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Many IT administrators must now manage an increased volume of remote workstations and laptops. Scripts can help them take bulk actions on those machines, but they face a challenge in selecting a solution that can accommodate all remote machines.
Admins with an Active Directory® instance can run select PowerShell commands on remote Windows® systems without additional configuration. To run the full suite of PowerShell commands and run scripts on those machines, they need to configure PowerShell remoting. However, even with this configuration in place, they likely need to seek additional solutions to achieve comparable functionality on macOS® and Linux® workstations and laptops.
However, there are ways admins can consolidate system management in one platform and run scripts on remote machines, regardless of operating system. One such solution is JumpCloud® Directory-as-a-Service® — through which admins can run scripts on all remote workstations and laptops without additional networking or VPN requirements.
Cross-Platform System Management with JumpCloud
JumpCloud can serve as either a comprehensive AD identity bridge or a standalone cloud directory service. Using JumpCloud’s Active Directory Integration, AD admins can extend AD identities to Windows, macOS, and Linux workstations and laptops without binding them directly to AD.
That way, users enter their core credentials at login, and admins achieve deep, cross-platform system management from a web-based console. Once machines are bound to JumpCloud, admins can run remote scripts on those machines in bulk. Here’s how it works.
Remote Command Management
One key system management feature is the remote command runner. In the JumpCloud Admin Portal, admins can enter and run commands on systems, no matter where they’re located.
Admins can use pre-written commands from JumpCloud’s command gallery or create their own — in PowerShell, Bash, and Shell, for example — and deploy them to individual systems or groups of systems, usually by OS. Commands can be run manually, on a schedule, or triggered by webhooks.
They can be used to do everything from patching the Zoom zero-day vulnerability to installing applications when paired with a package manager, as well as deploying files and handling maintenance activities. With free, open-source package managers like Chocolatey for Windows and AutoPKG for macOS, admins can download and update applications to those machines.
Admins can take such actions in bulk by creating system-specific groups — such as a group for all macOS systems — and apply a script to all of them at once. Commands are an important tool, particularly as both IT teams and their users work outside the office and admins look for tools to ensure organizational security remains strong.
The Admin Portal also features GPO-like Policies, which can be applied based on operating system as well. They allow for further configuration of machines, such as enforcing full-disk encryption and requiring lock screens after a certain number of seconds of inactivity.
Learn More about Remote Management
If you’re interested in learning more about remote management with JumpCloud, we’ve compiled a resource with everything from industry best practices to specific tools JumpCloud offers to help. Click here to read our Admin Guide to Working from Home with JumpCloud.
