Windows 8 launch is set for October and with that Microsoft are releasing new information every week and this week they are informing us about the different versions of Windows 8 that will launch. The version we are talking about now is the Enterprise versions. This will bring with it all the features of previous versions and a few extras. Let’s take a look at the extra features coming with the Enterprise version.
- Windows To Go is a fully manageable corporate Windows 8 desktop on a bootable external USB stick. This will allow IT organizations to support the “Bring Your Own PC” trend and businesses can give contingent staff access to the corporate environment without compromising security.
- DirectAccess allows remote users to seamlessly access resources inside a corporate network without having to launch a separate VPN and helps IT administrators keep remote users’ PCs in compliance by applying the latest policies, software updates, is easier to deploy, and it can be implemented with the existing IPv4 infrastructure.
- BranchCache allows users’ PCs to cache files, websites, and other content from central servers, so content is not repeatedly downloaded across the wide area network (WAN). When used with Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 brings several improvements to BranchCache to streamline the deployment process, optimize bandwidth over WAN connections and ensure better security and scalabilty.
- AppLocker can help mitigate issues by restricting the files and apps that users or groups are allowed to run.
- VDI enhancements: Enhancements in Microsoft RemoteFX and Windows Server 2012, provide users with a rich desktop experience with the ability to play 3D graphics, use USB peripherals and use touch-enabled devices across any type of network (LAN or WAN) for VDI scenarios.
- New Windows 8 App Deployment: Domain joined PCs and tablets running Windows 8 Enterprise will automatically be enabled to side-load internal, Windows 8 Metro style apps.
It is nice to see that with the different versions there is actually decent feature gains and not just an increase in the price tag. The windows To Go feature is something that stands out the most and I personally can see that being extremely useful and that is assuming it will work correctly. There is no doubt a few very useful features available for this version of Windows and we do hope there isn’t a huge price jump between other versions as to make it easier to pick the best one for your needs. As it stand the home edition will probably be the most chosen, we just hope it’s not because of the price.
