Windows Intune is a SaaS solution, meaning that Microsoft is responsible for all layers shown in the diagram in the preceding Different levels of cloud computing section. This relieves us of the responsibility of installing, maintaining, and upgrading the server infrastructure required to deliver this solution, but it also removes a level of control.

With Windows Intune, while the service is provided like electricity down the wire, we do need to configure and customize the service to make it deliver value as well as manage the installation on the client computers and respond to alerts and requests for assistance.

This means that we get the benefits of being able to manage our Windows computers, by policy, but do not have to worry about how that management is implemented at all. To me, this is the beauty of Windows Intune. It is like the benefits of all the systems management capability of Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 and more, without the need to manage the server and software itself.

Just like Small Business Server, we will still have to approve system updates, talk to people about alerts that are raised and sometimes visit their computers to diagnose problems, although the tools in Windows Intune with MDOP make this easier too.

For all this to work, we as the administrators and the computers that we are managing must connect to a network that has access to the Internet with regularity. If this is unlikely then our ability to manage these computers and for them to get updates in policy, security settings, and system updates is significantly reduced, as is our ability to provide accurate reporting and timely assistance.