Microsoft Announces Release of Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011

REDMOND, Wash. — March 24, 2011 — Today during the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) 2011, Microsoft built on its comprehensive management portfolio by announcing the release of Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011, an integrated solution that extends the capabilities of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 to include Windows Embedded Standard and Windows Embedded POSReady-based devices.

Enterprise IT has evolved, and organizations are embracing embedded devices as a way to be more productive, flexible and efficient. These embedded devices have become an essential part of the enterprise serving critical functions in building, selling and servicing their customers; analyst firm Harbor Research predicts more than 10 billion embedded devices will ship in 2015. However, devices have less standardization than PCs and servers, resulting in additional complexity for the IT professional who needs to manage them. Further, as these devices grow in usage and sophistication and serve more mission-critical functions, enterprise requirements for management also increase, creating new challenges for IT professionals.

“With the addition of Windows Embedded Device Manager to Microsoft’s extensive management portfolio, we’re in a unique position to make the lives of IT managers a lot easier across PCs, servers and embedded devices,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft. “Previously, enterprises were forced to implement several management solutions to meet their needs, at a significant time and financial cost. We’ve made it simple for IT professionals to make simultaneous system updates across the enterprise with the familiarity of System Center Configuration Manager.”

Windows Embedded Device Manager supports the most common devices found in enterprise environments built on the Windows Embedded Standard and Windows Embedded POSReady platforms, including thin clients, point-of-service (POS) devices and digital signage devices. The solution provides IT professionals with increased ease by allowing them to manage enterprise devices in a manner similar to PCs and servers, enhanced insight and control through a single management solution, and greater device integration. Moving forward, Microsoft is exploring the potential to extend support to additional Windows Embedded platforms and device scenarios.

It can often feel like the embedded device is in control, not the other way around, for many working in enterprise IT. Constantly determining what needs to be managed, what tool to use and how to do it, makes maintenance an inefficient, costly and frankly tiring exercise. Windows Embedded Device Manager puts the power back into the hands of IT professionals. With extended configuration standards, Windows Embedded Device Manager enhances visibility and control to define, track and proactively manage compliance. Settings such as Internet Explorer, passwords and registries can all be configured within the embedded device’s setting — helping IT professionals maintain control over configuration and not worry about unauthorized employees making their own changes.

Windows Embedded Device Manager is not only an effective solution, it is familiar as an extension of System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Many enterprises already use Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, and the addition of Windows Embedded Device Manager enables enterprises to leverage their existing investment with Microsoft to also manage embedded devices.

Earlier this week during MMS, Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of the Management and Security Division (MSD) at Microsoft, announced the release to Web (RTW) of Windows Intune to help simplify how businesses manage and secure PCs from virtually anywhere. Similarly, Brad also discussed the upcoming Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 solution to empower IT professionals with a unified infrastructure to offer management and security without increasing operational costs or administrative complexity for mobile, physical and virtual environments, such as Windows Phone 7 smartphones, slates/tablets and other consumer devices.

As embedded devices proliferate, the boundaries between work and life continue to blur, and people expect consistent access to corporate services from wherever they are, on any medium — desktops, laptops, smartphones, slates and other consumer devices. Although exciting for users, the consumerization of IT coupled with the influx of embedded devices is causing challenges for enterprise IT professionals tasked with managing all critical aspects of the corporate infrastructure, such as security and compliance.

“The release of Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 is a great example of how our recent alignment with the Microsoft Server and Tools Business is adding significant value to our enterprise customers and their IT departments,” said Dallas. “As embedded devices grow in prominence and importance in the enterprise, we’ll continue to look for ways to make deployment, integration and management of these technologies simpler, more powerful and connected to the world of Windows through off-premise support.”

Learn more about Windows Embedded Device Manager, and see other ways IT managers can use this exciting new solution at our Windows Embedded News Center and follow us on Twitter @MSFTWEB.

Related Posts