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Smartphone management with Microsoft products
On a Leash
Companies that want to integrate their users' smartphones into their existing infrastructure can do so with various Microsoft products. One example is System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012. However, this product only does a reasonably good job of managing Apple iPhones and Android devices [1] as of Service Pack 1 (SP1). For Windows Phone and Windows 8 RT, too, the use of SCCM 2012 SP1 is required. Companies that use Exchange Server 2010 can specify settings for smartphones without this management software.
Parallel to or as a substitute for SCCM and Exchange ActiveSync policies, administrators can also use Windows Intune for cloud-based management of mobile devices and smartphones. As of SP1 for SCCM 2012, Windows Intune and SCCM 2012 work together. Microsoft updated the cloud application to do this. To manage smartphones optimally, parallel use of both products makes sense – preferably in combination with Exchange Server 2010/2013.
System Center Configuration Manager 2012 is the most important product in the new System Center. Microsoft fully integrates the functions of the System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 in SCCM. However, this offering was not very comprehensive without the service pack, and it only gave admins the possibility of managing devices with Windows Phone 7 and other systems.
Teamwork
As an integrated solution, Windows Intune and System Center Configuration Manager improve the ability to secure and manage Windows 8 PCs, Windows RT tablets, and Windows Phone 8 smartphones. Even devices from Apple and Android-based platforms can be integrated into the management setup. If you use Windows Intune and System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1, you can apply the settings from Windows Intune via the management console of System Center Configuration Manager 2012.
Windows Intune lets admins
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