Introduction to Desktop Analytics

Desktop Analytics is a new term surrounding the market. In this blog we will read everything related to it. We will also see the steps involved in setting up Desktop Analytics and its integration with Configuration Manager. 

 

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What is Desktop Analytics?

 

Desktop Analytics is basically a cloud-based service. You might be wondering what cloud-based services stand for. Well, cloud-based services are a form of application or software. These services are available remotely and are hosted on the vendor’s server, though they represent the customers. 

 

Desktop Analytics integrated with Configuration Manager. Some experts may call Desktop Analytics the successor of Windows Analytics. It assists you with insights and intelligence, thus, helping you in making more informed decisions, related to readiness of your Windows clients. 

 

This service combines your organization’s data with aggregated data. The referred aggregated data is gathered from the millions of devices connected to Microsoft cloud services. Currently, Microsoft is working to allow Desktop Analytics work with Intune-managed devices.

 

(Speaking of Microsoft, take a look at our blog on AI in Microsoft)

 

What is the major purpose of Desktop Analytics?

 

Desktop Analytics help in checking out the systems and computers if they are ready for upgradation to the latest features of Window 10. And in every organization, there are the clients that always want to upgrade their system to the latest version, Desktop Analytics help in checking requirements for them.

 

Why is Desktop Analytics used with Configuration Manager?

 

As mentioned above Desktop Analytics is integrated with Configuration Manager to perform the following functions:

 

1. It helps in creating an inventory of apps running in your institution.

 

2. It eases the app compatibility with the latest Windows 10 features.

 

3. It helps in identifying compatibility issues with several applications.

 

4. It receives mitigation suggestions based on cloud-enabled data insights.

 

5. It creates pilot groups.

 

6. The created pilot groups thus help in representing the entire application and driver estate across a minimal set of devices.

 

7. It deploys Windows 10 to production-managed devices.

 

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What is the difference between Windows Analytics and Desktop Analytics?

 

Desktop Analytics is the successor of Windows Analytics, but people often consider the terms the same. Windows Analytics include Upgrade Readiness, Update Compliance and Device Health. Desktop Analytics includes all these services as well as it is integrated with Configuration Manager.

 

Benefits of Desktop Analytics

 

Desktop Analytics service provides following benefits:

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Benefits of Desktop Analytics

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Software and device inventory

 

It will provide an inventory of key factors, for example apps and Windows versions.

 

Pilot identification

 

Desktop Analytics helps in the identification of the smallest set of devices. It identifies the factors that are important to a pilot of Windows upgrades and updates.

 

Issue identification

 

The Desktop Analytics service predicts potential issues that incur staying current with Windows.

 

Configuration Manager integration

 

It enables existing on-premises infrastructure. 

 

(Suggested Read - Embedded Analytics)

 

 

What are the prerequisites of Desktop Analytics?

 

Before we tell you the process and steps involved in Desktop Analytics, let us deal with the prerequisites to setup Desktop Analytics. You can’t start the process before fulfilling these requirements:

 

1. To avail Desktop Analytics, ensure that you are using Configuration Manager version 1902.

 

2. Update roll-up of Configuration Manager with 4500571 or above.

 

3. Choose an administrator role in Configuration Manager.

 

4. Your device and system must be upgraded with the latest updates of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.

 

5. You must be using the prior latest version of SCCM client agent.

 

6. Your client agent version should be 5.00.8790.1025 or above.

 

7. Ensure the network connectivity from devices to the Microsoft public cloud.

 

8. The clients should interchange the diagnostic data.

 

9. An active Azure subscription is required with Global Admin permissions.

 

10. Utilize a Log Analytics Contributor and User Access Administrator on the resource group.

 

11. You can either use an existing workspace or create a new one in an existing resource group.

 

12. Owner or contributor permissions and User Access Administrator permissions are required to create a workspace in a new resource group.

 

13. Go through Desktop Analytics policy beforehand.

 

(Suggested Read - Business Analytics Vs Data Analytics)

 

License subscriptions required

 

For the process, any of the following License subscriptions is required:

 

1. Windows 10 Enterprise E3 or E5 or Microsoft 365 F1, E3, or E5.

 

2. Windows 10 Education A3 or A5 or Microsoft 365 A3 or A5.

 

3. Virtual Desktop access E3 or E5.

 

How to set up SCCM Desktop Analytics in the Azure portal?

 

Let us now understand the process and steps involved in setting up Desktop Analytics. In this blog we will be discussing the steps involved in setting up SCCM Desktop Analytics in Azure portal.

 

Steps For setting up Desktop Analytics

 

1. Login to Desktop Analytics portal with a global admin account.

 

2. A welcome screen will appear before you, click on start.

 

3. Accept the service agreement by clicking on Next icon.

 

4. Now, the screen will ask you to confirm your licensing subscription as mentioned in prerequisites.

 

5. Confirm your subscription, again click on Next.

 

6.  Now slide left of the screen to add workplace owners, these users can access Log Analytics using your Desktop Analytics portal.

 

7. Then click on the Next icon.

 

8. Clicking on continue, grant permissions to enter your data via Log Analytics.

 

For availing workplace data, use following keys:

 

1. Workspace name is the name of the workplace you just created.

 

2. Workspace ID is a unique identifier created by the system for your workspace.

 

3. Commercial ID key is the ID to map information from clients’ computers to your Azure workspace.

 

4. After the above steps, you will see a screen with ‘Go to Desktop Analytics’ button, that means you have successfully set up Desktop Analytics.

 

5.  After clicking ‘Go to Desktop Analytics’, you will see a message saying we are still working on your data.

 

It will take up to 72 hours for the system to proceed with your data if you are setting Desktop Analytics for the first time.

 

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Connecting SCCM with Desktop Analytics

 

Now, the next step is to connect SCCM with Desktop Analytics:

 

1. Open and launch SCCM console.

 

2. Follow Administrator > Overview > Cloud Services > Azure Services.

 

3. Click Azure Services, then click Configure Azure Services.

 

4. Feed a name in the box and select Desktop Analytics.

 

5. Select Azure environment and click Browse.

 

6. On the Server App screen click Create.

 

7. Specify application name, Homepage URI, and App ID URI.

 

8. After that, you can successfully sign in.

 

9. And an app will be created for you afterwards. Click Ok.

 

10. Clock Next to configure Windows data.

 

For configuring Windows diagnostic data

 

Now the next step is to configure Windows diagnostic data:

 

1. Make a Commercial ID note on the Diagnostic Data page.

 

2. You will be shown four options for diagnostic data level.

 

3. Select Enhanced as the Windows 10 diagnostic level.

 

4. Click Next.

 

5. Add additional collections to the deployment page using the Add option.

 

6. Click Next again.

 

7. Verify Summary page.

 

8. Your task is completed, click on Close.

 

Dashboard monitoring

 

After you have completed the above three steps, you can monitor the enrollment of devices. For this, navigate to Software Library > Overview > Desktop Analytics Servicing > Connection Health. 

 

The dashboard shows the following data:

 

1. Connection details.

 

2. Connection health.

 

3. Last syn information.

 

4. Configuration alerts.

 

5. Recent frequent enrollment blockers.

 

(Check out - Root cause Analysis)

 

There may be some errors and lagging in the process, but if you follow the above steps carefully, you can definitely set up Desktop Analytics and integrate it with the Configuration Manager.

 

Desktop Analytics can bring a new future to your organization and can help in fulfilling the need of upgrading your clients. If you are looking to add a new feature to your organization, you should set up Desktop Analytics for the purpose.