How to Use Recast’s Product Suite in Your Complex Environment

In an earlier blog post, we discussed different ways you can set up Right Click Tools with the Recast Management Server (Part I: ConfigMgr and Part II: Co-Managed or Intune) to manage your complex environment.

In this post, we will dig into the rest of Recast’s product suite and explore using them in complex environments. The good news is that complex environments have less impact on the following products when compared to Right Click Tools, nonetheless, here are some examples of how you might need to set up or configure your environment to succeed.

Endpoint Insights: Enhancing ConfigMgr Reporting in Complex Environments

Endpoint Insights is Recast’s reporting solution that enhances ConfigMgr by adding additional data beyond what Configuration Manager provides by default. If you have ConfigMgr set up to manage any devices that are in a different domain, you’ve done the hard part already.

Endpoint Insights has only a few requirements to function in a complex environment. First of all, Endpoint Insights requires a Recast Management Server with a connected Recast Proxy to retrieve warranty information from devices in your environment. The Recast Proxy needs to be able to reach out to https://warranty.recastsoftware.com. Secondly, a Recast Agent is required on each endpoint in the environment to add additional WMI classes to the device for inventory.

Once you have installed Endpoint Insights, set up the necessary components, and run a hardware inventory, you will be able to access the additional data and reports as desired.

Application Manager: Streamlining Software Deployment with ConfigMgr and Intune

Application Manager is Recast’s Application Deployment product that is integrated within the Recast Management Server. You set the deployment rules there, and the software is deployed through either Configuration Manager, Intune, or both.

The beauty of Application Manager is that it uses the native Configuration Manager or Intune methods of deploying software and doesn’t require any additional setup in your complex environment. If you are using ConfigMgr or Intune to manage devices, you’ve already done the heavy lifting. When using Configuration Manager or Intune to manage devices, adding Application Manager is as simple as selecting the software you want to deploy, scheduling it, and setting it up. Once it’s configured, ConfigMgr or Intune takes over the process, deploying the software according to your settings.

Privilege Manager: Securely Providing On-Demand Privilege Escalation

Privilege Manager is Recast’s privilege escalation tool that can provide on-demand privilege escalation as needed in your secure environment.

Privilege Manager is a product where some of Recast Management Server technologies come into play. Privilege Manager is configured in the Recast Management Server, and each endpoint where you’d like to use Privilege Manager needs to have a Recast Agent installed. The Recast Agents need to be able to communicate with the Recast Management Server through a Recast Agent Gateway.

Much like in the Right Click Tools scenarios discussed in the earlier post, an Agent Gateway can be on a local network or added at the edge of your network. This allows devices that are off your network to receive the Privilege Manager policies they need for your environment. Once the devices communicate with the Agent Gateway and then the Recast Management Server, they can receive the policies and manage privilege.

Application Workspace: Efficient Software Lifecycle Management

Application Workspace is Recast’s Software Lifecycle Management solution that allows you to manage software in your environment from initial installation, updates as desired, and eventual retirement.

Application Workspace has slightly different requirements than the previous products we discussed. It can be installed with either an on-premises or SaaS server design. In either case, an agent is installed on the endpoint, and that agent must be able to communicate with the server or a satellite server in the environment. If you install Application Workspace on an on-premises server, that server must also be able to communicate with backend Recast servers to download software as new versions are released.

Conclusion

That’s a quick overview of what is needed to make Recast products work in your complex environment. If you have any additional questions, check out docs.recastsoftware.com for more information.