Windows Intune 2.0 released, supports remote software updates

Microsoft has finally released a new edition of its Windows Intune service, promising administrators with more information about their computers, and the ability to install software across a large number of machines remotely.

“As we continue to evolve Windows Intune to meet the changing needs of today’s businesses, this next release demonstrates our commitment to rapid releases and marks the next step in our wave of innovation. We’re focused on enabling these emerging workstyles – helping users complete their jobs from virtually anywhere, at any time, while still satisfying the IT professional’s need for management,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.

Windows Intune, which was launched in March of this year, is a Microsoft hosted service that monitors and updated Windows 7-based computers. Designed for small businesses, Intune 2.0 is intended to solve the problem of not having a PC management infrastructure.

Of the big features, the most important and highly anticipated new feature is the ability to remotely update software. “Software distribution has always been a painful, manual process. IT staffers literally walked around to peoples’ desks to get the job done. With most of our folks working in the field, we had a lot of people with outdated software and no hope of standardizing everyone on the latest programs. All that’s going to change with this release of Windows Intune. Now that same IT staffer is just a couple of clicks away from distributing software to anyone, when and where it’s needed. It’s going to be game changing!”

The subscription costs $11 dollars a month per user and current Intune customers will see the new features show up on their dashboards by the end of the year. New customers will, however, be able to start using the new features as of today.