In today’s IT world, prioritizing efficiency and security is more crucial than ever. With the release of SoftwareCentral 24R3.1, we’re delivering a suite of enhancements designed to optimize your daily operations. This update isn’t just about new features—it’s about empowering you to work smarter, not harder. Whether it’s reducing downtime with faster loading times, streamlining endpoint management, or rolling out updates with the new phased deployment feature, this release adds tangible value to your workflow, making every task more efficient and secure. Discover how these improvements can elevate your IT management to the next level.

Key Highlights

General enhancements

• Faster loading and better performance:

The new “Enable recommended site settings” option significantly reduces loading times by preloading the site whenever the app pool recycles. This means no more waiting for “cold starts,” ensuring your tools are always ready when you are. Faster access to your management tools translates to increased productivity and less downtime.

• Enhanced security and seamless integration:

With improved OpenID sign-on, you now have the added security of single sign-out, preventing unauthorized access when users log out. This integration is especially beneficial for organizations using Azure, as it provides a streamlined and secure way to manage user sessions across different services.

These enhancements mean you can expect a smoother, faster, and more secure experience when managing your software environment, allowing you to focus more on strategic tasks rather than administrative overhead.

Intune permissions & bug fixes

• Enhanced control and flexibility:

The addition of the UserAuthenticationMethod.ReadWrite.All permission provides you with more granular control over user authentication settings, empowering your IT team to enforce stricter security policies and ensure compliance more effectively.

• Increased stability and reliability:

Addressing critical bugs, such as the stack overflow exception in Azure databases and issues with custom detection scripts in Intune applications, means fewer disruptions and smoother operations. These fixes ensure that your environment runs reliably, allowing you to manage and deploy applications with confidence.

• Optimized license management:

With new support for user deployments in Intune and improved license harvesting, you can better manage and allocate software licenses, reducing waste and ensuring compliance with licensing agreements. This leads to cost savings and more efficient use of resources.

These updates provide you with better control, reliability, and efficiency in managing your Intune environment, ultimately making your IT operations more secure and streamlined.

Manage Intune Endpoints (Now Endpoint Manager)

• Comprehensive user management:

The new user management option allows you to handle passwords, sign-ons, MFA settings, and group memberships all within one tool. This means less time jumping between different platforms and more efficient management of user access, leading to better security and compliance.

• Enhanced security features:

With the integration of LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution), you can now manage local administrator passwords more securely, reducing the risk of credential theft and unauthorized access.

• Streamlined application management:

The ability to see app types directly in the UI and support for Managed Google Play store apps simplifies the process of deploying and managing applications, making it easier to keep your endpoints updated and secure.

These updates empower you to manage your Intune endpoints more efficiently and securely, giving you greater control over user settings and application deployment, all while saving time and reducing potential security risks.

Robopack Enhancements

• Smarter deployments:

With the introduction of phased deployments in Intune, you can now roll out updates in stages, minimizing disruptions and ensuring smoother transitions. This feature allows for greater control over how updates are distributed across your organization.

• Improved detection and accuracy:

Support for MSI detection methods with version numbers means more precise application management. You can now detect and manage software versions more effectively, reducing errors and ensuring that the right versions are deployed.

• Stability and performance:

The numerous bug fixes applied to Robopack enhance its reliability, ensuring that your automated processes run smoothly without unexpected issues. This leads to more consistent and dependable software management.

These enhancements to Robopack provide you with more control, accuracy, and reliability, making your software deployment and management processes more efficient and less prone to errors.

Settings and web services

• Simplified certificate management:

The new “Update in cert store” button streamlines the process of updating certificates in Azure app registrations. This reduces the risk of errors during manual updates, ensuring your connections remain secure and compliant with minimal effort.

• Expanded automation capabilities:

With the Web API now callable by an app instead of a user, you gain more flexibility in automating tasks. This enables smoother integrations and allows for more efficient management workflows, reducing manual intervention and boosting productivity.

• Enhanced Intune application support:

The Shop feature’s expanded functionality now supports Intune applications, making it easier to manage and customize your software deployments directly within the SoftwareCentral interface.

These updates enhance the efficiency and security of your operations, reducing manual tasks and offering greater flexibility in managing your environment.

Conclusion

The SoftwareCentral 24R3.1 release brings a host of powerful enhancements designed to make your IT management more efficient, secure, and user-friendly. From faster loading times and advanced security features to streamlined endpoint management and smarter deployment options, this update is all about adding real value to your operations.

Ready to experience these improvements firsthand? Schedule a demo or start your free trial today and discover how SoftwareCentral can elevate your IT environment to new heights. Don’t miss out on optimizing your workflows and securing your infrastructure with the latest features.