For Windows 10 devices used in an enterprise environment, provisioning with apps is critical for productivity. Scalefusion MDM streamlines app provisioning on Windows 10 devices to ensure access to corporate apps over the air without requiring the end-users to contribute to the installation steps.
Let us first have a look at a few basics of Windows Application Management.:
Pre-installed apps
These apps come pre-installed and pre-approved on a fresh Windows 10 device. These apps include productivity apps, functional apps as well as gaming apps.
Universal Windows Apps (UWP)
These are the apps first introduced in Windows 10 devices. Like Android or iOS apps, these apps offer a consistent UX across multiple Windows devices including laptops, tablets, and Xbox.
Win32 Apps
Win32 apps are 32-bit applications developed using the Microsoft Windows APIs. These are also known as Windows API and WinAPI.
Apps
In the Windows terminology, plain apps that are made available through the Microsoft store are known as apps. Only one app can be run at a time and these apps follow the licensing model of Microsoft.
What is Windows Business Store?
Windows Business Store is a collection of Windows Store Applications that can be distributed in an enterprise environment using Azure AD. Windows Business Store enables bulk app purchasing and license distribution via an MDM.
Windows Application Management Using Scalefusion MDM
With Scalefusion MDM, IT admins managing a Windows 10 device inventory can leverage the following:
- Remotely allow or block pre-installed UWP apps
- Publishing apps using Windows Business Store
- Installing private apps using Scalefusion Enterprise Store
Let us look at each one of them and discuss step-wise processes to configure the same.
Remotely Allow or Block Pre-installed UWP Apps
Step 1: For remotely allowing or blocking apps on managed devices, navigate to the Windows Device Profile on the Scalefusion dashboard. Select the profile for which the app policy has to be implemented. Click on edit device profile to continue.
Step 2: You will now be able to configure the app policy for UWP apps or apps previously installed from the Business store. You can skip the application policy altogether, or choose to whitelist or blacklist the apps. Blacklisted apps will not be available on the Windows 10 device.
Application whitelisting: For app whitelisting, you need to add the user info and configure the folder restrictions and taskbar settings.
Save the profile settings and apply them to the device/device groups. The selected apps will now be available on the managed Windows 10 device.
Publishing Apps Using Windows Business Store
Step 1: For publishing apps using Windows Business Store, navigate to the Enterprise Section of the Scalefusion dashboard. Note that for publishing apps using the Windows Business Store on Scalefusion, you need to set up your Office 365 Active Directory. Once the setup is completed, you can authorize Scalefusion with permissions to your Office 365 account.
Step 2: Now navigate to the Windows Business Store portal and log in using your Office 365 AD credentials. In the distribution source, select Scalefusion and add it to your management tool from the dropdown. This is a one-time step that you will need to complete.
Step 3: Next, you can start purchasing apps under the shop for my group tab on the Windows Business Store. You can search the app by name and click on Get the app. Once this step is completed, navigate to the Scalefusion dashboard.
Step 4: The newly purchased app will now be available in the list of apps in the Scalefusion Enterprise section. You can now publish it directly to the Windows device profile. This app will also be available for publishing under the application policy (discussed above).
Step 5: You can view the status of the app or uninstall it from the devices/device profiles/device groups.
Explore the detailed process for publishing apps using Windows business store using Scalefusion here.
Installing private apps using Scalefusion Enterprise Store
Scalefusion enables IT teams to publish private apps developed in-house on managed Windows 10 devices. Using Scalefusion enterprise store, IT teams can publish a private line of business apps that are :
- APPX Bundles or MSIX Bundles- Also known as modern Windows applications or Universal Windows applications (UWP)
- MSI or Win32 applications- Also known as Legacy or Classic Windows applications.
Let us have a look at the step-by-step process to install private business apps on managed Windows 10 devices.
Step 1: Navigate to the enterprise section of the dashboard. Select the Enterprise Store section of the dashboard.
Step 2: Click on the upload new button on the top right corner and select the Upload Windows App option. Enter the App display name, family package name, logo, etc.
Step 3: Now you can upload the app bundle file or provide the URL for the same. For Win32 apps, you need to repackage the app.
Step 4: Once uploaded, the app will be available for publishing on the devices/device profiles/ device groups.
Read more: Installing Enterprise apps on managed Windows 10 devices
Scalfusion MDM streamlines the app publishing on managed Windows 10 devices and also further simplifies configuring them to run in single/multi-app kiosk mode. Explore Windows 10 Management by Scalefusion to explore the entire feature set of Scalefusion Windows 10 MDM.
