Microsoft has announced the public beta of Windows Intune - a cloud-based Windows management and security service that will essentially offer small and medium businesses (SMBs) a low-cost, Web-based solution for managing updates, monitoring Windows endpoints to protect them from malware, setting security policies, tracking hardware and software inventory, and providing remote backing.

The beta – which will make Microsoft’s desktop virtulization tools, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), available to SMBs lacking a Software Assurance license - is open to the first 1,000 organizations that sign up from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Talking about the Windows Intune cloud-based management tool aimed chiefly at SMBs, Microsoft spokesperson told Network World: “The benefits that Windows Intune customers get are similar to Microsoft Software Assurance program for Windows. Customers do not need a SA agreement to access the MDOP tools available as part of Windows Intune. It's a great alternative for customers who don't need SA but still want the tools.”

One of the key features of the MDOP is a desktop virtualization tool, App-V, created by Softricity – a company that Microsoft acquired in 2006; and limited the access of the tool only to users who bought its Software Assurance licenses.

Furthermore, Windows Intune also features Windows 7 Enterprise upgrade rights that will allow SMBs to standardize their PCs on a single version of Windows, so as to create a more manageable PC environment.