Using Cloud-Powered Insights with Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager

Lack of adequate knowledge coupled with licensing issues have proven challenging for Configuration Manager and Intune clients. This complicates things for clients and can prevent them from utilizing the full potential of these platforms. So to simplify things, Microsoft created Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) under which now falls Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM).

This solution not only combines functionality but it resolves the licensing issues as well. In so doing, Microsoft provides its clients with a seamless, feature-rich management solution. MECM also enables you to easily use cloud-powered insights. It does so in a way that will improve your business strategies and operations. How that works is certainly something that is worth looking into.

Desktop Analytics

With this service alone, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager provides clients with fantastic cloud-based insights to enhance their operations. Because of the reach of MECM, Desktop Analytics (DA) gives you first-rate intelligence. It gathers this information from your organization as well as the millions of other devices that are using Microsoft cloud services. Having these kinds of insights allows you to make data-backed decisions. Also, this makes it easier to assess compatibility issues, create an inventory of apps, and deploy Windows 10 among other things.

Needless to say, DA comes with several benefits. To start, it allows you to inventory devices and software thus simplifying how you keep track of things. Furthermore, using the large amount of data that it collects, DA helps you to identify potential problems. And after identifying the latter, it offers you potential solutions to these issues.

You also get Configuration Manager integration as part of the package. What this will do is to enable the cloud for your existing on-premises infrastructure. Last but not least, there is also pilot identification which assesses the smallest group of devices that can provide the widest factor coverage. The focus here is on the factors that are most important to a pilot of Windows upgrades and updates.

Optimizing endpoint devices

Analyzing endpoint devices can provide a business with the information necessary to improve productivity. By making use of cloud intelligence, IT can assess devices and quickly come up with strategies to improve efficiency. Insights such as device setup, performance, and overall health will allow you to optimize endpoint devices. And by extension, you would expect this to improve end-user productivity as well. Endpoint Analytics focuses on quickening the startup process, fixing common issues, and recommending the ideal software for use. All in all, by cutting out problems and the sources of frustration, Endpoint Analytics will give end-users an overall better experience.

Cloud management gateway

Managing internet-connected clients is a very useful capability to have. Especially for clients that are outside your internal network. Normally in Configuration Manager, the managed computers and servers are physically on the same internal network as the site system servers. However, Cloud management gateway (CMG) gives you the option to manage clients outside that network. As long as they are connected to the internet.

The cloud service allows clients to communicate with the on-premises Configuration Manager. The advantages here are plenty with no additional infrastructure required and the on-premises infrastructure safe from internet exposure. And with cloud virtual machines being fully managed by Azure, there is no maintenance to worry about.                   

Integration

Bringing together various solutions under one umbrella is basically what Microsoft Endpoint Manager is about. It gives clients a more comprehensive management solution. So for those who owned SCCM, the advantage was getting PC management from Intune. This opens up a world of new possibilities for clients. In addition to greater capabilities, businesses can also benefit from bring-your-own-device (BOYD) security. The cloud resources available can provide priceless insights. Because of this, making sure that devices and apps are compliant with company security requirements becomes simpler. Combining solutions has given businesses greater control over their data and how one can access it.

Limitless intelligence

To truly optimize the user experience, modern solutions need to be intelligence-backed. As already mentioned above, there is plenty of intelligence available from the Microsoft cloud. In fact, figures show that there are about 190 million devices managed by ConfigMgr or Intune. That’s a lot of devices! In simple terms, the intelligence available from these devices is almost limitless. Consequently, the insights that can be drawn from this will add significant value to business operations. IT can work more effectively when it comes to PC deployments and problem-solving. Features like Productivity Score enable you to gather valuable metrics regarding employees and their experiences.

Convenience

As good as combining solutions is, clients still need to know what exactly this mean for them. Do they need to choose one or the other? Fortunately, as Brad Anderson put it, “Let me be very clear, this vision includes both ConfigMgr and Intune. Co-management isn’t a bridge; it’s a destination.” Essentially what that means is that you don’t need to make any changes to your ConfigMgr policies to use cloud intelligence. Therefore, you get an integration of solutions that you can conveniently access through a single interface. This comes together beautifully to create the kind of modern management system that businesses need.

Wrap up

Cloud technology has almost limitless potential. Particularly when considering how much development has taken place in the last decade. And in an intelligence-dependent world, we need management solutions that can cope with the demands. With Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, you won’t go wrong. Through the MEM interface, management is made easier. Regardless of whether your devices are co-managed or not.

Moreover, with data from 190 million devices to analyze, businesses get an amazing end-to-end management solution. By combining data, functionality, and various intelligent actions, the product becomes significantly better than the sum of its parts. MECM meets clients where they are and helps them to take advantage of the power of the Microsoft cloud.