SCCM comparison Intune

Many IT departments today face the challenge of configuring their IT infrastructure. Unfortunately, there is no universal IT management tool can handle all possible requirements. Businesses often use traditional tools such as System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). Some organizations already prefer cloud technologies, such as Intune and Autopilot.

Intune and SCCM are closely related, and can be both used simultaneously. The following comparison will show you which tool is suitable for your organization.

System Center Configuration Manager

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) enables bulk management, deployment, and configuration of Windows software and operating systems. It is an on-premises solution for managing computer systems and is therefore not suitable for managing all end devices, especially mobile phones and tablets. SCCM relies on servers running on premise within dedicated network, nevertheless the connection to services in Microsoft Azure also is available and works flawlessly. System management with SCCM can be performed without an Internet connection.

System Center Configuration Manager offers the following features:

Inventory
Application distribution
Software update management
Deployment of operating systems
Compliance managementRemote maintenance
Windows Defender antivirus policies management
Reporting
Other features…

Intune

Microsoft Intune is an online mobile device management service and platform. It is a purely cloud based system, so no local IT infrastructure is required for its operation. Through this service, the company is able to provide its employees with access to corporate applications or data. The service is also known as a cloud alternative of SCCM. It has a simpler architecture, is more intuitive, but the truth is that it is not a full-fledged equivalent solution.

Intune offers some of the same features as SCCM, here are a few of them:

Inventory
Application distribution
Compliance management
Windows Defender antivirus management
Reporting

The best of both worlds

Microsoft also offers solutions for customers who want to benefit from both described environments within so-called co-management, which allows existing SCCM deployments to connect and sync with the cloud. By combining both SCCM and Microsoft Intune, it is possible to cover complete endpoint management, including Linux platforms, MacOSx and all mobile and non-mobile operating systems.

The use of co-management is possible for customers who have a System Center Configuration Manager Client Management License with active Software Assurance coverage (or Core/Enterprise CAL Suites with SA). By combining SCCM and Intune, you can get the best of both tools, dramatically improving and automating endpoint, operating system, and application management.

Microsoft provides a clear diagram that shows the relationship between Intune and SCCM.

Which tool is right for your organization?

As mentioned above, Intune is not a substitute for SCCM, but they complement each other. Intune can only be used on its own in organizations that run primarily mobile devices, do not need to manage server instances or Windows 10 OS. Oppositely, SCCM is capable to manage a large number of end-point hardware units (desktops) with Windows OS, making it suitable for larger organizations.

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