Exchange connector in SCCM 2012

Hi,

for mobile device management in ConfigMgr 2012 we need the Exchange connector.
The Exchange connector is transfers the mobile device administration from an Exchange administrator to SCCM.

This gives:

– Inventory and reporting possiblities
– ActiveSync policy
– Remote Wipe capability
– On-premise or Hosted Exchange are supported
– Support for all Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) devices like WP7, Symbian, Android etc.

Let’s take a look how to configure this.

In the Administration section of the Wunderbar we Add Exchange Server:

Exchange Server Connector

Exchange Server Connector

Here we have the possibility the choose the Exchange environment we like the connect to:

Exchange Environment

Exchange Environment

Select an (service) account which will communicate with the Exchange server. This account needs to be able to access the Exchange environment. With the nice new RBAC features of Exchange you can limit the access.

If you have multiple CAS server they can be added or not under the Advanced options.

Exchange Advanded options

Exchange Advanded options

The connector is now ready and can be used to synchronize with Exchange. Use the Synchronize Now button from the Ribbon 😉

Exchange Connector

Exchange Connector

After the sync is completed the resources will be visible in the All Mobile Devices Collection, found under Assets and Compliance.

All Mobile Devices

All Mobile Devices

There is no client on my iPhone, so only light management possible. Under Properties the settings are visible.

I can do a Remote Wipe, but let not do that now.

Remote Wipe

Remote Wipe

Mobile devices in SCCM 2012

Hi,

with the introduction of SCCM 2012 Microsoft Mobile Device Management in ConfigMgr is enhanced. Up until now the management of mobile devices was done by Mobile Device Management 2008 (MDM), SCCM 2007 R3 and/or Exchange 2007/2010.

Now an Exchange administrator has to manage mobile devices like Windows Moblie 6.0/6.1/6.5, WindowsCE 6.0, Nokia Symbian, Apple iPhone, Android, Windows 7 Phone etc. devices. With the new functionality in SCCM 2012 this is shifted towards the SCCM administrator, so we have 1 console to administer desktops, servers and mobile devices. Cool!

The topology needed for mobile device management consists of:

  • Web proxy for enrollment
  • Service point for enrollment
  • Management point
  • Distribution point
  • Software catalog if needed
  • SCCM site in HTTPs mode (Native mode)
  • Exchange connector

Then we have 2 options for mobile device management:

  1. Simple or light management
  2. Full or indepth management

What can we do with it?
Well here’s an overview:

 

Mobile overview
Mobile device management overview

(EAS = Exchange ActiveSync, WM = Windows Mobile)

Device information is collected through the Exchange connector.

For a device enrollment the proces for WinCE and WM 6.0 is the same as in SCCM 2007, WM 6.0/6.5 and Nokia have the capability of over-the-air enrollment via HTTPs.

Registered mobile devices are added to the SCCM site and deliver inventory information. This information is provided in the console like any other resource with can be accessed with the Resource Explorer.
This also means that mobile device settings can be evaluated. Things like baseline settings and monitoring are at hand in 1 console, nice.

Finally there is a possibility for a Remote Wipe. This comes in handy when a user loses his or her mobile device. Simple devices are wiped with the next policy and indepth devices are wiped with a next e-mail sync.
This simplifies the proces of mobile device security.

So mobile device management in SCCM 2012 is a nice feature for the Configuration Management administrator as well for the Exchange administrator.