Get consistency in your configuration management with SCCM

The Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) enables IT admins to establish and maintain a consistency in their configuration management. Instead of having each and every client deployed and supported manually in ad hoc manner, you can use SCCM to automate configuration tasks with templates.

The templates are created by the IT admin to meet specific business, security, and functional needs of the organization. Once a template is created, all clients can have the same template used to build and configure the system. The template-based installation ensures a consistency in the cofiguration of all clients, servers and mobile devices throughout the organisation.

SCCM has hundreds of features and functions that IT administrators can leverage as part of their configuration management. Some of the key features in SCCM are described below:

Deployment of operating systems
At the start of the system’s life cycle is the installation of the operating system. SCCM provides all the tools an organization needs to deploy operating systems, either as an imaged installation or as a scripted method of installation.

Patch management
Once the operating system has been deployed, SCCM includes the mechanism to patch and update systems. SCCM can force clients to be patched, updated, and rebooted based on policies that the IT department created.

Asset tracking
SCCM includes the tools necessary to track the hardware and software assets of the systems it is managing.

Remote control
In the event that a client needs help, or that a system needs to be serviced, SCCM has a remote-control process that allows the IT administrator to remotely control and support a client.

Software deployment
SCCM provides the tools to roll-out software applications, whether it is something as simple as a plug-in or a server-based application, with unique application configuration and customization.

Desired Configuration Management
SCCM enables the IT admin to establish policies for system configurations so that a system cannot be changed or modified beyond the configuration standards set by policy.

Reporting
SCCM includes a report generation tool, that comes with a full set of out-of-the-box reports, including the ability for IT staff to create customized reports on everything from asset inventory reports to standard configuration reports to reports on the patch and update level of each client.