Configuration Manager Cloud Management Gateways

• Cloud management gateways allow Internet-connected Windows clients PCs to be managed by on-premises Configuration Manager infrastructure.
• They do not address mobile devices, Windows Servers, or any other non-Windows clients.
• There is additional cost complexity to consider for content distribution through Azure.

Cloud management gateways (CMGs) are very simple Azure VM–based infrastructure that allows Internet-connected clients to connect to an existing on-premises Configuration Manager infrastructure remotely. While clients must have Internet connectivity for this to work, they do not require connectivity back to the organization’s internal network, which can expand client management without significant security impact. Microsoft has designed the CMG approach to be as point-and-shoot as possible, and while CMGs are not as straightforward as a managed service such as Intune, they require no maintenance of the CMG VM by the organization once deployed. CMGs are intended solely for Windows client PC management, not for management of Apple Macs, Windows Server systems, Linux, or mobile devices.