing staff headcount. Partners interested in trying Windows Intune can subscribe to the Microsoft Cloud Essentials program for free at http://www.microsoftcloudpartner.com for Internal Usage Rights software.

"Windows Intune provides an ideal PC management solution for our clients," said Stephen Hall, senior network engineer and CEO of District Computers LLC. "It includes updates, end-point protection, licensing, systems management and the ability to tell us exactly what's going on with our clients at any given time, all from one console."

More information about Windows Intune, including details on a 30-day customer trial for use on up to 25 PCs, is available at http://www.windowsintune.com, http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/business and http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/cloud.

Simpler Unified Management and Security With System Center Configuration Manager 2012 and MDOP

In his keynote speech, Anderson also announced the beta 2 of System Center Configuration Manager 2012, the next version of Microsoft's popular endpoint management solution for enterprises, which is available through http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/cm2012. He demonstrated how the new product helps IT managers give employees a more personalized experience using applications on a wider variety of devices. He also showed how the technology helps reduce IT costs and inefficiencies by unifying the security and management of mobile, physical and virtualized applications into one solution.

In addition, Anderson discussed key components of the next version of MDOP, including the beta release of Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) and Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) updates. MBAM builds on BitLocker in Windows 7 Enterprise and helps simplify BitLocker provisioning and deployment, improves compliance and reporting, and reduces support costs through streamlining the key recovery process. Customers can sign up for the MBAM beta at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=208999. The updated version of DaRT will include the ability to initiate a remote-control session to assist users without the need for a deskside visit and the ability to boot from the network or a USB stick to use the recovery tools. A beta of the next version of DaRT is expected in early April, and customers can sign up at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=213952.

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(1) IDC white paper, sponsored by Microsoft, "A First Look at How Windows Intune Can Lower Costs and Raise Productivity," Doc. #227158, March 2011

(2) IDC white paper, sponsored by Microsoft, "The Windows Intune Partner Opportunity: A Blueprint for Success," Doc. #227232, March 2011

SOURCE Microsoft