Recently, Microsoft announced the general availability of Service Pack 1 for System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2, and Service Pack 2 for System Center Configuration Manager 2012.
You can read the announcement here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2015/05/14/announcing-the-availability-of-sysctr-2012-r2-configmgr-sp1-and-sysctr-2012-configmgr-sp2.aspx
Check out this TechNet article to see What’s New in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1. Here are some interesting highlights of new features and functionality:
- You can now exclude servers from automatic client upgrade.
- When you revise an application, the new revision now inherits all dependencies from the previous revision.
- Configuration Manager now lets you create supersedence relationships that can update dependent applications to a newer version.
- You can now deploy Windows 10 to compatible devices
- Configuration Manager notifies you before you implement a task sequence OS deployment that could cause damage.
- Role based authentication can now be used for standalone media
- Several new reports
- You can deploy iOS apps that are free of charge from the app store.
- New mobile device configuration item settings for Samsung KNOX devices.
- You can now manage iOS devices purchased through Apple’s Device Enrollment program. This allows for over-the-air management of corporate-owned iOS mobile devices.
- You can now remote lock, or reset the passcode on iOS, Android, or Windows Phone 8 and later devices from the Configuration Manager console.
And the list goes on.
Depending on what version of System Center Configuration Manager you are coming from, there are specific installation instructions. The installation details are listed in the following TechNet article: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822981.aspx#BKMK_UpgradeVersions
Assets and Compliance
Remote Connection Profiles
Remote connection profiles in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provide a set of tools and resources to help you create, deploy, and monitor remote connection settings to devices in your organization. By deploying these settings, you minimize the effort that end users require to connect to their computers on the corporate network.
Additional information can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn261201.aspx
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
Compliance Policies
Compliance settings in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provides a unified interface and user experience that lets you manage the configuration and compliance of servers, laptops, desktop computers, and mobile devices in your organization. Compliance settings contains tools to help you assess the compliance of users and client devices for many configurations, such as whether the correct Windows operating system versions are installed and configured appropriately, whether all required applications are installed and configured correctly, whether optional applications are configured appropriately, and whether prohibited applications are installed. Additionally, you can check for compliance with software updates, security settings, and mobile devices. Configuration item settings of the type Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), registry, script, and all mobile device settings in Configuration Manager let you automatically remediate noncompliant settings when they are found.
Additional information can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/gg682139.aspx
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
Conditional Access
Use conditional access in Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2 to help secure email and other services on devices that are enrolled with Microsoft Intune, depending on conditions you specify.
Additional information can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn919655.aspx
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
Company Resource Access
Company resource access in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provides a set of tools and resources that enable you to give users in your organization access to data and applications from remote locations.
Additional information can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn248972.aspx
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
Certificate Profiles
Certificate profiles in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provide a set of tools and resources to help you provision computers in your organization with the certificates that users require to connect to various company resources.
Email Profiles
Email profiles in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager are an extension that provides a set of tools and resources to help you create, deploy and monitor email settings on devices. This enables users to access corporate email on their personal devices without any required setup on their part.
VPN Profiles
VPN profiles in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provide a set of tools and resources to help you create, deploy, and monitor VPN profiles. By deploying these settings, you reduce the end-user effort that is required to connect to resources on the company network.
Wi-Fi Profiles
Wi-Fi profiles in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provide a set of tools and resources to help you create, deploy, and monitor wireless network settings to devices in your organization. By deploying these settings, you minimize the effort that end users require to connect to corporate wireless networks.
All Corporate-Owned Devices
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
Software Library
Application Management Policies
Application management in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager provides both Configuration Manager administrative users and client device users with the tools to manage applications in the enterprise.
Additional information can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/gg682125.aspx
Here are some screenshots of this new feature.
