Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices are known for their versatility, offering a wide array of features for data storage, sharing, and management. One feature that significantly enhances performance is the Synology SSD cache. This guide explores Synology SSD cache, its benefits, how to set it up, the importance of upgrading DiskStation Manager (DSM) versions, and how to verify if you’re running the latest DSM version.
What is Synology SSD Cache?
An SSD cache uses Solid-State Drives (SSDs) to accelerate data access on traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). SSDs are much faster than HDDs due to their lack of mechanical parts, providing lower latency and higher throughput. In Synology NAS, SSD caching improves the performance of your storage pools without requiring a full SSD-only setup.
Types of SSD Cache in Synology NAS
Read-Only Cache:
Speeds up frequently accessed data by storing it in SSDs.
Improves read performance but does not affect write operations.
Read-Write Cache:
Boosts both read and write performance.
Requires at least two SSDs in RAID 1 for redundancy.
Benefits of SSD Cache
Enhanced Performance: Faster data access and improved application performance.
Cost-Effective: Combines HDDs and SSDs for performance gains without the expense of SSD-only setups.
Scalable: Easily added or removed as needed.
Optimized Utilization: Ensures frequently accessed data is quickly available.
When to Use SSD Cache
High I/O Workloads: For example, virtualization, databases, or file servers.
Mixed Storage Systems: Combining HDDs and SSDs for balanced performance.
Repetitive Access Patterns: Ideal for applications with predictable workloads.
Install SSDs in the designated bays or via an adapter card like the Synology M2D17 in PCIe Slot 1.
Verify installation using Synology DSM.
Create SSD Cache:
Navigate to Storage Manager > SSD Cache.
Choose the storage pool and cache type (read-only or read-write).
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Monitor Performance:
Use Resource Monitor to track cache efficiency.
Optimize Cache:
Update DSM for the latest features.
Adjust settings as needed.
Why Upgrade DSM?
DiskStation Manager (DSM) is the operating system powering Synology NAS devices. Regular upgrades are essential for:
New Features: Improved functionality and usability.
Security: Patches to keep your system secure.
Performance: Enhanced efficiency with updated algorithms.
Compatibility: Support for new hardware and apps.
Bug Fixes: Resolves known issues.
DSM Upgrade Steps
Prepare for the Upgrade:
Backup data using Hyper Backup.
Verify compatibility and system health.
Upgrade DSM:
Use the Control Panel > Update & Restore for automatic updates.
Perform manual updates by downloading the update file from Synology’s website.
Post-Upgrade Verification:
Test applications and review logs for errors.
Reconfigure settings as needed.
How to Verify DSM Version
DSM Interface: Navigate to Control Panel > Update & Restore to check for updates.
Synology Assistant: Use this tool to display the DSM version.
Command-Line: Run cat /etc/VERSION via SSH.
Mobile App: Use Synology’s DS Finder to check the version.
My Setup and Observations
I am using a DS1817+ with eight Seagate ST8000AS0002-1NA17Z 8 TB Archive HDDs, running without issues. Currently, I’m upgrading to 16 TB Western Digital WDC WD161KFGX-68AFPN0 HDDs. My SSD cache consists of two Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 (500 GB) drives installed using a Synology M2D17 adapter in PCIe Slot 1.
Hardware Highlights
Seagate ST8000AS0002 HDD:
Energy-efficient archival storage.
Reliable for long-term use.
Western Digital WDC WD161KFGX HDD:
High-capacity Ultrastar DC HC500 series.
Optimized for data centers with vibration resistance.
Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2:
Advanced 3D V-NAND technology.
TurboWrite for faster write speeds.
High endurance and energy efficiency.
Best Practices for SSD Cache
Regular Maintenance: Monitor and optimize cache performance.
Use Compatible Hardware: Follow Synology’s compatibility guidelines.
Backup Data: Regularly back up to avoid data loss.
Conclusion
Synology SSD cache is a game-changer for optimizing NAS performance. Coupled with regular DSM upgrades, it ensures a reliable and high-performing system. Follow these best practices to maximize your NAS potential, enhance data security, and enjoy seamless compatibility.
As 2024 is drawing to a close, we can start to look back at the features that have been added to Microsoft Intune and Windows 365. These upgrades have enhanced the user experience, strengthened security measures, and enabled users to operate more efficiently.
As such, it will be exciting to look at what Microsoft could potentially add to these platforms in 2025. Businesses will be interested in seeing what Microsoft has on the horizon. They will also be eager to see what will improve these platforms even further while simultaneously addressing some common concerns they may have.
With this in mind, in this article, we’ll be going over the information Microsoft has released concerning features scheduled to be released in 2025.
What does 2025 hold for Intune?
Microsoft Intune: Managed device attestation for iOS/iPadOS and macOS device enrollment and ADE
When we consider the threat landscape that organizations constantly have to deal with, it’s easy to see why there is a great need for continually improving security measures. Hence why bringing ACME and managed device attestation support for eligible Apple devices to GA is a great move on Intune’s part. It should enable you to have better control over the verification processes of various devices.
Included in this update are device enrollment and ADE enrollments, notably AC2. Admins should note that this will apply to new enrollments with device enrollment (BYOD) and new enrollments with ADE or Apple Configurator tool. We can expect to see the rollout of this feature beginning in April 2025.
Microsoft Intune: Windows enrollment attestation
Staying with the same theme of enhancing security measures, businesses will also be getting this feature beginning in March 2025. You can expect to have physical devices attested at enrollment and enrollment credentials storage in the hardware of the device.
This can provide administrators with an extra bit of convenience. It will allow them to view device attestations in the new Device attestation status report. Additionally, they can force attestation from that report when necessary.
Microsoft Intune: Enhanced device inventory for Windows devices
Few things can increase work efficiency the way that easily having access to all the information you need when you need it can. This is what businesses will be getting when this service is rolled out in February 2025 enabling them to obtain more inventory information about their Windows devices. You get to specify which device properties you need to collect as well as from which devices. With this, you can view that information for your devices.
Microsoft Intune: Hardware-backed attestation – enhanced for Windows 11
This feature, which will be coming to you in January 2025, seeks to improve the Windows compliance policy. You should expect an improvement in device health due to the addition of five additional hardware attestation settings. These settings are specific to Windows 11 using advanced platform security features. The latter will include features such as firmware protection, virtualization-based security, Memory Integrity and Access Protection, and Early Launch Antimalware protection.
Microsoft Intune: macOS Platform SSO Support
Intune is constantly looking for ways to enhance the user experience for customers that use the macOS platform. To this end, features like this one in particular will give you better security and increase convenience. With the release planned for January 2025, customers should soon be able to log in on a managed Mac using their Entra ID password.
Microsoft Intune: Multiple managed accounts
Adding to the convenience that the upcoming Intune features will bring is this feature. As of January 2025, Microsoft plans on enabling users to use a single device with multiple company accounts to access company information through specific managed applications.
Microsoft Intune: Enrollment time grouping for Android Enterprise Corporate devices
Enrollment time grouping (ETG) for Android Enterprise Corporate devices is a feature that will help targeted apps and policies reach devices faster thus minimizing delays common with device setup. The rollout is slated for January 2025.
AI to boost the capabilities of the Cloud PC
Businesses cannot deny the immense potential that AI can offer them. This technology has vast applications that can positively impact business operations at just about every level. It’s therefore no surprise that Windows 365 is working on taking advantage of AI to improve the user experience for Cloud PC users. Already, Windows 365 can use AI to provide you with Cloud PC resizing recommendations that can help minimize costs and increase efficiency.
Windows 365 does this and more by leveraging AI to evaluate Cloud PC deployment and utilization. With this information in hand, companies can better plan their Cloud PC environments thus maximizing the value of their investment. These tailored, AI-powered insights will help you avoid several issues including:
Complex purchase discussions – when you lack specific information, your organization could spend vast amounts of time bogged down in discussions with vendors trying to figure out what’s most suitable for your needs.
Low productivity levels – if your environment operates with incorrect configurations, employees cannot perform at optimum levels and their output will be lower than it should be.
Fluctuations in usage and license churn – any discrepancies between your purchased licenses and actual use may cause irregular usage patterns which in turn negatively impacts cost management.
Wrap up
The various development teams at Microsoft appreciate the need to keep expanding the capabilities of the products and services they offer. As the modern work environment evolves, so too should the tools available to us. Companies need technologies that empower their employees, strengthen their security, and inspire business innovation.
Fortunately, the new features and capabilities that Microsoft Intune and Windows 365 are working on promise to deliver. Customers can plan excitedly for the future knowing that their platforms of choice will keep them ahead of the curve.
Setting up a virtual computing environment offers plenty of benefits for most organizations. But, businesses also need to understand the potential security issues involved and how best they can address them. Recently, Microsoft has been working on enhancing security measures for Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) clients. In addition to that, one of the key goals is to address the complexities that organizations often have to deal with regarding security policy management.
By doing so, Microsoft intends to provide clients with a robust suite of new security features. The new features will offer greater infrastructure protection.
Common security risks in virtual computing
Businesses are constantly dealing with various threats to their infrastructure and data breaches can be some of the most damaging. From huge financial losses to potential legal ramifications, data breaches pose serious threats to companies. Some organizations might even find it hard to bounce back from if left unprotected.
Another of the biggest challenges that businesses deal with on a daily basis is insider threat. What makes this such a tough issue to deal with is that it encompasses both negligent as well as malicious users. This kind of problem serves to highlight the importance of the new features Microsoft is launching. These latest features aim to strengthen identity and access management protocols.
Organizations can also get punished for a lack of due diligence. If one makes the mistake of engaging a virtual computing services provider without a full understanding of the security they have in place, it can end up being extremely costly.
Working with platforms, like Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365, gives you the advantage of integrated services into the Microsoft security ecosystem. Not only do you get excellent security but you also get compliance with the appropriate regulations.
Ensuring security by default
One of the key things that Microsoft is doing to counteract security threats is putting in place features that provide security by default. This can be achieved by embedding Microsoft-recommended security settings right at the beginning when creating Cloud PCs or virtual machines. Putting in place measures like these serves to make security an integral part of these virtual services. It also provides you with robust security straight out of the box
SIMPLICITY with Azure Virtual Desktop
Implementing security by default also simplifies things by reducing the need for manual configurations. This allows you to have more productive time. IT admins will have even less to worry about, thanks to one of Microsoft’s newer updates. This update works by restricting Port 3389 by default on all newly provisioned and reprovisioned Windows 365 Cloud PCs. This update goes a long way in getting virtual services to the goal of automated, built-in security.
FLEXIBILITY with Azure Virtual Desktop
Despite the need for default security, Microsoft still appreciates that there may be times when IT admins may need to override these settings. For instance, think of a situation where IT admins have to customize security for their virtualization deployment to accommodate different devices and varying work models.
In anticipation of such scenarios, Microsoft gives clients the flexibility to override these security settings when the need arises. Ultimately, the key is to offer businesses solutions that are easy to use but not at the cost of improved security. Thus, the new features will simplify securing identity, data, and access. They’ll do so while simultaneously giving organizations the choice, flexibility, and control necessary to maintain a robust security structure.
Secure identity
Considering the threat landscape that businesses have to deal with, it’s extremely important to have the right technologies and processes to safeguard access to resources. Comprehensive solutions are necessary to secure identities ensuring that the right individuals get the right access at the right time.
Not only that, but end-users expect a seamless user experience that makes things easier for them. Needless to say, it’s equally or maybe even more important to have processes that curb malicious access.
FACILITATING SECURE ACCESS
In keeping with the goal of improved identity security, Microsoft recently preview launched Passkey support in Microsoft Entra for macOS and iOS devices with single sign-on and password-less authentication.
With this update, users can expect the end-to-end user experience to become more streamlined. Coupled with improved phish-resistant password-less security for Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, this launch will undoubtedly give organizations stronger identity processes.
Given that many individuals view Passkeys as not only easier to use but more secure than passwords, this move by Microsoft is bound to be very welcome. As a method of authentication reliant on cryptographic techniques combined with biometrics such as fingerprints, Passkeys can be a significant upgrade over conventional password-based authentication.
RE-AUTHENTICATION
In addition, clients can also look forward to new features. These include faster re-authentication (public preview) that will leverage sign-in frequency in Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies. This is something that will give IT admins the necessary control to enforce secure, timely reauthentication based on their needs.
Users must re-authenticate only when needing to authenticate to a resource and also when a new access token is needed. Once a connection has been established, they won’t be prompted even if the connection lasts longer than the configured sign-in frequency.
Users also need to re-authenticate if a network disruption occurs that forces the session to be re-established after the configured sign-in frequency. Unfortunately, on unstable networks this probably means more frequent authentication requests.
Wrap up about Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop
The threat landscape is constantly evolving thus creating new risks that organizations have to be prepared to face. With malicious actors working nonstop to expose vulnerabilities, businesses cannot afford to be lax in their approaches to data security. This is why Microsoft is committed to ensuring that clients using the Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop platforms regularly receive new high-end security tools and updates. By doing so, organizations like yours can mitigate the risk of dangerous data breaches and financial losses with fortified security postures.
One of the major features that has driven the success of cloud computing is scalability. This particular feature is vital to businesses like yours. And it’s how businesses will be able to swiftly and efficiently scale their IT resources.
So, it’s not surprising that Microsoft’s Windows 365 environment supports this feature because of how easy it is to use. For starters, deploying Cloud PCs is going to be a relatively simple exercise. But, if your organization’s demands for computing resources such as storage and processing power change, then you’ll be able to address those demands with very little fuss. And with the growing interest in cloud computing, Windows 365 needs to be a top consideration as the service of choice.
What is Scalability?
So, what exactly is scalability with regard to cloud computing? Simply put, this refers to the ability to either increase or decrease your IT resources at your convenience. And it’s a valuable feature to have when your business needs require it.
Therefore, if your business is growing, you can swiftly make the necessary changes to your cloud computing environment. Gain additional resources such as storage, processing power, and bandwidth. And you can easily do this without the potentially huge financial outlay that may otherwise be required to upgrade your hardware or change your infrastructure. This will then translate t more cost-effective business operations. And it will boost your performance even further.
Whatever cloud services your business would like to use, scalability will be key in ensuring that you get the best possible experience. Fortunately, for clients of Windows 365, the system functions in a way that enables you to scale quickly so that businesses, regardless of size, can easily meet their computing needs.
Although we often think of scaling up for growing business, in some cases, you may find yourself needing to scale down. As a result, admins can also remove virtual desktops according to the needs of the business and not just increase the number.
Scalability Features of Windows 365
With Windows 365, Microsoft offers clients the next step in desktop virtualization technology. It gives organizations plenty of features that will help to optimize IT operations and increase productivity. Among these features include those that can help you to swiftly scale up or down according to your needs. In this section, we’re going to look at some of these scalability features.
FLEXIBLE PRICING
In addition to offering clients two versions of the service － Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise － Microsoft has a flexible pricing arrangement in place to meet different needs. You can find the lowest-end SKUs costing $20 a month and the highest-end at just over $150. The pricing model is meant to ensure that both small and large enterprises can find something to adequately meet their requirements without having to pay for more than they need.
For instance, regular frontline workers will not need anywhere near the same computing power as web developers, software engineers, etc. And the benefit of having this fixed monthly subscription is that it makes it easier to plan accordingly for your IT expenditures.
Furthermore, despite there being two different editions to cater to different types of organizations, the range of features that will be available to clients is pretty much the same. This helps to alleviate any concerns about potentially getting an inferior service to clients paying for the higher-end subscription plans.
So, even if your organization is relatively small at the moment, Windows 365 allows you to pay only for what you need, and then as you continue to grow, you can eventually scale up as needed without worrying about significant additional expenses.
SELF-SERVICE PORTAL
The availability of self-service is something that can help to streamline business processes and enhance overall client satisfaction. Relying on manual processes as well as depending on external support, can massively hinder the efficiency with which your business can operate.
This is why Windows 365 provides clients with a self-service portal whose aim is to ensure that it eliminates as many obstacles as possible. Therefore, by giving clients the control needed to perform certain actions, we can expect to see fewer disruptions and faster implementation of important changes.
With this control, admins can create, manage, and deploy virtual desktops very quickly and without any trouble. And this will also help to minimize IT friction because of the reduction in downtime as well as dependency on help desks.
Simply put, getting greater control allows your business to run more smoothly and without needing any additional IT resources. This is something that will also benefit you financially as you can expect a reduction in IT expenses.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
One thing that we should not forget is that virtual resources are similar to your regular traditional resources in that they are exhaustible. It’s important to remember that this ‘cloud’ that we so often talk about requires physical hardware on the other side. This means that when it comes to the allocation of resources, we should not abandon the principles that we have been using all along.
We’ve already discussed the flexible pricing that Windows 365 clients can leverage. But businesses can still have concerns about the cost of cloud computing resources. Hence the need for resource optimization to ensure that resources are being placed precisely where they are needed.
Microsoft wants Windows 365 to be as cost-efficient as possible for clients, which is why you can allocate resources in a way that maximizes usage and thus improves productivity. By directing resources such as memory, storage, and processing power to areas with the heaviest workload, you can enhance the efficiency of your business processes.
With the ideal resource allocation strategy in place, you can also reduce your cloud computing costs. And the best way to craft that strategy is to have a full understanding of how Windows 365 works, the workloads of various users, and the network your organization uses.
RAPID DEPLOYMENT
One of the things that can make businesses hesitate about implementing new technologies is the potential downtime. Whenever possible, businesses want to avoid spending several days or weeks deploying new software. Getting a new system set up as quickly as possible is the most ideal scenario. And Windows 365 is designed precisely for this purpose. One of the things that Microsoft constantly repeats about Windows 365 is its ease of use and deployment.
Even without bringing in additional IT resources, you can easily have a new Cloud PC within half an hour. As the age-old cliché goes, “time is money,” and so being able to set up new Cloud PCs this quickly only makes Windows 365 that much more attractive.
Therefore, whether it’s deploying new virtual desktops or scaling up your computing resources, Windows 365 can handle this in minutes, not hours or days. This means that when the need arises, businesses can make a swift response to changes in computing resource demands.
CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT
Decentralized systems can breed a lot of chaos that can negatively impact how efficiently your IT staff can work. If a problem arises and is dealt with in one department but keeps occurring in other departments, then your organization’s productivity will expectedly suffer.
Centralized management capabilities such as those you get with Windows 365 will not only improve performance but will help to potentially reduce operating costs while simultaneously enhancing overall security. Administrators can utilize a single console to monitor and manage all virtual desktops, thus making the job easier. By leveraging these benefits, your business can scale its computing resources quickly and without compromising on security or efficiency.
INTEGRATION WITH MICROSOFT AZURE
An undeniable part of the success of Windows 365 is the fact that it exists on Azure infrastructure. Because of this, it can take advantage of components of the already successful Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). This gives Windows 365 access to arguably the most secure platform you can get. Azure’s industry-leading security measures and identity management can provide Cloud PCs with more than adequate security.
Furthermore, businesses will benefit from exceptional computing resources, including virtual machines. There are also databases, computing power, and as much storage as companies need. And you get access to these vast resources. Moreover, as your business continues to grow, you’ll have the option to implement a secure upscale of your resources. The reason why all of this is achievable, with almost no difficulty whatsoever, is because of the tools and services. Essentially, you’ll be using the same arsenal of resources you usually use for the process.
Benefits of Windows 365 Scalability
As we’ve already discussed above, scalability plays a key role in how businesses can efficiently utilize their resources. The scalability features that Windows 365 avails to its clients come with several benefits:
REDUCED COSTS
Probably the biggest benefit your business stands to gain from the above-mentioned features is reduced IT expenditure. Because of how easy the scaling process is, you won’t need to bring in any additional IT personnel to do the job. Moreover, you also don’t need to make costly infrastructure changes or purchase additional hardware. All of this, combined with the flexible pricing plans and self-service portal, will help your business to reduce IT expenses. And this is something that will be particularly beneficial to smaller enterprises that could struggle with the costs of scaling their computing resources.
IMPROVED EFFICIENCY
Businesses know that occasionally unexpected opportunities will occur, and the ability to effect a swift response will be essential if they are to take advantage. The centralized management and rapid deployment features available with Windows 365 will give you just that. If you suddenly experience a significant increase in traffic, then you will need to respond with a quick and efficient scaling of your computing resources. And this should be done without compromising performance or quality of service. You can be certain that if you miss this opportunity, another business will be eagerly waiting to take advantage.
INCREASED FLEXIBILITY
Windows 365 is great for offering your employees increased flexibility in their working conditions. But this flexibility also extends to the entire organization. Setting up IT infrastructure is often a very costly endeavor for any business. So, having a service like Windows 365 helps businesses to purchase only what they need. And as the business grows, you won’t have to worry too much about scaling up or down, as necessary. This is because Windows 365 is flexible enough to do that quickly and cost-efficiently. Businesses, large or small, can easily adapt to a changing environment without the usual challenges that often accompany the task.
ENHANCED SECURITY
Remote work obviously comes with its fair share of security concerns. This is why a lot of businesses are apprehensive about migrating to the cloud. Windows 365, however, has a foundation built on Azure cloud infrastructure. And it offers excellent security. Organizations will know that users, regardless of where they are working, should be just as secure as those working on-premises. The security measures you put in place will significantly reduce the risk of malicious access to employees’ devices and your organization’s network. In addition, the centralized management capabilities simplify the management and monitoring of all virtual devices. This results in an ability to fortify your security posture even more.
Wrap up
Scalability should be a key priority for any business, regardless of sector. You need to have strategies in place to scale as needed without hindrance due to a lack of resources. As your business grows, new clients should be able to receive the same quality of service that has built your reputation thus far.
And this is why services like Windows 365 are offering businesses the kinds of capabilities that will adequately meet their needs at whatever stage of growth they may be. The ease with which you can scale allows your business to evolve efficiently and without incurring unnecessary costs. Windows 365 could just be the technology you need to help take your business to the next level.
Every year, Microsoft holds its Ignite conference, which is open to all partners, IT professionals, developers, and IT enthusiasts. At this Ignite 2024 event, attendees will be treated to keynotes, sessions, and hands-on events. These will be delivered by Microsoft experts as well as other industry leaders.
This year, at Ignite 2024, the key focus will be AI, the role that Microsoft is playing, and what people can expect in the short and long term. We have all probably had some experience with the impact of AI and machine learning processes on how we conduct our business.
So, considering all the cutting-edge innovations currently in development, you can expect Ignite 2024 to be an exciting and informative affair.
The impact of AI on business
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
The capabilities of AI have resulted in a positive impact being felt across different business sectors. With the transformative effect of AI, enterprises can significantly improve how they operate. As the age-old cliché goes, time is money.
By using AI, your organization can start to operate more efficiently by automating most of your time-consuming and repetitive tasks. The benefit is that employing a better and much faster process for dealing with these tasks. This will free employees up to focus on more productive tasks. Expectedly, this could give you an edge in today’s very competitive business landscape.
DATA ANALYSIS
There is no denying the importance of data in the success of any enterprise. But, with the availability of big data, organizations need reliable tools to quickly help them sift through that data and provide valuable insights. Due to the exceptional tools that AI provides, businesses can gather and swiftly analyze huge volumes of data in a very short time.
Consequently, this gives you valuable insights regarding client wants and needs. And when coupled with information about the general behavior of the market, you can immediately start implementing the necessary actions.
Moreover, AI can help minimize human error in the data analysis process while also picking up trends or anomalies that may have gone unnoticed.
IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES
As businesses increasingly look to AI and cloud-based solutions to improve efficiency and productivity levels, the need for robust security measures becomes more apparent. Every organization needs to be adequately prepared when dealing with the sophisticated attack methods that cybercriminals are using.
Fortunately, AI can also play a key role in your security strategy. Similarly to how it analyzes data for improving your business operations, it can detect patterns or anomalies that could weaken your security posture. By helping identify these issues, AI enables you to reinforce your security measures. It also ensures that sensitive data remains out of reach for unauthorized access.
CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
AI can be an extremely useful tool that your organization can utilize to improve the customer experience. The efficient analysis of large amounts of information can give you incredible data insights that are necessary for developing an ideal personalized customer experience.
A lot of companies and brands are already using AI customer service automation to create a more efficient 24/7 customer support system. Not only can services such as these provide excellent feedback, but they can help customers resolve simple issues much faster.
Furthermore, having information that allows you to personalize customer engagement will help employees deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction.
Ignite 2024 Conference
This year, the Ignite conference will not only be focusing on all the latest Microsoft innovations. It will also be taking a deep dive into the power of AI. Attendees can additionally expect to learn about how the power of AI can drive productivity across different industries.
From Microsoft personnel to leading industry experts, the event will offer plenty for participants to choose from with a schedule packed with plenty of sessions and hands-on training. All of this will be taking place at the McCormick Place Convention Center, conveniently located in Chicago, Illinois.
Apart from those leading the sessions, you can expect to meet experts from various tech sectors whose expertise could be invaluable to your organization. However, it’s not just the leading experts who will be around. You also get to meet tech enthusiasts with different levels of experience.
Networking among various groups of people can provide you with greater information about all the amazing innovations happening around the globe. In addition to these groups of people, expect to see business leaders and Microsoft partners who will have plenty to add to the experience.
Why should you attend?
When it comes to tech conferences, one may wonder why they should bother attending. After all, with countless blogs, podcasts, and various other tech platforms, you have plenty of choices regarding where and how you get your tech news and updates. Despite this, however, there are some very good reasons why you should consider attending events like Ignite 2024.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
Attending tech conferences can give you learning opportunities that other platforms cannot deliver. You get to interact with Microsoft experts, industry leaders, and other professionals. The wealth of information available from keynote speeches, hands-on workshops, and breakout sessions can be instrumental to professional development. Both the learning experience and the engagement with top experts will give you an edge that will not only benefit you but your company as a whole.
CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS
We can all appreciate the value that networking can bring to our lives. From expanding your career prospects to professional development, cultivating mutually beneficial connections can often be the key to success. We’ve all heard the expression, “It’s not what you know but who you know.”
Granted, this doesn’t always ring true. But there’s no denying the impact that well-developed networks can have on one’s career and business endeavors. By connecting with like-minded individuals, you get the opportunity to interact with others who may inspire your creativity. It’s here that you’ll find those who can expose you to cutting-edge innovations. Moreover, you can learn insights that only individuals with certain expertise can provide.
LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Another great thing about attending conferences like Ignite is that it takes you out of your comfort zone. Whatever you do and wherever you work, immersing yourself in an environment away from your typical daily routine can be a refreshing and motivational experience.
Take the time to learn about the latest AI and machine learning innovations. Also, commune with others and share ideas. See what other experts, professionals, and IT enthusiasts have to offer, and it might just inspire you to greater success. And if nothing else, enjoy the time off away from work and make the most of it!
Presence of sponsors
As already mentioned, in addition to Microsoft personnel, Ignite 2024 will have plenty to showcase from other industry experts. As the drive toward empowering companies with AI and machine learning technology gains momentum, plenty of tech businesses are pushing the boundaries with innovative solutions. Some of the sponsors you will be seeing at the event include:
Intel – a tech giant that is working on hardware and software solutions, designed to help enterprises benefit fully from AI. It should be exciting to see what products and services they are developing to enable organizations to support AI at scale.
AMD – one of the key things that AMD is doing is working on high-performance hardware and software products to leverage the full power of their AI solutions. Additionally, by tailoring the capabilities of their products and services to your unique needs, AMD contributes to more efficient operations.
Rubrik – with the threats that enterprises are constantly dealing with, solutions that can fortify your data security are necessary. Due to the capabilities of AI, Rubrik can do a lot to enhance your cybersecurity through swift threat detection and analysis, recovery, and resilience.
Kyndryl – businesses have much to gain with innovative solutions that speed up the development and implementation of AI-powered processes. Companies can learn how to simplify their operations while potentially scaling up productivity by leveraging generative AI at scale.
Dell Technologies – Dell is heavily invested in developing infrastructure that is optimized for AI. Businesses need to have products and services that are powered by AI and that can be deployed anywhere. Considering this, you can expect to learn about the work Dell is putting in to eliminate barriers and support companies with their AI strategies.
Fujitsu – Fujitsu is focused on providing companies with AI platforms and technologies uniquely tailored to their needs. The goal of this approach is to empower businesses to take advantage of the full power of AI technology and get the best ROI.
NVIDIA – NVIDIA plays a central role in the processing power of AI due to its GPUs, which are fundamental to AI computations. This allows us to benefit from more efficient AI processes. And this is crucial for the further development of AI and its applications across different industries.
Additional event information
The Ignite 2024 conference will be running from November 18-22, 2024. However, attendees should know that day one is an optional half-day. The conference will come to a close on the afternoon of the 22nd. For those attending online, the dates will be from November 19-21. And they also get live streams for keynotes and some sessions. Additionally, they will have access to the following features:
Session scheduler
Attendee and Featured Partner directory
Digital Favorites
On-demand access to keynotes and sessions
Digital swag, including wallpapers, Microsoft Teams backgrounds, and more.
DAY 1
In-person attendees who will be in Chicago for day one (November 18) with a Technical or Partner Business pass can take advantage of this opportunity to add a pre-day lab or workshop. Running officially from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT, this will be available for an additional fee of USD $325. As a participant in these interactive sessions, you can start preparing yourself for what’s to come in the days ahead.
PLUS PASS
If you’d like to have exclusive access to the Microsoft Ignite room block at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriott Marquise Chicago, then you’ll need a Plus Pass. This pass, previously known as a Premier or Convenience Pass, is available as an add-on to a full conference registration pass.
Those who are interested will need to move quickly, as this pass will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and only while rooms are still available. With the Plus Pass, you will have access to a dedicated check-in station on Level 3 of the West Building, from where you can pick up your name badge and official conference swag.
ACCOMMODATION
Reserving a hotel can be done during the registration process. In-person attendees will find that there are pre-arranged hotel room blocks at hotels offering exclusive rates to Microsoft Ignite 2024 registrants. However, only reservations made through the registration website will qualify for the event rate. This means that hotels won’t be able to book rooms at the event rate through their reservation offices.
Wrap up
Attending the Ignite 2024 conference promises to be quite an experience. One that everyone who wants to stay a step ahead of the latest in AI innovation should be excited about. Take advantage of the opportunity to commune with Microsoft experts, industry leaders, and multiple other professionals. And with an online platform available, even if you can’t make it to Chicago, you can still partake in plenty of events from wherever you may be.
Understandably, the world is bristling with excitement over the transformative effect of AI on industries across different sectors. We all want to see how these innovations will continue to impact our business operations. As such, the conference which we are now counting down to is one not to be missed.
For years now, many organizations have been looking at remote work situations to assess just how feasible this can be for their operations. Undoubtedly, businesses would want to know the cost implications of establishing such a setup. They’d also want to know the difficulties involved and how security issues are addressed, among other things.
This is why Windows 365 has garnered plenty of interest in recent years. With the Windows 365 Cloud PC, businesses can expect to get powerful virtual PCs that are easy to set up, cost-efficient to run, and highly secure. And when you bring a service such as Nerdio into the mix, you can offer clients an even better experience.
Explaining Windows 365
Let’s start by going over what exactly this product is. The Windows 365 Cloud PC is a virtualization service that Microsoft introduced to businesses a few years ago in 2021. The service’s design enables users to stream their Windows 10 or 11 desktop, its settings, any applications, and content from the Microsoft Cloud to any of their devices.
As a business, this means that your workers can experience the full Windows ecosystem whether someone is using a personal or corporate-owned device. Regardless of where they are working, Microsoft aims to take the cloud computing experience to a higher level.
Having an option like this opens up vast possibilities for businesses. Workers no longer need to be restricted to the physical confines of their office buildings and can work from anywhere. Some surveys show that as much as 73% of today’s workers want to have the option to work remotely. We can see why a lot of organizations show a growing interest in this service.
So, with essentially what is an Operating System-As-A-Service solution, Windows 365 offers virtual desktops that can be accessed in any modern web browser. And with a large number of available features, businesses can get the digital solutions necessary to bring about technological transformation.
Benefits of Windows 365
Windows 365 has plenty of great features that make it an attractive option for many businesses. Among some of them, organizations can expect:
IMPROVED FLEXIBILITY
As a virtual workstation with access from anywhere, the Windows 365 Cloud PC gives users increased flexibility regarding where they can work. With an internet connection and a modern work browser, you can access your Cloud PC wherever you are. Additionally, you have the freedom to use any device, be it your PC, Mac, iPad, Android device, etc.
This simplifies working outside the office even more. You don’t necessarily have to go out and purchase new devices that would enable you to access your Cloud PC. Moreover, if individuals get to use the devices that they are most comfortable with, this may potentially increase productivity for some.
GREAT SECURITY
With all the flexibility and remote access that Windows 365 offers, it is imperative that the security measures be of the highest standard. Fortunately, as data is stored on a Microsoft Cloud, clients enjoy guarantees that their data is extremely secure. And this can be further enhanced by using Zero Trust principles.
Features including strict authentication of all users and use of just-in-time and just-enough-access, among others, provides you with the kind of cyber security needed for the complexities of today’s modern environment and the hybrid workplace. Therefore, admins will have less to worry about regardless of whether people are in the office or working remotely.
COST-EFFECTIVE
Hardware costs can be prohibitive for businesses, especially for those that have just started operations. By using Windows 365, organizations can pour their finances into other critical areas because hardware expenditure is significantly reduced.
And since heavy computing is being carried out on the cloud, you won’t need to worry about having the latest, most powerful devices. This is something that benefits even the more established organizations as well.
Using Windows 365 can help to reduce the costs of regularly refreshing your hardware. As long as your devices meet the minimum requirements, you can use them just fine.
REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Data centers can be the cause of significant carbon emissions. As such, considering options like Windows 365 for virtual workstations can go a long way in reducing an organization’s carbon footprint. Especially when the Microsoft Cloud operates far more efficiently than traditional data centers.
Some have even stated that it may operate up to 93% more efficiently. And when you combine that with reduced hardware refresh cycles, your organization can potentially make huge strides toward achieving a green operation. Any organization attempting to achieve net-zero emissions may find using Windows 365 to be hugely beneficial towards achieving that goal.
ACCESSIBILITY
One of the best features of Windows 365 is that it’s not a service that targets only big businesses. From massive organizations to smaller ones with less than 300 users, most can find an option that can meet their unique needs.
Microsoft offers two core subscription models, Windows 365 Business for smaller enterprises and Windows 365 Enterprise for the larger ones. Arguably, the best thing about these options is that they share the same range of features. They also provide several Cloud PC configurations from which to choose.
What is Nerdio?
After going over what Windows 365 is and what it offers, one may naturally wonder what Nerdio is and why you would need it. By definition, Nerdio is a deployment, management, and optimization platform for Managed Service Providers (MSPs.) It’s a solution for those using Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365.
Its design helps users simplify the use of their virtual workstations by addressing challenges that clients may often encounter. For instance, people who have previously had issues with storage management in the native solutions will get the assistance they need with managing storage.
In addition to increasing user efficiency, one of the most attractive features of Nerdio for businesses is that it aims to help enterprises with native Microsoft Cloud technologies to run more cost-efficiently.
Tools like the Cost Estimator provide precise information that will help you plan accordingly for the technologies you intend to use. Therefore, not only will virtual desktop users be empowered, but organizations will have a tool that can minimize costs.
Prerequisites
Before your organization can deploy Nerdio Manager for Enterprise (NME), you will need to meet several requirements, including the following:
VNET AND SUBNET
You’ll first need to pre-create a VNET as well as a SUBNET. If your environment is Active Directory-joined, then you need to have connectivity to Active Directory or Microsoft Entra Domain Services domains. You should also verify that DNS and any peerings or WAN connections have been established and are working. Before you can deploy NME, you need to check the following:
AVD and Azure should have several necessary URLs and ports available.
Tasks in NME will require additional URLs, which must be accessible for the successful completion of the provisioning process.
DIRECTORY CREDENTIALS AND SERVICE ACCOUNT
To join host virtual machines to the domain, there will be directory credentials required. Additionally, you’ll need a service account with delegated privileges to join computers to the domain. You should note that a domain account could be suitable but is not necessarily required.
ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES
The administrator responsible for carrying out the NME deployment must have the necessary privileges for Microsoft Entra ID and the Azure subscription. Nerdio recommends the Global Admin and Owner privileges as the best option for simplifying the deployment process. Admins should be aware that NME is not assigned as Global Admin or Owner on the subscription.
Despite that, you still need these permissions to complete the setup. Furthermore, if you have access to another Global Admin user capable of granting consent to the required permissions for NME, the Global Admin privilege becomes unnecessary. However, subscription owner privileges still remain necessary.
FUNDED AZURE SUBSCRIPTION
This subscription is another requirement, and it must have the following resource providers:
Microsoft.DesktopVirtualization
Microsoft.Compute
Microsoft.Storage
Microsoft.Automation
Microsoft.RecoveryServices
Microsoft.SQL
Microsoft.Insights
Most of these resource providers should be automatically enabled by the deployment from the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. Not only that, but NME needs to validate if any resource providers are missing during the initial configuration.
Reasons to choose Nerdio
It’s also important to know that there is far more to Nerdio than just simplifying virtual desktop use or increasing cost efficiency. In this section, we’ll be going over why your organization needs to consider Nerdio as a potentially essential tool for your business operations. According to information provided by Nerdio, there is far more on offer than just cost-savings, and this includes:
AUTOMATION AND REPEATABILITY
Most businesses can appreciate how automation can significantly improve efficiency and minimize human error. This means that certain, often mundane, tasks can be carried out with a greater degree of consistency as well as accuracy.
By providing automation, Nerdio can help you optimize workflows and reduce time wastage. And with almost everything you can do within Nerdio automation, this places the service at least a notch above similar products.
It’s not rare to find management tasks within Windows 365 that some may find too complex or time-consuming. This is precisely why Nerdio would be the ideal solution for handling such issues. The ability to automate some of these repetitive tasks will not only save time but also contribute to cost efficiency.
Furthermore, IT teams will be glad for the help that Nerdio offers them as it reduces their burden by automating routine processes such as on-demand desktop provisioning, desktop (image) management, and software deployment.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
One of the unfortunate things that businesses need to prepare for is system outages. Whether it be due to software/hardware faults or some cyber security event, every organization needs to have a plan in place to handle disruptions. Without the capabilities to swiftly identify and rectify the problem, productivity will grind to a halt, and businesses can suffer massive financial losses.
Ideally, you would want to minimize downtime as much as possible to prevent prolonged customer dissatisfaction. Here is where Nerdio can come through for organizations with excellent tools:
Proactive Measure
Service
Automated regular critical data and system backups
Most people will appreciate the need for having secure data backups in case the unexpected ever happens. So, in the event of a cyber attack, or hardware failure, etc, you can quickly have your system restored. With Nerdio automating this process, you can expect swift, consistent backups with the risk of suffering data loss reduced to a minimum.
Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS)
This unique solution gives organizations a reliable backup in the event of a systems failure. Having your data and systems replicated to an alternative region safeguards against prolonged downtime in case of disaster. In some cases, your system may be back up in under 30 minutes.
Specified alternative VM sizes and types
Sometimes, organizations may encounter resource shortages in Azure regions. When facing such situations, Nerdio has the capabilities to help you resolve Azure compute capacity limits by providing fallback VM sizes. Therefore, even if your preferred VM size in the region is unavailable, you can still continue with operations such as host creation, auto-scale, auto-grow, and auto-heal.
MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLER
Nerdio offers clients a great solution to simplify management that comes in the form of three-click management. This service provides your Help Desk with a powerful and user-friendly portal that enables you to manage all aspects of Windows 365.
By using this feature, your organization can easily manage multiple features from one place, including RBAC with an end-user portal, performance and utilization monitoring, alerts and notifications, and MSIX AppAttach, among many others.
DYNAMIC SCALING
Most people can probably agree that manually handling the scaling up and down of resources during traffic spikes can be a burdensome task. This is why organizations with regularly fluctuating workloads can leverage dynamic scaling to minimize time wastage while optimizing resource usage. Nerdio monitors various aspects, such as CPU and RAM, that provide essential data that can be used to determine the actions that need to be implemented.
Additionally, to ensure an even better experience, this service extends to storage as well, and this includes attached disks, Azure files, and more. Ultimately, this service ensures that your business runs as efficiently as possible by helping to allocate resources accordingly. Whenever traffic spikes occur, those who require greater access to resources will get what they need when they need it.
UPDATES AND PATCHING
Keeping up with routine updates can be a hassle for a lot of people. Whether it’s for personal or corporate devices, sometimes people won’t implement the necessary actions to ensure that their devices maintain high levels of security and performance. Most of the time, the reason for this is simple – performing these processes manually can be labor-intensive and thus time-consuming.
Also, recognize the errors that one could easily make. With a lot of IT teams already burdened with a never-ending list of tasks, many virtual machines under their control may end up not getting necessary updates and patches, leaving them vulnerable.
More
Fortunately, Nerdio has a solution for this by offering automation for the update and patching process, thus lightening the load on IT departments. One of the ways you can take advantage of this is by setting up recurring schedules within Nerdio that will automatically install updates a pre-determined number of days after Patch Tuesday. Once this is set up, Nerdio will update your chosen image with the latest patches and the sys prepping process. All this while removing the complexities that the administrator may otherwise have to deal with.
After the update process is complete, you can choose a host pool to test the updates. By doing so, you can verify that all apps are working as they should and that you don’t have any driver or performance issues. Another thing that Nerdio will handle is backing up critical components and integrating them with the Azure Computer Gallery.
With a safety net in place, you can easily go back to your previous versions if the situation ever calls for it. This means that you get to roll out the updated image to your production host pools using the same automated mechanisms only after you’ve satisfactorily tested that everything works as you want it to.
PROOF OF BUSINESS VALUE
The process of establishing an entire AVD environment can potentially be such a massive task that few would envy taking on. Nerdio can help you make this task a lot more manageable by enabling you to provision multiple host pools and machines that can be availed to users within a couple of hours.
Similarly, when a client wants to start a Proof of Value, Nerdio uses this same mechanism. Leveraging the same mechanism helps to maximize efficiency for your organization. Moreover, this can also be combined with scaling profiles.
Nerdio enhances the Windows 365 experience
Nerdio already has a great setup with AVD, so it should come as no surprise that it can also offer services to improve the Windows 365 experience. Moreover, Nerdio Manager starts by providing additional management capabilities for users in addition to what they already get with the native Windows 365 service. Those familiar with the excellent image management options that Nerdio provides for AVD will be glad to know that this will be extended to Windows 365 as well. Not only that, but you’ll be getting it in a single management interface, side-by-side.
With everything being automated and scheduled according to your convenience, image-based software deployments, as well as updating and patching MEM-managed Windows 365 machines, should become much easier.
More
Those who may find themselves in need of a File Server or an Azure Files file share will benefit immensely from the auto-scaling, auto-provisioning, and fine-tuning that Nerdio Manager can deliver. However, this only applies to Enterprise Windows 365 because it has the same network flexibility as AVD. Some of the options you can look forward to are listed below:
Readying your environment with the necessary prerequisites for Windows 365.
Creation and management of on-prem network connections and provisioning policies.
Creation and management of desktop images, including backups and versioning.
Management of Active Directory profiles.
Assignment of licenses, groups, and users.
Cloud PC provisioning as well as re-provisioning.
Cloud PC machine restarting.
Leveraging a single interface to manage multiple environments.
Management of Cloud PC user settings.
Providing a comprehensive overview of all provisioned Cloud PCs and their status.
There is an audit of everything, and this can be viewed in detail.
But, before you can enable Windows 365, you need to know a few things. If you are going to successfully complete the process, the individual who wants to enable Windows 365 must be a global administrator. You also need to verify that an Intune license is available in the Entra ID tenant where Nerdio Manager is installed.
Furthermore, you should ensure that the Entra ID has the requisite approval on an application permission request consent page. If you are presented with an option to “grant consent on behalf of my organization“, you must approve.
Wrap up
Cloud computing has evolved to a point where it can offer businesses exceptional computing abilities that are difficult to ignore. By working with services such as Windows 365, organizations can take advantage of very powerful virtual workstations regardless of their choice of physical devices.
Users will have excellent accessibility with great security measures in place to ensure business networks are well protected. And if you want to enhance the experience even more, then partnering up with Nerdio can help you do just that. It provides you with tools that will make setting up and managing your virtual desktops a far simpler task. By doing so, you can lighten the burden for admins and potentially improve overall productivity.
When it comes to which tech products and services to use, businesses certainly have plenty of choices. There are so many players in the tech landscape that winning over new clients is often a huge challenge. With this in mind, tech companies need to go above and beyond to retain the customers they already have. For Microsoft, this means ensuring its Windows 365 and Intune offerings continuously update and offer new features.
Doing this helps these services continue to deliver the exceptional quality that customers expect. But more importantly, these services want to enhance the experience even more so that they remain the best in class. With that said, what can we expect from these products in the near future?
What’s coming to Microsoft Intune?
Intune is one of the leading endpoint management platforms available. It is constantly pushing the boundaries of what it can offer to customers. Especially now, with the growing interest in hybrid and remote workforces.
Microsoft Intune is helping companies better manage access to organizational resources. It’s also simplifying app and device management across various devices. With this in mind, new features are consistently in development to improve management. And some of those upcoming features to be excited about include:
Microsoft Intune: On-Demand remediations – single device
We should expect the rollout for this one to begin in December 2024. Remediations are excellent tools that help you address problems a lot faster. These script packages will detect and resolve common support issues on a user’s device. And they’ll do so before they even realize there’s a problem. By running remediations on-demand on a single device, you can immediately start resolving issues. Find resolution without waiting for the predetermined remediation schedule.
Microsoft Intune: Enrollment time grouping for iOS/iPadOS automated device enrollment
Enrollment time grouping (ETG) for iOS/iPadOS automated device enrollment (ADE) is another feature. It will support targeted apps and policies in reaching devices faster. This helps minimize delays, common with device setup.
However, it’s only going to be part of the new iOS/iPadOS enrollment policies. For devices to be part of that group upon enrollment, admins need to add a static Entra ID group into the enrollment policy. This will also reduce the latency of targeted apps and policies. The rollout is on the schedule for October 2024.
Microsoft Intune: Scoped and targeted device clean-up rule
The preview will be available in November 2024, with the rollout starting the following month. With this rollout, admins will be able to clean up inactive devices from their tenant by providing capabilities of running these rules at a platform level. I’m sure we can all attest to the need for a clean environment.
Microsoft Intune: Security Baselines for HoloLens 2
To get the best level of security for your organizational resources, it is advisable to use the security baselines that Microsoft considers the best practice guidelines. This should enhance your security and improve the experience in deploying and supporting HoloLens 2 devices to customers in various industries. The rollout will be coming in October 2024.
Microsoft Intune: SCEP certificate delivery
With the rollout scheduled to begin in October 2024, Microsoft Intune is offering this solution to its customers as well as other external partners. This feature’s design can deliver SCEP certificates with all the necessary security requirements to devices to mitigate the KFC issue.
Microsoft Intune: Enhanced device inventory for Windows devices
Few things can increase work efficiency the way that easily having access to all the information you need when you need it can. This is what businesses will get when this service rolls out in October 2024. And it will enable them to obtain more inventory information about their Windows devices. You get to specify which device properties you need to collect as well as from which devices. With this done, you can view that information for your devices.
Microsoft Intune: Simplified App Control policy creation experience (curated workflow)
In keeping in line with the need to increase efficiency, this solution’s upcoming October 2024 update rollout will do a lot to make life easier for IT admins. This capability will help you configure App Control policies with built-in toggles in the console that expose all App Control for Business capabilities.
Microsoft Intune: Work-hour access controls for Front-Line Workers
This solution can contribute significantly to simplifying workforce management as well as enhancing your overall security posture. Coming in October 2024, this feature will help IT admins with work-hour access controls for front-line workers. Once workers have clocked out, admins can swiftly put in place measures to prevent Teams access or notifications.
Microsoft Intune: Endpoint Privilege Management on single session Azure Virtual Desktop
Anything that can simplify user management will be a welcome addition to the tools that IT admins already have. With this in mind, admins will be happy, as it enables them to use Privilege Management elevation rules and policies to simplify how they manage standard users on Azure Virtual Desktop. The rollout for this one is on the schedule for September 2024.
Microsoft Intune: Endpoint Privilege Management rules support specifying allowable command arguments
Similar to the previous solution, this one is also coming to market in September 2024. This will give admins Endpoint Privilege Management rules support that can specify a list of allowable command parameters. Consequently, this will restrict elevation to only the allowed or mandatory arguments.
Microsoft Intune: New design for Windows Company Portal app
This new and updated design should give users a platform that is easier to use and streamline workflow. You should expect to see changes in the Home, Devices, and Downloads & updates pages. These intend to enhance the overall user experience. Additionally, this updated design will be very simple to understand and thus use. It will clearly highlight any areas that require action from the user.
Windows 365 features in development
For Windows 365, Microsoft has provided us with information about the exciting new features that are currently in development but not yet released. These should help improve the security posture of organizations and enhance the end-user experience. We haven’t found any release dates as of yet. It would be useful for planning purposes to look at what we could soon see coming to our Cloud PCs.
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
Features
What to expect
Support for symmetric NAT with RDP Shortpath
The goal is to develop an RDP Short path in Windows 365 such that it can support setting up an indirect UDP connection using Traversal Using Relays around NAT (TURN) for symmetric NAT. Most are probably aware that TURN is a widely accepted standard for device-to-device networking for low latency, high-throughput data transmission.
Chroma subsampling default change to 4:2:0
Both Intune and Windows 365 want to help enterprises operate more efficiently. And in this case, that can be achieved by reducing monitor support issues. The Windows 365 service will be able to do so by defaulting the chroma subsampling at 4:2:0 (instead of the previous 4:4:4).
Cloud PC gallery images update to Microsoft Teams 2.1
Another feature that we should expect to see in the future is Windows 365 Cloud PC gallery images with Microsoft 365 applications being updated to use Microsoft Teams 2.1. These images will include: Windows 11 Enterprise + Microsoft 365 Apps 21H2Windows 10 Enterprise + Microsoft 365 Apps 22H2Windows 10 Enterprise + Microsoft 365 Apps 21H2
Windows 365 support for HEVC video coding
Windows 365 is also working on providing support for Hardware High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) h.265 4:2:0 on compatible GPU-enabled Cloud PCs.
Azure network connections inactive state
In the future, some Azure network connections will start getting marked as inactive under some conditions. These conditions are as follows: ANCs not associated with provisioning policies for more than four weeks, ANCs with provisioning policies that have no Cloud PCs associated with them for more than four weeks. IT administrators need to be aware that inactive ANCs will be skipped during health checks and cannot be assigned to provisioning policies. However, if need be, you can reactivate these ANCs.
DEVICE SECURITY
Features
What to expect
Cloud PC support for FIDO devices and passkeys on macOS and iOS
Many consider Fast Identity Online (FIDO) to be the future of authentication measures. These protocols allow you to swiftly and securely authenticate to various services without the need for a password. Because of the ease of deployment, convenience, and extremely high security, it’s no surprise that FIDO is now widely supported and used. Therefore, macOS and iOS users will be glad to know that Windows 365 is working on enabling Cloud PCs to support FIDO devices and passkeys for Microsoft Entra ID sign-in on their devices.
MONITOR AND TROUBLESHOOT
Features
What to expect
End user manual connectivity check
I’m sure we’ve all experienced the frustrations that always come with faulty connections. All one wants in that instance is to quickly figure out what’s wrong and resolve it. Currently, connectivity health checks are run on individual Cloud PCs, but in the future, end-users will have the tools to manually run connectivity checks on their Cloud PCs from windows365.microsoft.com.
Update to Cloud PC action status report
The Cloud PC action status report officially allows you to view the actions that admins have taken as well as on which Cloud PCs these actions have been taken. In addition, you get to see the status of these actions. To access this report, you need to sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center. Once there, select Devices > Monitor > Cloud PC actions (preview). With the update that is soon to come to the Cloud PC action status report, you will be able to view batches of devices in which actions have been activated. Furthermore, customers will be able to see the batch current progress.
PROVISIONING
Features
What to expect
New health check: UDP TURN (preview)
The Azure network connection (ANC) health checks are one of the more unique features that Windows 365 provides. These health checks, which are run regularly, help to ensure that the provisioning of Cloud PCs is successful in addition to verifying that end-users are getting the best possible Cloud PC experience. The update that Windows 365 has mentioned, will see a new UDP TURN being added to the Azure Network Connections health checks.
SECURITY
Features
What to expect
New settings for Windows 365 security baselines
In the near future, customers should expect to receive new configuration settings for the Windows 365 security baseline. These Windows 365 security baselines provide customers with a set of policy templates that are founded on security best practices and experience from real-life situations. By using these baselines, customers can obtain security recommendations that will improve their cyber security and reduce the risks facing their networks. With these security baselines, security configurations for Windows 11, Windows 10, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint will be enabled. Before fully implementing any Configuration changes, however, it’s always safer to first test the security baseline on a pilot group of Cloud PCs.
Wrap up
Getting updates and new features is always an important part of keeping our apps and devices performing at optimum levels. Technology is constantly evolving. And without regular updates, the user experience can suffer negative impacts within a short space of time. Devices can slow down, apps can develop issues that hinder productivity, and security can become compromised.
This is why Microsoft works hard to stay ahead of the issues with a stream of new features and services frequently released to Microsoft Intune and Windows 365. These upgrades guarantee end-users that they will continue to receive industry-leading quality of service, enabling their user experience to improve even further.
The impact that AI is having on businesses has been growing steadily for several years now. With its integration into key software and applications that many companies use, AI can offer many advantages. These include automation of certain processes, minimizing human error, greater operational efficiency, and more.
Hence, it’s not a surprise that this year’s Microsoft Ignite will be placing its focus on the power of AI. There will be much for attendees to learn that will enable them to modernize their businesses and optimize productivity. For those still considering attending, there are plenty of reasons to convince you to make the trip.
What is Microsoft Ignite?
Before we get into what you can look forward to at Microsoft Ignite 2024, let’s go over what exactly Microsoft Ignite is. Simply put, it is an annual conference hosted by Microsoft that targets developers, IT professionals, and partners. Attendees of these annual events will learn plenty about the latest Microsoft innovations. There are countless exciting sessions as well as hands-on events.
However, the conference is not just about Microsoft’s latest technologies. Attendees also get the opportunity to network and collaborate with other professionals.
This means that in addition to picking up new skills and techniques, you get to expand both your professional and social networks. And those planning on attending this year will be heading to the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event is scheduled to run from November 18 – 22, 2024.
Microsoft Ignite 2024
This year’s event certainly appears to be one that will be well worth attending. With a key focus on taking full advantage of the power of AI and the Microsoft Cloud, there should be plenty to learn that will benefit businesses.
Unlike before, the technology that we now have available can provide people in just about any industry with the expertise they need whenever they need it. Microsoft wants to enable clients to fully appreciate what they have available to them. The Microsoft team also wants to make sure everyone gets the best out of it.
At the Microsoft Ignite 2024 conference, you can expect to learn about solutions that can modernize your organization and manage your own apps.
In addition, these solutions will improve business and data security, optimize productivity, and help expand key networks that your organization depends on to thrive. Going through this learning experience can massively impact how businesses enhance their work operations.
Trying to keep up with all the technological innovation can be a massive task when you consider everything else you need to get done.
So, taking a few days to attend a conference will help. It’s where you can tailor your experience to learn what’s most important to you and can be a great way to sift through the huge amounts of information we constantly deal with.
Things To Look Forward To
Kicking off the conference, attendees can expect inspiring and informative keynote sessions. These are delivered by Microsoft executives as well as other special guests. These sessions are eye-opening in covering all that’s going on in the tech space and all the innovations that people can look forward to. In addition to keeping up with what’s going on through various tech platforms, the keynote sessions can help to provide an even more comprehensive overview of benefits.
Expectedly, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will take the lead. On opening the event, he will be sharing what we should expect from Microsoft both in the short and long term. Expect to hear about groundbreaking work that is taking place to optimize the use of AI. There will be insights into all brilliant technologies that are on the horizon, set to bring about great change in business as well as personal lives.
TECH-RICH CONTENT
Anyone who previously attended Ignite will confirm. There is so much to learn from the sessions that Microsoft has planned for the conference. All the developers and IT professionals can find something that they will enjoy partaking in, and that draws their interest.
To further enrich the experience, attendees will get more than just experts in certain areas appearing on a podium to give a presentation. You get to participate in hands-on sessions as well as immersive workshops that offer an in-depth look at technological development across various areas of interest.
ADVANCED AI AND MACHINE LEARNING
Advanced AI and machine learning have the potential to bring about huge positive changes for enterprises. By leveraging the emerging power of AI, organizations can benefit from the automation of cumbersome manual processes dealing with data and decision-making processes.
Integrating AI and machine learning into an organization’s processes can create a far more efficient system that utilizes data-driven insights. As most will be aware, this is the era of big data. And we need technologies that help to analyze that data, allowing us to take swift action when required.
Part of the key focus of Microsoft Ignite 2024 will be to thoroughly examine cutting-edge techniques. Moreover, there will be a focus on the potential for positive transformation in various areas of industry. Because of the learning capabilities of machine learning models, predictions and decision-making processes are always improving.
By extension, this means that we should also expect business environments to change in a way that can improve operational efficiency. One of the main areas of interest is the raft of machine learning services that Azure is bringing to the table. The applications of these services can enable better data analysis, improved decision-making, and increased productivity.
THE LATEST AZURE INNOVATIONS
Microsoft Azure is one of those platforms where so much innovation is happening that it would not be difficult to miss some things. So, when you look at it from that perspective, you can appreciate the value of attending the conference.
There will be much to learn regarding areas such as making the most of on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments to give your organization countless advantages. The additional skills you can pick up can enable you to simplify business operations and implement measures that can increase productivity.
FORTIFYING BUSINESS NETWORKS
All of us are aware of the security risks that all businesses have to deal with as the sophistication of cyberattacks continues to grow. No organization can afford to be relaxed when it comes to security protocols. Without adequate security measures in place, you simplify the task of nefarious actors out there who are looking to compromise your networks. And if they manage to achieve that, the cost to your organization may potentially leave your business crippled.
At Ignite 2024, attendees will get the opportunity to learn about the best available cybersecurity measures. Enterprises need to start using enhanced defense mechanisms and zero-trust principles to strengthen their data security. Putting in place such measures while also leaning on the invaluable insights you constantly receive will enable you to not just defend yourself but be proactive in how you go about it. Microsoft can provide you with just the right tools to ensure that your IT professionals have all they need to safeguard their networks.
EXPANDING YOUR NETWORKS
Regardless of which industry you work in, networking can be a key part of implementing successful strategies. Meeting the right people can enable you to develop mutually beneficial relationships that could ultimately take your business to entirely new levels. For IT professionals, developers, and even IT enthusiasts, events such as Ignite 2024 can put you in contact with countless like-minded individuals whose expertise you can tap into. You will meet people from not only the U.S. but other countries as well.
The great thing about networking is that it’s far more than just taking from others. But your skills and expertise may be of great value to other professionals. You never know how raising your profile in this manner may help you in the future. Such a network may give you access to unparalleled expertise that could bode well for some of your current and future projects.
Not to mention the opportunities that may be available to you simply because someone put your name forward in a meeting. And if nothing else, meeting new people may enrich your social life and allow you to enjoy the conference beyond the learning sessions.
LINK UP WITH THE EXPERTS
Attending workshops and hands-on sessions is one thing, but another thing that attendees will appreciate is the opportunity to meet some of the experts. This can be hugely beneficial in helping you get a more comprehensive understanding of the material that may have been discussed in a workshop. I’m sure we’ve all probably been in a situation where we still had a ton of questions after a workshop, but there just wasn’t enough time to address them all.
Fortunately, at the conference, Microsoft addresses that with an “Ask the Experts” zone. This will give attendees the chance to further interact with Microsoft engineers as well as other experts. By creating such an opportunity, attendees will be given any further information they need, and may potentially help them add a few more valuable IT professionals to their networks.
Online attendance
Now, at this point, you may be thinking to yourself that if you can’t make it to Chicago, then the Ignite conference is not for you. However, you would be wrong. Microsoft appreciates that there are plenty of folks in the U.S. and across the globe who would love to attend the event but can’t make it for one reason or another. To ensure that all guests and anyone who wants to participate in Ignite 2024 can do so, Microsoft is offering interested parties the option to attend the conference online.
Undoubtedly, this is wonderful news for anyone who cannot physically travel to Chicago. You can attend the conference comfortably from wherever you may be. The best part of this is that you can get involved at no cost. So, prepare yourself to learn plenty from keynotes and breakout sessions and even participate in live discussions. All those connecting online can join in:
Live-stream keynotes
Live-stream breakout sessions
Live hybrid discussion sessions
Digital swag
Microsoft Cloud Skills Challenge
In addition to what you get with the online experience, you can access features such as attendee and featured partner directory, attendee networking, session scheduler, on-demand access to keynotes, breakouts, and discussion sessions.
Enjoy the city
Apart from attending the conference, you can also take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the city. Chicago, being a place that is rich in culture and has countless activities that you can partake in, can be a great place to relax and refresh while away from the office. You can take the popular Chicago Architecture River Cruise as a great way to explore the incredible architecture of this city.
And once you are done marveling at the city’s architecture, you can move on to a walking and food tour that will take you to must-see landmarks while also enjoying the culinary skills at various eateries. Once your day’s activities are done, you can continue your good time by checking out the vibrant after-hours scene. Whether you are looking for live music, shows to attend, or just a nice restaurant, there’s bound to be something for you.
Wrap up
Development in the AI and machine learning space is coming on in leaps and bounds. There is plenty of innovation going on all around us, and Microsoft is right in the middle of it. We are seeing better solutions for the analysis of big data, improvement of decision-making, and productivity tools.
At the Ignite 2024 conference, there will be sessions on all this from Microsoft personnel and other experts. Regardless of which industry you work in, this event will have plenty on the schedule that can impact you. So, whether you are traveling to Chicago or attending online, this event is one that you should not miss.
As technology continues to evolve, businesses like yours are constantly looking for solutions that can give them that little bit extra. What may appear to be small innovations will eventually add up to give you significant advantages over other organizations.
One area where businesses stand to gain massively concerns cloud-based management solutions. The potential benefits of using solutions like Microsoft Intune include getting access to excellent features, enhanced security, and improved endpoint management among others.
IT admins will get to work better because they have the flexibility to oversee users and their various devices, even if they are personally owned. Considering all there is to gain, we need to take a look at why and how your organization should be migrating to the cloud.
Why Microsoft Intune?
If your organization has a well-run IT infrastructure, why should you even consider Microsoft Intune? What do you stand to gain? The most obvious answer would be that if your organization wants the best in endpoint management, then you would be hard-pressed to find a better solution than Intune.
Over time, Intune has firmly established itself as a leading device management solution that will offer you seamless application integration for all your various devices. It gives your IT admins the capability to ensure that all the devices and apps that employees are using are fully compliant with your organization’s security requirements.
Mobile devices have evolved to the point where they are now very much capable of performing most and in some cases all of the functions needed to do our jobs. This has inevitably created the need for the mobile device management features that Intune can offer. IT admins can monitor these devices and thus enforce organizational security policies.
This gives businesses the flexibility to empower their employees to use their respective mobile devices for work-related purposes without compromising the security of their networks. Such policies can potentially increase productivity by enabling employees to use the devices of their choice as well as work remotely.
It would be hard to advocate for Microsoft Intune without mentioning the issue of cost-effectiveness. We can go on and on about all the benefits that Intune can offer, but cost can ultimately decide for you.
Fortunately, choosing Intune is a decision that could help you reduce IT costs. Switching to a cloud-native management system will mean your business spends less on physical hardware as well as on-premises IT management systems.
This reduction in physical infrastructure will allow your organization to reallocate resources elsewhere and therefore operate with even greater efficiency.
Preparing for the future
Considering the changes we have witnessed in the tech landscape in just the last fifteen years alone, we should always be looking to future innovations. Organizations need to be in a position to take full advantage as each next big innovation rolls out.
To do that, going cloud-native would offer you the best approach. By fully transitioning to the cloud, you can put your organization in a position to fully benefit from better insights, AI analytics, as well as the multitude of other capabilities that AI can deliver.
Furthermore, using a cloud-native approach can help you centralize data which in turn will make it easier for AI to manage this data and produce actionable insights. This may help organizations enhance their security by getting a better grasp of potential future threats.
Considering new possibilities
Getting someone to change the way they do things can often be an incredibly difficult challenge. And this applies to both personal and professional life. Regardless of the benefits to gain from migrating to the cloud, it may be difficult to inspire change. If an IT team has put in the effort to create a well-designed and efficient IT infrastructure, it’s going to be hard to convince them to consider alternative solutions.
At this point, businesses will need to evangelize users who can truly highlight the beauty of the changing tech landscape and encourage their IT teams to expand their visions.
It’s going to take more than a simple presentation to convince people that they are potentially missing out on some significant innovations. Rather than simply forcing change on people, proving to them how they stand to benefit from the changes a solution like Microsoft Intune can bring, may work a lot better.
As individuals grow more familiar with the amazing endpoint management capabilities that Intune can offer, you may start to see a greater willingness to change their mindset.
Of great importance, however, is to exercise patience and not expect to see an immediate change in how people approach things. Let them experience for themselves the value that going cloud-native will give them.
Implementing changes
Once you get the ball rolling concerning changing the mindset, it’s important to start looking at how exactly you can start making the necessary changes. Even as more and more recognize the benefits of making the transition, the pathway to achieving that may still cause some trepidation.
Fortunately, the feedback that Intune receives from its clients will go a long way in helping others move forward. IT professionals need to realize that the dependable key information flow processes they use will remain intact.
According to those who have successfully migrated, one of the best ways to smoothen the transition is by establishing small pilot programs and then rolling out changes incrementally. With that done, you can place at the forefront of the project individuals who have fully bought in and are willing to help bring others to a similar vision.
Doing it this way enables you to minimize any negative outcomes while simultaneously maximizing the effect that the small wins give your organization. As long as your advocates continue to communicate clearly every step of the way, you should have a much easier time implementing changes.
Working together
An important reason why Microsoft Intune has taken its capabilities to another level over the last decade can probably tie to the constant back and forth with clients. The team at Intune embarked on a process of trying to simplify things for users. They did so after discovering the challenges presented by the power and flexibility of Intune.
The various options and configurations available may be difficult for clients to master and what they often want are simple instructions telling them exactly what they need to do.
To address the concerns that clients have raised, the support team has offered what they are calling a one-size-fits-most guidance. This system provides organizations with the necessary tools to configure the basic settings required to make endpoints more secure and productive with Intune.
Clients will also be happy to discover that the Microsoft Intune documentation hub has been streamlined. There is a focus on highlighting the guidance system thereby further simplifying the implementation process.
Additionally, even more support is available from the Intune Tech Community. This team consists of fellow IT admins and support professionals.
Integration with other services
Microsoft offers its clients a wide array of products and services that enable organizations to provide their employees with the best possible tools. Having such an ecosystem means that end-users can produce to the best of their abilities with everything they need availed to them. Microsoft Intune plays a key role in this through its integration with other products and services that aim to help in endpoint management such as:
Configuration manager
This platform is ideal for on-premises end-point management and Windows Server. It’s a service that will help you increase the productivity and efficiency of your IT teams, maximize both software and hardware investments, and empower your end-users by ensuring they get what they need when they need it.
Configuration Manager offers you a powerful management application that will help you better manage every device in your organization. Using both Intune and Configuration Manager together can be a great way for those who are still hesitant about going fully cloud-native to gradually make the transition at their own pace.
Windows autopilot
Windows Autopilot gives you a service developed to eliminate the provisioning challenges that have plagued organizations in the past. With Autopilot, you can provision new devices and send them directly to users from an OEM or device provider.
Thus, what you will get is a greatly simplified deployment and provisioning process that can deliver a custom out-of-the-box experience with an easy self-service configuration process. Not to mention how features like zero-touch, self-service deployments can make life easier for IT admins.
Endpoint analytics
Endpoint Analytics delivers valuable insights that enable your business to assess how it is operating as well as evaluate the quality of the experience that users are getting. By going over this data, your organization can quickly identify policies or hardware issues that are negatively impacting end-users. Doing this allows you to be proactive in dealing with problem areas and thus maintain consistent productivity levels.
Additionally, this service will give your organization better visibility concerning frequently encountered problems such as long boot times. Often, these issues tend to persist unnecessarily simply because IT doesn’t have the necessary insights.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is undoubtedly one of the best cloud-powered productivity platforms that you can get. Signing up for this service will give you excellent end-user productivity Office apps such as Outlook, Teams, Sharepoint, OneDrive, and more. And one of its most attractive features is that you can use it anywhere.
You can easily install it on PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones. You can easily use Microsoft Intune to deploy Microsoft 365 apps to the users and devices in your organization. Furthermore, the continuous support that you get means that you will always have the most up-to-date modern productivity tools that Microsoft offers.
Microsoft defender for Endpoint
All of the services we have gone over in this section will require excellent security features and that is what Defender for Endpoint offers. It gives your organization the capabilities to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to threats. By going through Intune, you get the option of creating a service-to-service connection between Intune and Defender for Endpoint. Each organization can customize the compliance policies it uses to ensure that it establishes what it considers to be an appropriate level of risk. And when you combine this with Conditional Access features, you can prevent access to organizational resources by any devices that fall short of your compliance regulations.
Expanding the vision
As we’ve already discussed, there are plenty of benefits that you can gain from using Microsoft Intune. But, what’s even better is that within the Microsoft ecosystem, there is so much that your organization can take advantage of. And one of the solutions that has been growing in popularity over the last few years is the Windows 365 Cloud PC.
Clients will be able to leverage the Microsoft Intune admin center to use their Cloud PCs. The latter provides the opportunity to stream Windows 10 or Windows 11 onto almost any device, thereby offering users the ability to take their desktops anywhere.
In a world where the attraction of remote work is constantly growing, having the option of the Windows 365 Cloud PC can be key to bringing in top talent to your organization. Following the pandemic a few years ago, once business operations started to normalize, there were plenty of people who realized that they would actually prefer having the option to work part-time or even full-time from home.
For organizations that have decided that this is something they can do, leveraging Microsoft Intune to go cloud-native would offer arguably the best way to do it. From there, you can tap into the Cloud PC environment and offer your employees powerful, secure desktops they can use from anywhere.
What does the Cloud PC do for your organization?
We’ve talked a bit about Intune and why your organization should consider going for a cloud-native approach. But, what about the Windows 365 Cloud PC? In addition to what you get with Intune, the Cloud PC offers plenty of benefits that will enhance work solutions in the cloud.
One that most businesses will appreciate is the flexibility that is provided allowing organizations to select a plan that is most ideal for them. Not only that, but you are not permanently stuck with the option that you pick. Depending on the needs of end-users, you’ll be able to scale your operations up or down as you see fit.
ENHANCED SECURITY
Whenever the issue of remote work comes up, security is going to be a massive concern for businesses. This is why the Windows 365 team has gone to great lengths to ensure maximum data protection for end-users and their organizations.
The Cloud PC takes full advantage of Zero Trust principles to assure clients that their data will have very high-level security. To further strengthen the security of the platform, clients are recommended Conditional Access as well as Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication.
FEW TO NO COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
Another concern that clients would understandably have has to do with integrating specific applications with the Cloud PC. For IT admins in particular, losing control over how they manage devices is a real concern. Fortunately, when it comes to Windows 365, compatibility with your existing applications should not be a problem.
It’s because the Cloud PC’s design supports any apps you may have been using on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, should work on Windows 365 as well. And in case you encounter any challenges, you will be able to get assistance via the Fast Track App Assure program.
EASE-OF-USE
If you’re trying to convince people about a new service, your job will be significantly harder if the platform is complex and therefore difficult to navigate. With the Windows 365 Cloud PC, however, the platform aims to ensure simplicity. Even from the initial setting up, organizations won’t need to bring in specialist IT personnel to configure their Cloud PCs.
And once that’s done, IT admins can continue to manage and deploy endpoints similarly to how they’ve been doing all along. End-users as well won’t face any huge challenges because they will continue using the same applications.
Enrolling devices in Microsoft Intune
Having looked at what Intune can offer your organization, the next step is to go over what you need to know about enrolling devices. Together with Microsoft Entra ID, Intune will facilitate a secure, streamlined process for the registration and enrolment of all devices that require access to your organization’s resources. You can start using Intune for endpoint management once users and devices have been registered within your Microsoft Entra ID (tenant).
During the enrolment process, Intune will install a Mobile Device Management (MDM) certificate on the enrolling device. It’s this certificate that will handle communication with the Intune service and thus enable Intune to begin enforcing organizational policies such as:
Compliance policies designed to help users and devices meet the organization’s rules.
Enrollment policies that determine the number or types of devices someone can enroll.
Configuration profiles that configure work-appropriate features and settings on the devices.
Policy details
Generally, you should expect policies to deploy during the enrolment process. However, certain groups that may have more sensitive roles within the organization will often require stricter policies.
So, what a lot of organizations will first do is create a baseline of required policies for users and devices. Once you’ve established this baseline, you can start building on it depending on the use cases as well as the needs of various groups.
Devices running Android, iOS/iPadOS, Linux, MacOS, and Windows will all be eligible for enrolment in Intune as long they are running a supported version of the OS. By default, you’ll find that enrolment is enabled for all platforms.
But, if the need arises, you can use an Intune enrolment restriction policy to restrict certain platforms. Microsoft Intune enables mobile device management for both personal devices and corporate-owned devices.
Personal devices
In this category, the devices being referred to are personally owned PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. In bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scenarios, these personal devices can be MDM enrolled in Intune. Because of the supported enrollment methods, employees or students can use personal devices for work or school tasks.
IT admins will need to add device users in the Microsoft Intune admin center, configure their enrollment experience, and then set up Intune policies. Once that’s done, the device user needs to navigate to the Intune Company Portal app to start and complete the enrolment.
Corporate-owned devices
This category includes the same type of devices – PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. Except in this case, these devices are owned by the organization and then given out to employees or students for use at work or school.
For these types of devices, Intune offers organizations more granular settings and policies. You should expect to find more password settings for corporate-owned devices thus enabling you to enforce stricter password requirements. Devices that meet specific criteria will be automatically marked by Intune as corporate-owned.
Wrap up
At this point, we have all witnessed the increase in cloud usage by companies of all sizes. The various platforms available have been able to offer businesses an increasing array of capabilities that are constantly improving.
Solutions like Microsoft Intune can now provide powerful endpoint management systems that allow organizations exceptional flexibility and scalability. These capabilities will allow businesses to operate their IT infrastructure more efficiently and provide end-users with the tools to thrive.
To cater to different businesses and where they may be on their journey, Intune gives you pathways that you can take as you migrate to the cloud. You can choose what works for you from co-management until you get to full cloud-native. There is much to be gained from leveraging the cloud not only right now but as we look at all the future innovations currently in development.
One of the best tools that IT professionals can have in their arsenal is a packaging tool. This simplifies their tasks and saves them time. Businesses need to provide their IT teams with comprehensive packaging tools that are easy to deploy and highly compatible.
One such product that has garnered a significant amount of interest is Advanced Installer. What you get with this powerful packaging tool for developers, businesses, and ISVs, among others, is an advanced application packaging software. It simplifies software deployment in a big way.
And before fully committing, organizations can try out the trial version. It comes with full features allowing them to make a more informed decisions. To help you with that task, let’s go over what you have to look forward to with Advanced Installer.
Introduction
As already mentioned, Advanced Installer is a software packaging and deployment tool designed to eliminate the challenges often encountered with packaging and updating software.
Clients get an all-in-one packaging tool that can create, edit, update, and repackage MSI, EXE, App-V, APPX, and MSIX. Because of the user-friendly and intuitive design as well as the plethora of features and capabilities, IT professionals should expect an application that optimizes the packaging process.
Businesses will also appreciate how easy the integration will be. They’ll also enjoy the compatibility that provides support for various platforms and formats. In addition, IT professionals can easily create customizable and visually appealing installers. They can also benefit from the integration of Advanced Installer with popular development tools and environments.
Ultimately, using Advanced Installer gives your organization a product that enables you to build reliable MSI packages. These meet the latest Microsoft Windows logo certification requirements and generally follow the recommended Windows Installer best practices.
Requirements
Before proceeding with the purchase and installation of Advanced Installer, it’s also important to be aware of the specific requirements that the application demands. In the table below, you’ll find both the hardware and software requirements that you need to know.
Hardware
Software
Required minimum: Core 2 class CPU1GB RAM1366 × 768 screen resolution 2GB hard drive space
Advanced Installer IDE – for Advanced Installer to run properly on a system, you will need: Windows 7 or newer. The latest Windows Platform SDK. However, this is optional as it will only be required when building certain types of packages.
What is recommended: i5 class CPU4GB RAM1920 × 1200 screen resolution 10GB hard drive space
Create Install Packages – Advanced Installer produces MSI or EXE install files that are designed to run on: Windows 7 or newer Windows Server 2008 R2 or newer.
Create MSIX Packages – Advanced Installer produces MSIX packages that are designed to run on: Windows 10 version 1507 or newer Windows Server 2016 (Long Term Servicing Channel) or newer.
For Java – Advanced Installer for Java can create install bundles to install Java programs on these versions of MacOS: Mac OS 10.x Power PC Mac OS 10.x Intel.
Windows 10/11 Compatibility – Advanced Installer and the EXE/MSI install packages it generates have been shown to work on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Latest upgrades
Some new, recently announced updates for Advanced Installer are available. One in particular of great interest is the new nested Context Menus for File Associations in MSIX. The goal of this feature is to give organizations a more organized and efficient user interface. It ultimately streamlines the management of file associations.
As a result of this, you should have improved navigation and better usability. Moreover, clients will now also find a reboot option for NewPrerequisite and UpdatePrerequisite command lines coupled with support for Java versions 19 through 22.
The above improvements combine with new translations for default strings, a refactored build log for improved clarity, and an AppInstaller theme that is now supporting BrowseDlg dialog for a better user experience. More than just the new features, however, Advanced Installer has addressed challenges that clients were facing, including:
Fix EXE icon issue in non-English language projects.
Addressing the problem of the “Install side-by-side” option not always preserved on upgrades.
Fixing the reboot prompt issues during uninstallation.
Resolved the issue that was causing files to be digitally signed twice in an MSIX build.
Address the problem causing the description field to fail to set MSI name in UAC using trusted signing.
Corrected the issue causing the system to not prompt for the certificate password when the entered password was incorrect.
Resolved the problem of scheduled tasks failing if they were scheduled to run at task creation.
Available features
In the table below, you’ll find a few of the wide range of features that Advanced Installer has to offer.
Architect
Enterprise
Professional
Freeware
Repackager – seamlessly capture, customize, and repackage existing installations into MSI packages. Upgrade legacy setups to Windows Installer technology.
Updater – checking for downloads and installation of patches and updates is done automatically.
IIS – Web Sites, Virtual Directories and Web Applications, App-Pools, User Accounts.
MSI – create valid MSI setups for your applications that meet all the written and unwritten Windows Installer rules.
MSI Quick-Edit – enables you to create, transform, or edit existing MSI packages directly from the Advanced Installer GUI.
JSON Files Updates – without writing any code, you can manage JSON files that are part of the installation package or present on the target machine.
Multilingual and Localized – get over 30 translations that are all ready to use, as well as easy to modify and create.
UAC – build installers that will run seamlessly on Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista supporting the security model.
MSIX Custom Scripts – use PowerShell scripts to resolve any of the compatibility issues of your application after you create an MSIX.
Installer Continuous Integration – provides built-in support for integration with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, TeamCity, and Bamboo.
Themes – also get over 50 built-in beautiful themes to give your installer a professional look.
Imports – bring in relevant imports from Visual Studio, InstallShield LE, Inno Setup, WiX, Eclipse, NSIS, and regular MSI/MSM packages.
MSIX Package Editor – can offer an immediate view of your package content, enabling you to customize anything from Advanced Installer’s user interface.
Dialog Editor – enables you to visually customize existing installer dialogs or create new ones entirely from scratch.
Custom Actions – if you execute your code during installation, you can extend your installer’s capabilities.
32-bit or 64-bit – provides the option to build setups that both run and install on 32-bit processors and/or the latest 64-bit Intel and AMD CPUs.
MSIX Modification Packages – enables you to extend and update your MSIX packages. You’ll also be able to separate your main application package from its updates, thus speeding up Windows 10 updates.
Convert EXE installers to MSIs – an extremely capable wizard that converts any EXE setup into an MSI ready for network deployment through Active Directory.
Native Launcher – create a native launcher for your Java applications and customize the process name, file name, icon, version, splash-screen, JRE/JDK detection and selection, user-friendly error handling.
Side-by-side – if you have different versions of your application and want to not only install them simultaneously but have them running side by side, you can easily create packages for all the different versions.
Package Support Framework – the capabilities of the PSF integration for MSIX packages will allow you to minimize any AppCompat issues without writing any code.
Office Add-ins – leverage the included specialized templates to greatly simplify the creation of installers for popular software platform extensions, plug-ins, and add-ins.
Prerequisites – search for, download, and install prerequisite applications, frameworks, and run-times.
Upgrades – older versions of your product installed on the user’s machine will be detected and upgraded. Additionally, installation over newer ones will be blocked.
Pricing and Licensing
Once you have decided to use Advanced Installer, you can go ahead and start the purchase from the purchase page. For those who may need additional clarification on any issue, they can quickly find assistance with the support team. Once completed, you can start planning to deploy the package you choose on certain machines.
Fortunately, there is no limit to the number of machines you can deploy a package. As long as you have a licensed version of Advanced Installer, you can successfully create an unlimited number of install packages. You can then distribute these packages royalty-free to any number of users
When it comes to the issue of upgrades, you can purchase your subscription/license upgrade from the upgrades page. After upgrading your subscription, you’ll need to log out before logging in again. Once logged into Advanced Installer, you can refresh your subscription details. For clients with perpetual licenses, their license keys won’t change.
All they have to do is run the registration wizard once more in Advanced Installer. You can get access to the features from the new edition to which you upgraded by opening the project in Advanced Installer. In the toolbar, go to Home > Options > Project Type tab, and choose the desired project type.
The table below contains information regarding the pricing structure.
Architect
Enterprise
Professional
Cost
$359 per user per month. The option for a team subscription is available.
$139 per user per month. The option for a team subscription is available.
$39 per user per month. The option for a team subscription is available.
What you get
In addition to everything that Enterprise offers, you will also get Repackager, MSI Quick-Edit, Reports Generator, App-V, MSIX (Re)packaging, MSIX Package Editor, SCCM, and Intune.
In addition to everything you get in Professional, you also get CI/CD Integration, Dialog Editor, Updater, XML Patching, Databases, Trial and Licensing, Merge Modules Authoring, EXE to MSI (wrapper), Automated VM Testing, and Drivers.
The main features available include Trusted Signing Native Integration, Visual Studio Extension, PowerShell Automation, MSIX, Themes, Services, Prerequisites, IIS, .NET, COM, ODBC, Internationalisation, Java Native Launcher, and Installer Analytics.
Registration process
After purchasing Advanced Installer, you can now begin the registration process. However, if you are using the Freeware version, registration is not necessary. Clients that opt for the Professional, Enterprise, and Architect versions will require a valid registration to continue use after the trial period has lapsed. All you need to do is navigate to the File > Help > Register menu.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
If you want to download the license online, then the first thing you’ll need is an internet connection. With that established, Advanced Installer will connect to the appropriate server and download the license file to your device.
REGISTRATION BY EMAIL
In this case, an internet connection is not a requirement for the device in question. Once you have noted your Computer ID, you can email it in using any other device connected to the internet. Coupled with the valid License Key, you should forward these details to support at advancedinstaller.com. You can also expect to receive your response within 48 hours. The response will contain your license file as well as additional instructions.
LICENSE SERVER REGISTRATION
This method of registration by using a license server is only a valid option for owners with floating licenses. You’ll need to verify that your network administrator has correctly installed and configured the License Server. You won’t be able to complete the registration if you don’t have both the server’s host name and the port number.
Wrap up
Organizations are constantly searching for productivity tools that can empower their teams and increase operational efficiency. Tools such as Advanced Installer are ideal in that they can simplify tasks such as packaging and deployment of software. The capabilities of this application will deliver a faster overall process and a seamless installation experience that minimizes headaches. And as we move forward Advanced Installer will only get better as the development team leverages the feedback from clients.
