Heads Up: Microsoft Window Intune Desktop Management Service

Paul Mah of ITBusinessEdge analyzes news of Microsoft going live with its $11-a-seat Windows Intune desktop management service for SMBs.

"Microsoft formally launched its Windows Intune service at the Microsoft Management Summit on Wednesday, after a beta period that lasted a year. Hosted by Microsoft, Intune is designed to help mid-sized businesses with limited IT support better manage and secure their Windows PC. Businesses that subscribe to the service get access to a Web console to manage computers within their organization, and because it relies on the Internet, the service will work regardless of the physical location of the workstation that is being administrated.

Some of the tasks that can be done using Intune include applying Windows updates, managing security policies, tracking hardware and software inventory, as well as providing remote assistance. In essence, Intune will make it possible to quickly and remotely perform most of the tasks that an on-location system administrator is tasked to do."