Launching the Next Generation of Desktop Management
Microsoft Managed Desktop Service with IT Lab
Microsoft Managed Desktop Service with IT Lab
Are your office-based people equipped to do their best work, and do your remote workers and road warriors enjoy parity with them? Does your IT team have time to focus on value-added activities?
Many organisations are hindered by ageing, poorly performing desktops and dated technologies. The negative impact on their workforce has far-reaching consequences, such as reduced productivity and even talent retention. Besieged IT teams burn time on maintenance and updates, and cybersecurity is an ever-prevalent concern. Seven Business Signals that Mean it's Time for Change.
At IT Lab, we believe a modern desktop estate should be easy to run, secure and scalable. The Microsoft Managed Desktop (MMD) delivers unrivalled user-experiences and releases IT teams from the bind of support. MMD is ideal if your organisation is:
Sounds familiar? Follow the stories of two very different worlds: a traditional IT department and a contemporary one. How do new start Joe's experiences compare when he gets a new laptop? The Journey of a New User Device - IT in the Traditional and Modern Worlds.
Your people could work from any place at any time and enjoy the best software and hardware experience? What could they achieve with Microsoft’s latest productivity and collaboration tools always at their fingertips? What could your IT pros deliver if freed from the grind of backend maintenance and software updates? A new modern desktop service has arrived, guaranteeing premium support for your organisation in a secure, evergreen, environment.
Delight Users and Free Up IT
The Microsoft Managed Desktop delivers a complete and secure desktop management service through modern devices. It combines Office 365 ProPlus and Windows 10 and even deploys your custom line-of-business applications – all from the cloud.
For a quick tour, catch A Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Managed Desktop and read the experiences of a new user.
With the latest hardware and software technologies at their disposal, your users are empowered to do their best work. Meanwhile, your IT team can focus on value-added activities. As one of only five approved Microsoft Managed Desktop partners in the world, IT Lab’s service includes our round-the-clock IT support for your end-users and operational support for your IT pros.
Microsoft focuses on keeping you current: not only do your users start with current software - they stay that way. For an optimum experience, the service is delivered via a growing list of specified devices.
With Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and other Microsoft products going end of life or end of support in 2020, what’s your plan to modernise in time? If you have old technology that’s ready for replacement - or if many of your devices are still on Windows 7 - leveraging Microsoft Managed Desktop is a fast and effective way to get current.
Catch our blog – Microsoft End of Support – What You Need to Know, where we talk more widely about addressing legacy issues.
Microsoft Managed Desktop keeps your approved devices up-to-date with the latest versions of Windows 10 Enterprise edition, Office 365 ProPlus, and Microsoft security software. Patch planning and management are a thing of the past!
Monthly quality updates and semi-annual updates are done for you. In-place upgrades preserve settings, data and user apps during updates.
All your endpoints are connected to modern, cloud-based infrastructure, keeping Office, Windows, drivers, firmware and Microsoft Store for Business applications current. Windows updates won’t break your line-of-business applications (LOB); we’ll manage your LOB updates safely with Desktop App Assure.
Alongside IT support to your user-base and operational support for your IT pros, with this comprehensive service you will:
Keep Your Users and Devices Secure
Stay safe with device security monitoring and remediation services. Features supported by the Microsoft Managed Desktop service include:
Keep Your Users and Devices Current
Benefit from a cohesive update management strategy and avoid updates knocking over other applications. For a seamless and secure Office experience, updates for Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus apps happen automatically. We can manage your line of business upgrades, so you’ll never need to worry about the potential side effects again.
Enjoy Support for Enterprise Grade Features
These include Cortana – Microsoft’s digital assistant helping your workforce get things done, analytical data on device and app usage, and device health analytics.
Save Time for Your IT Team
Microsoft Managed Desktop services include device configuration and simplified enrollment of new devices. You can also check the compatibility of your apps through Desktop App Assure.
As the Microsoft Managed Desktop is a relatively new service, it’s understandable that there are misconceptions around what you do – and don’t – get.
Our blog clears the mists and explains some of the logic behind this revolutionary managed service from Microsoft and IT Lab. To bring things to life, we’ve included some real-world scenarios of Microsoft Managed Desktop in action. Catch it here: Microsoft Managed Desktop - What Do You Actually Get?
You don't tend to keep your private mobile for five years, so why would you do the same with your corporate IT assets? In Undervaluing Device Management is Bad for Business, Bill Karagounis of Microsoft explains why sweating your old corporate devices is not good for productivity.
In the modern workplace, great user-experiences begin with devices that meet Microsoft enterprise support and security standards. To assure end-user satisfaction, Microsoft Managed Desktop supports only specific endpoints. See the list of models here, which includes Dell and HP and Surface devices, and is growing all the time.
We can take care of your device procurement and arrange financial leasing. If it helps to pay for your devices per user per month, you can.
New starters? No problem. We’ll give your people what they need right out of the box - quite literally. Typically, they’re up and running within 15 minutes, with zero-touch by your IT team. Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus are pre-installed, and Windows Autopilot automatically configures settings, security baselines, policies, productivity tools, and your custom line-of-business applications.
Furthermore, modern devices are stateless, meaning your users’ data, configuration and settings, profile and identity reside in the cloud. If a device is damaged or lost, work continues seamlessly with a new one.
What's it like to use a Microsoft Managed Desktop? Catch our blog sharing a new user's thoughts: My Experience of Using Microsoft Managed Desktop.
What Else Do You Need to Get Started?
As well as keeping things simple for your employees, the Microsoft Managed Desktop service is designed to make things straightforward for your IT team. Here are the core requirements and remember – our accredited team is ready to guide you and do any heavy lifting.
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Microsoft licencing for your users – you’ll need Microsoft 365 E5 licenses or Microsoft 365 E3 licenses with the Microsoft 365 Security E5 add-on. For more advice, see Prerequisites for Microsoft Managed Desktop. |
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There’s a set of endpoints the Microsoft Managed Desktop service must reach. Connectivity to them is necessary. Network configuration for Microsoft Managed Desktop lists the proxy requirements, endpoints, and the allowed list of URLs. |
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Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) identity services – as the source of authority or synced to your on-premises Active Directory. |
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Then you need to migrate these services to their cloud equivalent:
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Sync your files to OneDrive for Business for data backup and recovery. |
Our Condensed Guide to the Microsoft Managed Desktop Service sets out the guide to help you simplify and transform the management of your desktop estate. Our free eBook content includes discussions on topics such as:
Download our guide and learn how you can Revolutionise the Management of Your Desktop Estate.
1 & 4 A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting. The Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus with cloud-connected management. July 2018.
2 A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting. The Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus with cloud-connected management. July 2018. Base: 34 IT decision-makers using Windows 10, Office 365 ProPlus, and/or EMS.
3 Juniper Research. “Cybercrime will cost businesses over $2 trillion by 2019.” Hampshire, UK. May 12, 2015
5 A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting. The Total Economic Impact™ Of Microsoft Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection. July 2017
Shrinking the Threat Protection Gap
How quickly could you identify a breach attempt or security breach in your network? How rapidly could you respond? How many different bolt-on security vendors and applications are you running on top of your desktops today? How many tools are you juggling to secure and manage your pcs?
Threat actors are always looking for new vulnerabilities they can exploit to blindside your organisation. To hackers, your data, user identities, intellectual property and financial accounts are their playground.
Determined and sophisticated cybercriminals must be met with greater determination and sophistication. Microsoft invests over $1 billion USD a year on security engineering and is named a leader by Gartner in its 2019 Endpoint Protection Platforms Magic Quadrant.
Microsoft Managed Desktop: An Enabler for Security
Your devices are protected 24/7/365 by dedicated experts and automated defences against current and emerging risks. Microsoft deploys battle-ready technologies to safeguard your data and managed endpoints, reducing the time gap between a new threat and a security patch.
With roughly 90% of passwords proving to be hackable, the service includes biometric recognition with Windows Hello, affording front-door identity protection locked to the device.
You’ll have peace of mind with Windows Defender Antivirus protection built-in, alongside advanced threat protection (ATP) to rapidly detect and remediate serious threats: Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection.
You can explore how the service protects your information, devices, network and identity and access management here: Security in Microsoft Managed Desktop.
The rate at which Microsoft releases new features across its product suite is tremendous, but it’s also dizzying. With Microsoft Managed Desktop, you no longer need to worry about keeping your favourite products up-to-date and missing out on the latest bells and whistles.
Shrinking the Productivity Gap
Delight your users with new Microsoft 365 features as soon as they’re available, instead of waiting for your IT team to prepare, test, deploy and troubleshoot system updates.
To thrive in this digital world, Microsoft had to become a powerhouse of innovation, speed and efficiency. Billions of dollars are year are pumped into product development, IP and security.
Microsoft is the largest manager of devices on the planet with over 850 million Windows Ten monthly active devices. By combining its management capabilities with modern hardware and the Microsoft 365 suite, it has created a genuinely end-to-end, cloud-based reality.
Because the modern desktop embraces native Microsoft enterprise products and tools, adopting new technologies is frictionless. Moreover, as the tech giant continuously evolves its people, IT and processes, you’re empowered to meet contemporary workplace challenges and future-proof your business.
“Microsoft’s ultimate end-user service offering – the Microsoft Managed Desktop, brings the power of the cloud down to the hands of the user through a modern, secure, up-to-date, highly performant and actively managed desktop environment.”
- Dan Coleby, Director of Business Performance
With IT Lab and IT Lab Group company Content and Code, you’ll encounter a confident, eminently qualified and service obsessed partner.
Our team takes pride in offering insightful, independent advice and delivering services that exceed expectations.
As one of only five approved Microsoft Managed Desktop partners in the world, we can help you realise your ambitions faster. And if you’re in the public sector, you can engage with us through the G-Cloud Framework.
We’re already helping clients develop their business cases for the Microsoft Managed Desktop and evidence the ROI the service provides. We understand the underlying technology inside-out and believe the value of the service spans the following areas:
IT Lab and Microsoft Managed Desktop – Delivering Value Across Your Organisation
Your users will enjoy performance advantages, and new starters will get a fantastic onboarding experience.
If you have multiple locations, you may have different types of connectivity (e.g. WAN or MPLS) between sites. With modern infrastructure, all you need is an internet connection.
IT Lab clients already benefiting from this service have said goodbye to System Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM) in favour of its cloud-based version – Microsoft Intune. Similarly, Azure Active Directory replaces an on-premise Active Directory. Another client we help had an expensive VDI estate. We substantially reduced its size, resulting in significant hardware and software savings.
Services and Resources. By shifting the management of your desktop estate to the cloud with Microsoft’s Managed Desktop service, there will be things you no longer need to do or buy. Potential benefits include:
If you still have a large Windows 10 upgrade on the horizon, Microsoft Managed Desktop is your best accelerator for a Windows 10 roll-out and will migrate management to the cloud at the same time.
Soft Benefits. Advantages include:
We build business cases for our clients; even if users only save 10 to 15 minutes a day, the result of a cumulative productivity increase is material.
Risk Avoidance. Fundamentally, Microsoft’s advantage as the provider of the operating system means that the Microsoft Managed Desktop service will be better at managing your desktop security than your existing controls. The service:
In one risk avoidance business case we produced, we estimated a client saving of £20 million a year as the chances of a cyber incident lowered by 17%.
Be among the first to free your people and revolutionise your workplace; enquire below.
Microsoft website: Microsoft Managed Desktop
Microsoft Documentation and resources
Microsoft downloadable PDF Delight your company with a modern workplace
Microsoft page: Security in Microsoft Managed Desktop
Microsoft page: Microsoft Managed Desktop app requirements
Microsoft page: Change history for Microsoft Managed Desktop documentation
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