A sysadmin’s job is never done – except when it is. Effective use of the right tools can relieve you of undue stress and Sisyphean toil.
Introduction
A day in the life of a systems administrator (sysadmin) is nothing short of daunting—and definitely not something you would want to, or have the indulgent time to, write home (127.0.0.1) about. As the phone buzzes with yet another update failure alert while you have barely recovered from last week’s patch debacle, your day calls for more than coffee inspiration to wrestle with app deployments, browser vulnerabilities, and a host of unregistered machines scattered across a remote workforce.
Managing a large fleet of devices is no small feat, and as such, a sysadmin is always on the lookout for tools that can streamline operations, enhance security, and improve overall system efficiency.
Today, Windows is one of the leading devices operating systems used by enterprises. According to the latest estimates, over 1.6 billion devices are globally run on Windows OS while the Office 365 suite serves over 1 million enterprises of varying sizes. There were 345 million paid users for Microsoft’s AI-powered cloud services alone in 2022. Given its prevalence, any device management platform must have extensive capabilities for Windows devices.
Entgra’s Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform delivers on all fronts with its conformity and support for bulk enrollment, Microsoft Store integration, comprehensive update management, advanced application control, and more.
In this blog, we will take you through the conveniences of using Entgra UEM to handle Windows devices from the point of view of a sysadmin, focusing on key features that simplify enrollment, task automation, and device security.
Enrolling device fleets – bulk enrollment of Windows devices
First things first. A capable device management platform should encompass feasible options for enlisting your entire device fleet swiftly and faultlessly.
Bulk enrollment enables organizations to enroll multiple devices at once, reducing the need for manual, device-by-device setup in what appears to be fantasyland for a sysadmin. With Entgra UEM’s many enrollment options, now you can call your shots as deemed apt for your enterprise.
Windows devices bulk enrollment using PPKGs
Provisioning Packages (PPKGs) allow sysadmins to automate the bulk enrollment of Windows devices by pre-configuring them with required settings for connecting to the UEM server.
Entgra UEM robustly supports this method for both Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and for Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) devices, simplifying device management and reducing manual configuration work. Using these bulk enrollment options, you can swiftly enroll large numbers of devices with minimal effort and marginal intervention, allowing you to focus on more pressing priorities than a hoard of brown goods.
Windows Azure AD (Entra ID) integrated enrollment support
Windows Azure Active Directory (AD), (Entra ID), enrollment enables the use of Microsoft Azure account credentials for enrolling Azure AD registered and joined devices into the Entgra UEM server. Sysadmins can use a bulk token to generate a provisioning package (PPKG) for automatically enrolling Windows devices, making them ready for corporate use right away, rendering the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) for users.
This integration streamlines bulk provisioning for large-scale enterprise deployments, allowing devices to be efficiently enrolled into the Entgra UEM server with existing Azure AD credentials.
Windows Autopilot enrollment
Windows Autopilot allows device enrollment directly from the out-of-box experience (OOBE) without IT involvement. Entgra UEM supports Autopilot, enabling zero-touch setup for corporate devices.
Sysadmins can simplify bulk deployment by registering devices with the Autopilot deployment service. On first boot, devices automatically retrieve necessary configurations from Autopilot servers, accelerating the process while enhancing the user experience remarkably.
Core management features
Keeping all endpoints running on the Windows operating system updated is crucial for security and performance, and is therefore an integral part of system administration.
For this, the following Windows Update Management features supported by Entgra UEM are sure to help relieve the sysadmin’s burden:
OS update management
Entgra UEM provides comprehensive OS update management, allowing sysadmins to control and streamline updates across different operating systems. This functionality offers a unified view of available OS updates, helping sysadmins to efficiently manage the rollout of updates for devices across the enterprise.
Windows Update management
Similarly, Entgra UEM presents advanced features to display available Windows updates and retrieve update details using the Windows Update Agent (WUA) API. This facilitates managing and controlling the rollout of updates efficiently with trouble-free integration within the existing system infrastructure. You can conveniently initiate the update process through the Entgra UEM console by selecting and triggering installations for available updates on managed Windows devices.
Entgra UEM’s Windows Updates interface offers comprehensive information on each update, including its status, type, and description, so that administrators can monitor and manage the update process for Windows devices efficiently.
Entgra UEM Windows agent – enhanced installation and logging
Entgra UEM has a Windows agent fine-tuned for optimal performance in administering Windows devices. It presents a simplified enrollment agent installation process by separating the installation operations. This improves flexibility by enabling you to manage each part of the installation process independently.
Furthermore, the Entgra agent presents enhanced logs with improved visibility for troubleshooting and proactive monitoring.
It comprises important security features such as:
- OTP Support: One-Time Password (OTP) functionality that adds an extra layer of security for user authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- SCEP Enrollment: Simplified certificate management through Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) that automates the enrollment and renewal process, reducing the administrative overhead.
Windows group policy support
Entgra UEM’s Windows Group Policy support enables sysadmins to implement over 200 group policies on enrolled Windows devices, delivering functionality similar to Active Directory (AD) group policy management. This includes a robust range of Supported Policies for controlling device behavior and Restricted Policies for enforcing secure usage limitations. By leveraging Administrative Template (ADMX) files, you can define registry-based policy settings to control aspects such as device configuration, user permissions, and system security across all managed devices. This centralized control facilitates consistent and precise configurations that support organizational policies and compliance standards.
Windows Restriction Policies allow sysadmins to set limitations on specific device features, helping to secure devices by limiting access to non-essential or potentially risky functionality. These restriction policies are especially useful for managing features that may be sensitive in certain operational environments, giving sysadmins added control over how Windows devices are used within the organization.
You can configure policies for device security, user access, application settings, and more, ensuring consistent and secure configurations across all Windows devices.
By automating these policy deployments, Entgra UEM reduces manual effort, streamlines policy management, and helps organizations maintain a secure, compliant IT environment.
Automation and customization
Custom scripts and PowerShell integration for automating routine tasks
Sysadmins can automate regular, recurring administrative tasks on Windows devices using custom scripts and Windows PowerShell integration. Entgra UEM enables you to execute scripts remotely via the UEM console conveniently without manual engagement, and the need for device-by-device intervention.
This feature also offers flexibility for running advanced configurations that are not natively supported by UEM platforms. With the ability to execute custom scripts through the Entgra UEM console, sysadmins can efficiently manage system settings, improve workflow automation, and extend endpoint management capabilities.
Application and browser control
Microsoft Store integration for Windows devices
One of the most compelling features of Entgra UEM is its seamless integration with the Microsoft Store.
Sysadmins can publish Microsoft Store applications to Entgra App Publisher as public apps, allowing synchronization of app inventory. These applications can then be installed on Windows devices using the agent application through the Windows Package Manager.
Curating a list of approved apps to ensure only secure and vetted software is available for installation is also made possible through Microsoft Store integration. This reduces the risk of unapproved or malicious software being installed within the organization’s network.
Advanced browser management support
Effective web browser management is vital for security, productivity, and compliance. With Entgra UEM, you can implement browser restrictions using Microsoft Edge Browser policies to configure how Microsoft Edge runs within your organization.
These policies cover a wide range of categories including application guard settings, HTTP authentication, kiosk mode settings, screen capture permissions, printing, proxy server settings, SmartScreen settings, and more. Effective browser management capabilities ensures comprehensive control over browser behavior, enhancing security, performance, and manageability within the organization.
Next steps: Getting started with Entgra UEM
For a systems administrator, Entgra UEM significantly eases the complex tasks of managing large Windows device fleets. Its comprehensive feature set, from Microsoft Store integration to advanced update management and browser control, ensures that your enterprise endpoints are secure, up-to-date, and efficient. With Entgra, it’s a breeze to maintain a well-organized and secure IT environment, enhancing productivity and compliance across the board.
There are two ways to get started with Entgra UEM. Sign up for our MDM trial where you have access to explore all of Entgra UEM’s capabilities for 14 days, free of charge. We also have a Premium Pilot Program especially for Windows device users. The best part is, when you join this program, you get one and a half years of free device management based on the number of devices you enroll. You’ll also get the opportunity to be in touch with our development team directly and share your feedback on what works for you and what you’d like to see in a future version of Entgra UEM.
Contact us to learn more about Entgra UEM, request for a live demo, or to join our Premium Partner Program.
Windows Device Management Simplified
