Any IT Manager faces very varied, complex and relevant activities for both large and medium/small companies. Security, updates, connections, applications to make available… all this is especially true when it comes to manage a Windows machine fleet. Of course, there are many solutions that come to the rescue, but is it really necessary to use and manage 10 different software, with 10 licenses to purchase and so 10 tools to master? The answer is “No!”, because there’s Praim Agile, which in its 3.0 version is even more effective!
Agile (available on Praim Windows thin clients) and Agile4PC support and automate IT management in Windows from all points of view! First of all, they simplify the most frequent and widespread management activities, such as:
- monitoring workstations and checking their execution status,
- performing inventory and collecting information,
- offering direct support to users even remotely,
- simplifying and making the update and maintenance process completely controlled and scalable.
But that’s not all! They also offer control over more advanced and complex activities, such as activating and monitoring disk protection, verifying and distributing security certificates, supporting multi-factor authentication, managing port and peripheral blocking and much more.
At this point an IT Manager might think “Perfect, nothing is missing!” already enjoying the time and resources saved by automating management with Agile. But there’s still one important aspect, often overlooked when evaluating tools and therefore left for last or sacrificed: how to further configure devices to facilitate the end user’s work and best support use cases and business processes, while ensuring security? Agile has the solution for this too!
Desktop lockdown, application and Web kiosks, support for Cloud and VDI
Agile also automates the workstations’ Presentation modes, providing immediate and fast tools to:
- create user modes with a locked desktop, where the user can only access provided applications and connections and does not have access to system configurations;
- graphically customize the workstations according to the company branding;
- enable ad-hoc functions, such as preventing or allowing the configuration of local Wi-Fi to users (e.g. only for those who work remotely);
- optimize the controls left available to the user (shutdown, audio volumes, video resolution, …);
- distribute and quickly update connections to VDI infrastructures (Citrix, VMware, Microsoft, Parallels, etc.) or to Cloud and Web applications;
- choose which system information to make available (e.g. to simplify support and maintenance activities).
In particular, starting from Agile 3.0, the range of user modes offered and automated by Agile has been expanded, with 6 possible interface options and interaction modes, increasingly specialized and “restrictive”, that is, with less and less freedom of action left to the user (reduction of risks and greater security and use control) and, at the same time, more and more automation for the IT admin, up to the single-application kiosks:
- Windows mode: the traditional Windows desktop (offered through a simple user in auto-start) integrated with the resources/connections created through Agile;
- Desktop mode: graphical and interactive desktop that uses the Explorer Taskbar, but limits/blocks other system resources (Control Panel, Context Menus, Searches, File System Access) and unnecessary applications;
- Multi-Apps mode: completely “locked-down” (no Explorer) with direct access to all resources;
- Single-App mode: locked-down but with a minimal, mobile-like interface and quick and priority access to the main resources and functions;
- Quick-App mode: locked-down application kiosk designed for touch interaction (with simplified configuration);
- Web mode: locked-down Web kiosk (browser), which can be activated and customized in a few seconds, with the possibility of White List.
What’s new: “Desktop” and “Quick-App” modes
Desktop mode allows to combine the interaction flexibility provided by the Explorer taskbar (also necessary in Windows to authenticate to Microsoft infrastructures such as AVD and Windows 365) with the advantages of a “locked-down” interface in which the user has limited application choices, to avoid the risk of device’s unwanted use. Furthermore, the Agile desktop is optimized for VDI infrastructures’ integration, allowing VDI environments’ AD login and pass-through with virtual applications’ desktop management offered by the company server.
Quick-App mode, on the other hand, allows to choose and enable with a click one of the resources provided by Agile so that it’s offered in auto-start within a shielded interface designed for simplified touch-screens’ interaction. This allows to instantly create application kiosks based on industry-specific software (as is often needed, for example, for industrial installations, in large-scale distribution or logistics, in GDO, etc.), on a virtual resource or more. At the same time, you can choose how to brand the kiosk graphics and how it should behave when the offered application is closed (for example, shut down or restart).
SUMMARY TABLE
Mode | Desktop lockdown | Restrictions Level | Interaction | Interface | Apps Number |
Windows | No | Simple user, without further restrictions | Free interaction | Windows Desktop | All Windows ones |
Desktop | Yes | Partially blocked (with Explorer) | Interactive (includes Taskbar) | Agile GUI (Desktop-like) |
Only those allowed through Agile |
Multi-Apps | Totally blocked (no Explorer) |
Partially interactive (switch between Agile and one or more apps) | Agile GUI (Grid-like) |
||
Single-App | Agile GUI (Mobile-like) |
||||
Quick-App | Agile GUI (Touch-friendly) |
1: any type (auto-start) | |||
Web | Browser only | Browser | 1: browser Web |
These new opportunities offered by Agile have been designed to be usable by the IT Manager in an immediate, simplified and scalable way, allowing easy test and even easier implementation of the ideal solution for the company’s business. All this to complete and simplify the Windows devices’ management at 360°.
Agile and Agile4PC are your keystone to efficiently and easily address all your Windows workstations’ management needs.