Parallels releases Parallels Mac Management 3.1

Parallels has launched an update to Parallels Mac Management, software that extends Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) functionality to Mac computers. Parallels Mac Management enables IT departments to discover, enroll and manage Mac machines just as they do existing PCs – all through a single pane of glass.

Taking Mac management further than native SCCM, this latest version offers new software distribution capabilities that benefit both IT administrators and end users, including the ability for Mac users to install approved software, features for planning hardware refresh cycles accurately, improvements that empower IT administrators to make their Mac computers more secure using advanced encryption techniques, and a streamlined process for enrolling Mac computers in SCCM on large corporate networks.

With Parallels Mac Management 3.1, businesses can: 

· Manage and control Mac computers by leveraging their existing SCCM infrastructure, resources and talent

· Gain full visibility into the Mac computers coming onto their networks

· Take control and take action on those machines as they would on PCs – all while working in the same familiar environment

· Easily leverage Mac technologies, such as the configuration manager, to secure Mac computers

· Deploy and manage Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition, as well as other virtual machines – key for Mac users who need access to business-critical Windows apps

· Introduces the ability to manage Macs running Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, via Microsoft SCCM

“Features and improvements made in this latest version of Parallels Mac Management for SCCM were added in direct response to requests from customers and prospects, and we are very excited to bring a product to market that will make IT administrators’ lives easier,” said Jack Zubarev, Parallels President. “We know that managing Macs in the enterprise can feel like a lawless wild west, and we are working to change that by offering products that make configuration, deployment and overall management of Macs in business environments more efficient and secure.”

Parallels Mac Management 3.1 includes a number of new features:

· Application Portal for Mac, which allows Mac users to install approved software even without administrative rights

· Mac warranty (AppleCare) status reporting, which lets IT plan hardware refresh cycles better

· Support for unique FileVault 2 personal recovery keys and the ability to escrow these keys, which increases security by encrypting Mac computers on the network

· Support for PKI and HTTPS, which enables support for an SCCM infrastructure operating in secure HTTPS mode

· Network discovery user interface (UI) improvements, which enable the use of SCCM site boundary information in network discovery configuration settings—this means huge time savings for IT administrators who need to scan large corporate networks

Parallels offers resources for IT departments as they go through the proof of concept and implementation process for Parallels Mac Management. These include a hosted test lab programme that lets IT professionals test Parallels Mac Management before installing it, and a JumpStart Program that includes Parallels Mac Management for one year on up to 100 Mac computers, as well as 10 hours of assisted installation and configuration support.

Parallels Mac Management is part of a larger suite of products for cross-platform environments. Other offerings include: 

• Parallels Access for Business, a remote access application for iPad, iPhone and Android devices that lets people run PC and Mac applications on their devices with touch gestures; 
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition to run Windows apps on Macs; and 
• Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition, which allows IT managers can support Windows applications for Mac users with a configurable, policy-compliant solution that fits seamlessly into their existing business processes.

Parallels Mac Management is available immediately and starts at US$30 annually per Mac. Parallels Access for Business starts at US$49.99 per year for five computers. Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition starts at US$100 per year per Mac.