Managing windows machines with staff working from home.

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Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#268482 21-Mar-2020 16:40

So with the new directive from the PM I will have staff working from home. We use PC's Windows Pro with Office 365 plus a bunch of other cloud-based collaboration tools. We don't have a server. What is the best way of managing the windows machines remotely and manage adding new software or updating software without giving administrator rights? I see that windows 10 has remote desktop but wonder if it is that easy to connect to a PC not on your own network.

Amanon

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2443247 21-Mar-2020 17:31

how do you manage them today?

or they are un-managed?

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2443302 21-Mar-2020 18:53

nathan:

how do you manage them today?

or they are un-managed?

I'm set up as an administrator and the staff (3) are set up as a work user. When software is installed it requires me to enter in a password. This is easy to manage in an office enviro but obviously won't work remotely.

Amanon

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

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#2443333 21-Mar-2020 19:22

Are you using an Azure server? Otherwise “intune” would be a decent choice to remote manage machines I’d say?

We’re an Office 365 school with azure server and intune and I can remotely install apps, change security profiles etc via the ‘admin’ O365 portal. Sounds ideal for your setup

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2443354 21-Mar-2020 19:46

PhantomNVD: Are you using an Azure server? Otherwise “intune” would be a decent choice to remote manage machines I’d say?

We’re an Office 365 school with azure server and intune and I can remotely install apps, change security profiles etc via the ‘admin’ O365 portal. Sounds ideal for your setup

We're currently using Office 365 Business Premium looks like upgrading to Microsoft 365 Business includes device management and intune.

Amanon

michaelmurfy

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#2443372 21-Mar-2020 20:40

Otherwise another way of doing it is installing a remote management tool like Anydesk (https://anydesk.com) and ensuring it is run on boot. You can then remote into any of the computers.

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networkn

Networkn
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#2443458 22-Mar-2020 00:52

Please use 2FA if you install remote management software.

Oh and a unique username and password to anything else you use.

Andib

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#2443526 22-Mar-2020 09:45

Intune would be the best way to do this but may be overkill for 3 devices as deploying apps etc would require wrapping/repackaging them if they're not simple MSIs

If you just need remote access, Quick Assist is built into Windows 10 (pro and above, unsure about home) which works the same as Teamviewer allowing users to give you a code to connect to their machine.

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nathan

5695 posts

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#2443538 22-Mar-2020 10:14

Dulouz:
nathan:

how do you manage them today?

or they are un-managed?

I'm set up as an administrator and the staff (3) are set up as a work user. When software is installed it requires me to enter in a password. This is easy to manage in an office enviro but obviously won't work remotely.

What examples of software do you need to remotely install / update?

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2443541 22-Mar-2020 10:16

Andib:

Intune would be the best way to do this but may be overkill for 3 devices as deploying apps etc would require wrapping/repackaging them if they're not simple MSIs

If you just need remote access, Quick Assist is built into Windows 10 (pro and above, unsure about home) which works the same as Teamviewer allowing users to give you a code to connect to their machine.

I've been playing with AnyDesk which I'm quite impressed with. I might try Quick Assist as well.

Amanon

Jogre

182 posts

Master Geek

#2447868 27-Mar-2020 12:00

Andib:

Intune would be the best way to do this but may be overkill for 3 devices as deploying apps etc would require wrapping/repackaging them if they're not simple MSIs

Agreed, but I'd have a look at other stuff like whether Anti-virus can be stopped in favour of M365. Would recommend implementing MFA, ATP policies, MAM beyond just being able to push apps and policies out to devices.