In the world of IT management, two popular tools have been vying for attention: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and Microsoft Intune. Both tools offer a range of features to help organizations manage their IT infrastructure, but they have distinct differences in their approach, functionality, and suitability for different environments. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of SCCM and Intune, exploring their strengths and weaknesses, to help you decide which one is better for your organization.
What is SCCM?
SCCM, formerly known as Systems Management Server (SMS), is a comprehensive IT management tool developed by Microsoft. It’s designed to manage and monitor large-scale IT environments, providing features such as:
- Hardware and software inventory management: SCCM allows you to track and manage hardware and software assets across your organization.
- Operating system deployment: SCCM enables you to deploy and manage operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Software distribution and updates: SCCM allows you to distribute and update software applications across your organization.
- Security and compliance management: SCCM provides features to manage security and compliance, including vulnerability assessment and remediation.
SCCM is a powerful tool that’s well-suited for large, complex IT environments. However, it requires significant infrastructure and expertise to implement and manage.
What is Intune?
Intune is a cloud-based IT management tool developed by Microsoft. It’s designed to provide a more streamlined and simplified approach to IT management, with features such as:
- Mobile device management (MDM): Intune allows you to manage and secure mobile devices, including iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
- Cloud-based software distribution: Intune enables you to distribute and update software applications from the cloud.
- Security and compliance management: Intune provides features to manage security and compliance, including conditional access and threat protection.
- Integration with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Intune integrates seamlessly with Azure AD, providing a unified identity and access management solution.
Intune is a more modern and agile tool that’s well-suited for organizations with a strong cloud presence. It’s also more accessible to smaller organizations or those with limited IT resources.
Key Differences Between SCCM and Intune
While both SCCM and Intune offer IT management features, there are significant differences between the two tools. Here are some key differences:
- Infrastructure requirements: SCCM requires significant infrastructure, including servers, databases, and network infrastructure. Intune, on the other hand, is a cloud-based tool that requires minimal infrastructure.
- Complexity and expertise: SCCM is a more complex tool that requires significant expertise to implement and manage. Intune is more streamlined and easier to use, with a more intuitive interface.
- Cost and licensing: SCCM requires a significant upfront investment, including licensing fees and infrastructure costs. Intune is a cloud-based tool that’s priced on a per-user basis, making it more cost-effective for smaller organizations.
- Scalability and flexibility: Intune is more scalable and flexible than SCCM, with the ability to easily add or remove users and devices.
When to Choose SCCM
SCCM is a better choice for organizations with:
- Large, complex IT environments: SCCM is well-suited for large organizations with complex IT environments, including multiple sites, domains, and forests.
- On-premises infrastructure: SCCM requires significant on-premises infrastructure, making it a better choice for organizations with existing infrastructure investments.
- Advanced security and compliance requirements: SCCM provides advanced security and compliance features, making it a better choice for organizations with strict security and compliance requirements.
When to Choose Intune
Intune is a better choice for organizations with:
- Cloud-based infrastructure: Intune is a cloud-based tool that’s well-suited for organizations with a strong cloud presence.
- Smaller or more agile IT environments: Intune is more accessible to smaller organizations or those with limited IT resources.
- Mobile device management requirements: Intune provides advanced mobile device management features, making it a better choice for organizations with a large mobile device fleet.
Co-Management: The Best of Both Worlds
In 2018, Microsoft introduced co-management, a feature that allows organizations to use both SCCM and Intune together. Co-management enables organizations to leverage the strengths of both tools, providing a more comprehensive IT management solution.
With co-management, organizations can use SCCM for on-premises management and Intune for cloud-based management. This approach provides a range of benefits, including:
- Unified management: Co-management provides a unified management experience, allowing organizations to manage both on-premises and cloud-based devices from a single console.
- Improved security and compliance: Co-management enables organizations to leverage the advanced security and compliance features of both SCCM and Intune.
- Increased flexibility and scalability: Co-management provides organizations with the flexibility to manage devices in a variety of environments, including on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid.
Implementing Co-Management
Implementing co-management requires careful planning and execution. Here are some steps to consider:
- Assess your environment: Assess your IT environment to determine which devices and users will be managed by SCCM and Intune.
- Configure co-management: Configure co-management in SCCM and Intune, ensuring that both tools are properly integrated.
- Test and validate: Test and validate co-management to ensure that it’s working as expected.
Conclusion
SCCM and Intune are both powerful IT management tools, but they have distinct differences in their approach, functionality, and suitability for different environments. While SCCM is a better choice for large, complex IT environments, Intune is more suitable for smaller organizations or those with a strong cloud presence.
Co-management provides a way for organizations to leverage the strengths of both tools, providing a more comprehensive IT management solution. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of SCCM and Intune, organizations can make informed decisions about which tool is best for their needs.
Ultimately, the choice between SCCM and Intune depends on your organization’s specific needs and requirements. By carefully evaluating your options and considering co-management, you can choose the best tool for your organization and ensure a more efficient, secure, and compliant IT environment.
| Feature | SCCM | Intune |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure requirements | Significant infrastructure required | Minimal infrastructure required |
| Complexity and expertise | More complex, requires significant expertise | More streamlined, easier to use |
| Cost and licensing | Significant upfront investment | Priced on a per-user basis |
| Scalability and flexibility | Less scalable and flexible | More scalable and flexible |
By considering these factors and evaluating your organization’s specific needs, you can make an informed decision about which tool is best for your organization.
What is SCCM and how does it differ from Intune?
SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is a comprehensive IT management solution developed by Microsoft. It is designed to manage and monitor large groups of Windows-based computers, as well as other devices such as mobile devices and servers. SCCM provides a wide range of features, including software deployment, patch management, and inventory management. In contrast, Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that is part of Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite. While both solutions offer device management capabilities, SCCM is generally more geared towards on-premises management, whereas Intune is focused on cloud-based management.
One of the key differences between SCCM and Intune is their architecture. SCCM requires a significant on-premises infrastructure, including servers and databases, to manage devices. Intune, on the other hand, is a cloud-based solution that does not require any on-premises infrastructure. This makes Intune a more scalable and flexible solution for organizations with a large number of devices to manage.
What are the key features of SCCM?
SCCM offers a wide range of features that make it a powerful IT management solution. Some of the key features of SCCM include software deployment, patch management, inventory management, and operating system deployment. SCCM also provides advanced security features, such as threat and vulnerability management, and compliance management. Additionally, SCCM offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing IT administrators to gain insights into their organization’s device landscape.
SCCM also provides advanced management capabilities for Windows-based devices, including support for Windows 10 and Windows 11. SCCM can be used to manage and monitor devices in real-time, allowing IT administrators to quickly respond to issues and resolve problems. SCCM also integrates with other Microsoft solutions, such as Active Directory and Azure Active Directory, to provide a comprehensive IT management solution.
What are the key features of Intune?
Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that offers a range of features to help organizations manage and secure their devices. Some of the key features of Intune include mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and endpoint protection. Intune also provides advanced security features, such as threat and vulnerability management, and compliance management. Additionally, Intune offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing IT administrators to gain insights into their organization’s device landscape.
Intune also provides advanced management capabilities for Windows-based devices, including support for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Intune can be used to manage and monitor devices in real-time, allowing IT administrators to quickly respond to issues and resolve problems. Intune also integrates with other Microsoft solutions, such as Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365, to provide a comprehensive endpoint management solution.
Which solution is better for on-premises management?
SCCM is generally better suited for on-premises management, as it provides advanced management capabilities for Windows-based devices and integrates with other on-premises Microsoft solutions. SCCM also provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing IT administrators to gain insights into their organization’s device landscape. Additionally, SCCM offers advanced security features, such as threat and vulnerability management, and compliance management.
However, it’s worth noting that Intune can also be used for on-premises management, particularly in hybrid environments where devices are both on-premises and in the cloud. Intune provides advanced management capabilities for Windows-based devices, including support for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Intune also integrates with other Microsoft solutions, such as Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365, to provide a comprehensive endpoint management solution.
Which solution is better for cloud-based management?
Intune is generally better suited for cloud-based management, as it is a cloud-based solution that does not require any on-premises infrastructure. Intune provides advanced management capabilities for Windows-based devices, including support for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Intune also integrates with other Microsoft solutions, such as Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365, to provide a comprehensive endpoint management solution.
Intune also provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing IT administrators to gain insights into their organization’s device landscape. Additionally, Intune offers advanced security features, such as threat and vulnerability management, and compliance management. Intune is also highly scalable and flexible, making it well-suited for organizations with a large number of devices to manage.
Can SCCM and Intune be used together?
Yes, SCCM and Intune can be used together in a hybrid environment. This allows organizations to take advantage of the strengths of both solutions. For example, SCCM can be used for on-premises management, while Intune can be used for cloud-based management. This hybrid approach can provide a comprehensive IT management solution that meets the needs of organizations with both on-premises and cloud-based devices.
Using SCCM and Intune together can also provide advanced management capabilities, such as co-management. Co-management allows organizations to manage devices with both SCCM and Intune, providing a single pane of glass for IT administrators to manage and monitor devices. This can help to simplify IT management and improve productivity.
What are the licensing requirements for SCCM and Intune?
The licensing requirements for SCCM and Intune vary depending on the specific needs of the organization. SCCM is typically licensed per device, with a minimum of 50 devices required. Intune is also licensed per device, but it is often included as part of Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suite. EMS provides a comprehensive set of security and management features, including Intune, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Information Protection.
It’s worth noting that organizations that already have a Microsoft 365 subscription may be eligible for discounted pricing on Intune. Additionally, organizations that have a large number of devices to manage may be eligible for volume discounts on SCCM and Intune. It’s recommended that organizations consult with a Microsoft licensing expert to determine the best licensing option for their specific needs.