YSU’s Desire to Maximize A3 Licenses and Leverage Modern Device Management in the Wake of COVID-19
Like many universities, educational institutions, and university medical centers, Youngstown State University invested in Microsoft licensing and wanted to fully use their Microsoft A3 licenses. YSU wanted to utilize modern device management using Microsoft Intune, which was included in their A3 licenses.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a weakness in legacy device management and exposed the need to support staff, students, and teachers’ devices without physically being present with each device. Further, YSU wanted to ensure that devices used in an unmanaged environment were equipped to defend against an increase in modern security risks.
Road-mapping a plan for YSU’s Success, Configuring a Preference-Based Intune Environment
Mobile Mentor recommended our Intune for Windows package – a fixed-cost implementation service – to deliver Windows devices, shipped directly to staff, faculty, and students with an over-the-air configuration & provisioning experience. When users received a new Windows device, they simply logged in and hopped on Wi-Fi, and the device self-configured. The goal was to position YSU to deploy and manage devices, securely without needing to physically touch the Windows device.
Mobile Mentor implemented a production base build with Microsoft Intune by:
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Configuring YSU’s Intune tenant
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Applying for appropriate licenses via dynamic groups
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Building out Windows 10 device policies
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Managing the Azure Active Directory group and configurations
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Connecting Windows Autopilot
Mobile Mentor worked with key stakeholders at YSU to gathered in-depth knowledge of all use-case scenarios. Then Mobile Mentor designed a ‘golden profile’ to meet YSU’s needs. The design was iterated and approved, then built inside YSU’s production Microsoft Intune environment and integrated Intune with Windows Autopilot.
Finally, Mobile Mentor performed an in-depth knowledge transfer so YSU could manage their environment from this point forward. YSU was also provided with FAQs and as built documentation to use for reference.
YSU achieves modern device management benefits
At the conclusion of the project, YSU was positioned to manage their Windows devices remotely in Microsoft Intune. New devices can be ordered from their device vendor and shipped directly to staff, faculty, and students. In conjunction with a previous project spearheaded by Mobile Mentor, YSU is now ready to begin migration and sunset their legacy device management infrastructure. Device Imaging and image upkeep, as well as manual provisioning time, will be reduced, then all together eliminated.
The team at YSU is now enjoying the power to apply configurations, applications, administrative templates and more. They are transitioning to modern device management and are using all the capability of their Microsoft A3 licenses. Ultimately, Youngstown State’s IT group is now empowered to deploy and manage devices securely for all their end users.
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