Hey everyone! I recently started working as a Junior Sysadmin at a local service provider and I've been tasked with imaging laptops for the team. I initially used USB sticks with an unattended install XML and a PowerShell script to handle software installations and domain joins. However, I've been facing some challenges with deployment and I'm keen on streamlining the process.
I've set up WDS in Hyper-V but I heard it's deprecated now, which is concerning. Additionally, I'm also working on revamping our aging Active Directory system to a cleaner version on a newer Windows Server.
I ran into a situation recently where I had to ask employees about their Windows Updates because one of the machines wasn't auto-updating, which made me realize I need better visibility into our systems. We're currently using Crowdstrike, but it only provides a general Windows version.
I considered Intune, as it seems like a great solution for our issues and provides access to a 365 subscription, which could simplify our collaboration methods. However, I've encountered slow responses from Microsoft sales, and my boss is skeptical about the costs involved in cloud services. Plus, I have some reservations about spending with Microsoft right now.
Can anyone recommend on-prem solutions that could give me a similar experience to Intune or any other MDM? Or am I aiming too high with this?
5 Answers
If you need visibility into Windows updates, you should look into utilizing built-in Windows tools or reporting features associated with whatever solution you choose. They'll help you track which devices need updates without stressing your employees to report back.
Don't stick with WDS or MDK; I recommend using Windows Autopilot. It can really streamline deployments and save you time. If you're considering moving to a newer AD, perhaps think about Entra instead; it's a lot easier to secure compared to traditional AD.
You might want to check out SCCM. It’s basically an on-prem version of Intune and designed to manage your devices effectively without relying too much on cloud services.
Just to add, while Intune is marketed as the cloud alternative, SCCM is still pretty robust for on-prem management.
I’d suggest looking into Action1 for software deployment and patch management. It's free for the first 200 endpoints and works quite well for what you need!
Consider using PDQ Deploy and Inventory. They're fantastic tools for software management and you can use them for free if you're building your own packages!
Yeah, PDQ is really handy, especially when you want flexibility without needing a license for all their features.
I’m planning on migrating to Entra too, as soon as I get some numbers from Microsoft for my boss.