Computacenter is one of the first businesses to offer Microsoft Managed Desktop (MMD), which offers customers the opportunity for Microsoft to manage their employees' devices.
Known as desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), MMD is a monthly subscription service that combines Microsoft 365 Enterprise, device management and security updates into one package. To begin with, it's likely MMD will only be available for the business-centric Surface PCs, with other devices following after this initial launch period.
It also uses analytics to work out how employees are using devices and will roll out updates to those it thinks needs them most. For example, if a security hole is identified in particular hardware, affected devices will be the first devices to receive the update.
"We believe that MMD will be an option that allows organizations to fundamentally shift how they think about and manage their IT," said Bill Karagounis, general manager for Microsoft. "Through MMD, customers will be able to move toward a secure, always up-to-date environment with device management by Microsoft. As we expand the offering, our partners will play a key role in helping us bring MMD to market and support customers in their transition to a modern desktop."
Other partners selling MMD in this first phase are Dell, HP, DXC, HCL and Accenture/Avanade. Microsoft hopes to expand its partner ecosystem in the coming months and is appealing for more to come on board as it gauges interest in the platform.
The platform will be first available in the UK and US, but its reach will stretch to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in early 2019, with more territories planned after this initial launch period.
