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Microsoft IT Technology

Microsoft Launches a New Remote Help Service For IT Teams (techcrunch.com) 22

An anonymous reader shares a report: Microsoft Endpoint Manager is the company's platform for helping IT teams manage and secure large fleets of devices, something that's become increasingly complicated since the start of the pandemic. As part of its larger "Future of Hybrid Work" event, the company also today launched some updates to Endpoint Manager that go beyond some of the traditional feature sets for similar services, with the promise to expand on these in the future.

The first new feature Microsoft is adding to the platform under the name of "Microsoft Advanced Management" is remote help. If you've ever used Teamviewer to help a family member fix a computer issue, you can basically think of it as that, but with all of the enterprise bells and whistles it takes to make sure a service like this is secure, the devices on both ends are configured correctly and everybody is who they say they are. And that's why this is part of the overall Endpoint Manager story, because that's what provides the access and idenity controls through a tight integration with Azure Active Directory and helps verify the users and devices. You wouldn't just want your employees to be able to give control over their machines to any random social hacker, after all.

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Microsoft Launches a New Remote Help Service For IT Teams

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  • So unless this is bundled with something we already have like Office 365, it probably won't go very far since these solutions have been around for awhile.

    • It's bundled with some versions of Microsoft 365. M365 includes Office 365 stuff + Volume Windows 10/11 licenses, AzureAD premium, InTune, Endpoint Management etc.

      Unfortunately, it's still not a full replacement for Active Directory unless you have no use for CIFS or LDAP.

      I can't understand why Microsoft is so dead-set on letting Jumpcloud etc elbow into this space.

    • its part of this in 365
      Enterprise Mobility + Security E3

      Enterprise Mobility + Security E5

  • Nice that the Microsoft Blog Post announcing the feature (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-endpoint-manager-blog/remote-help-enterprise-grade-assistance-tool-now-available/ba-p/3275792) doesn't mention that this is a premium add-on that can be licensed until half way down the page.
  • by The-Ixian ( 168184 ) on Tuesday April 05, 2022 @12:40PM (#62419812)

    Windows 10 already has Quick Assist and it works quite well.

    It also seems to be widely used already inside enterprises as well.

    Not sure why they are re-inventing the wheel here.

    • Quick Assist is designed to be invoked with the user present. Many other solutions don't require being invited in.

      MS has been (surprisingly) good regarding discouraging their remote software being used as a means of employers tracking users work or spying on them.

      I would presume MS will introduce more functionality of some sort to this new solution and eventually charge for it.

    • But this is MS Teams for IT Teams. It's a whole new horse.
  • Too Expensive (Score:5, Informative)

    by sdinfoserv ( 1793266 ) on Tuesday April 05, 2022 @12:58PM (#62419868)
    As others have stated, we already have other tools in place.... The pricing for this is $16.40/ user / month. In my 300 user environment, that's $60K per year. Offered as a service, not a perpetual license... so... no.
    • by EvilSS ( 557649 )
      Where are you seeing $16.40? The FAQ lists it as a $3.50/mo/user add-on. Did they bury it somewhere?
    • As others have stated, we already have other tools in place.... The pricing for this is $16.40/ user / month. In my 300 user environment, that's $60K per year. Offered as a service, not a perpetual license... so... no.

      A fully loaded IT employee, costs more than $60K/year, and that is exactly why they can sell this service at that cost.

      Understand what that service actually does for you, before shitting on it. If it offers any level of 24/7 protection, you should already know that $60K is a bargain.

      No, this isn't shilling for Microsoft. This is common fucking sense.

  • by awwshit ( 6214476 ) on Tuesday April 05, 2022 @01:01PM (#62419884)

    What could go wrong?

    "Yes, Ma'am, your Windows is infected with a Wirus. The Wirus has infected your bank account through online banking. Your screen will go blank for just a moment while I remove the Wirus from your bank account."

  • Windows 10 Security is so great that they will hand over control of your machine to another Windows domain simply by clicking on a link that shows no indication that your machine is about to be subverted. They literally let outsiders steal administrative control of a machine that you own, without notification, by design.

    And then you can't administer your own machine anymore until you disconnect it, if you are lucky enough to be able to do that. So I can't really take their insistence on great security ver

  • With tiny little electric cars.

  • Don't we already get enough of that bs/
  • ... able to give control over their machines ...

    Windows 11 prevents Administrators and Users modifying large areas of the file system, so there is security. In Windows 11, Windows 10, and sometimes even Windows 7/XP, a Windows Update deletes firewall settings, IP stack settings, network shares. As long as Windows demands everyone have a vanilla configuration, it will be the play-toy of crackers and malicious hackers. Only now, the local Admin won't be able to fix it.

    ... both ends are configured correctly ...

    And if they're not: How does one configure a device if the Admin can't dial-in and un

  • We all know how useless their help forums are. It will just be another "I am highly certified help manager, please tell me how heavy your computer is, then try to restart it. And don't forget to mark this as helpful answer".

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