As I mentioned in previous article that windows 8.1 is released now i will
discuss the new features in it, Windows 8 built to bring a modern computing
experience to businesses and to help professionals stay connected to their
colleagues and clients from anywhere, anytime. Windows 8.1 advances this
vision and introduces new manageability, mobility, security, user experience
and networking capabilities that will be available later this year – with the
goal of offering customers the best business tablets and versatile modern
business PCs driven by the most powerful operating system designed for
today’s modern businesses.
Below is a list of some of the new and updated features that we invite to you
test out when the Windows 8.1 experience becomes available later this
month.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Enhancements
Workplace Join
A Windows 8 PC was either domain joined or not. If it was a member of the
domain, the user could access corporate resources (if permissioned) and IT
could control the PC through group policy and other mechanisms. This
feature allows a middle ground between all or nothing access, allowing a user
to work on the device of their choice and still have access to corporate
resources With Workplace Join, IT administrators now have the ability to offer
finer-grained control to corporate resources. If a user registers their device,
IT can grant some access while still enforcing some governance parameters
on the device.
Work Folders
Work Folders allows a user to sync data to their device from their user folder
located in the corporation’s data center. Files created locally will sync back to
the file server in the corporate environment. This syncing is natively
integrated into the file system. Note, this all happens outside the firewall
client sync support. Previously, Windows 8 devices needed to be domain
joined (or required domain credentials) for access to file shares. Syncing
could be done with third-party folder replication apps. With Work Folders,
Users can keep local copies of their work files on their devices, with
automatic synchronization to your data center, and for access from other
devices. IT can enforce Dynamic Access Control policies on the Work Folder
Sync Share (including automated Rights Management) and require Workplace
Join to be in place.
Open MDM
While many organizations have investments with System Center and will
continue to leverage these investments we also know that many
organizations want to manage certain classes of devices, like tablets and
BYOD devices, as mobile devices. With Windows 8.1, you can use an OMA-DM
API agent to allow management of Windows 8.1 devices with mobile device
management products, like Mobile Iron or Air Watch.
Mobile Device Management
When a user enrolls their device, they are joining the device to the Windows
Intune management service. They get access to the Company Portal which
provides a consistent experience for access to their applications, data and to
manage their own devices. This allows a deeper management experience
with existing tools like Windows Intune. IT administrators now have deeper
policy management for Windows RT devices, and can manage Windows 8.1
PCs as mobile devices without having deploy a full management client.
Web Application Proxy
The Web Application Proxy is a new role service in the Windows Server
Remote Access role. It provides the ability to publish access to corporate
resources, and enforce multi-factor authentication as well as apply
conditional access policies to verify both the user’s identity and the device
they are using resources, and enforce multi-factor authentication as well as
verify the device being used before access is granted.
RDS Enhancements
Enhanced Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) in Windows Server 2012 R2
with improvements in management, value, and user experience. Session
Shadowing allows administrators to view and remotely control active user
sessions in an RDSH server. Disk dedupe and storage tiering allow for lower
cost storage options. User experience for RemoteApps, network connectivity
and multiple displays has been improved. Administrators can now easily
support users with session desktops to provide helpdesk style support.
Administrators now have even more flexible storage options to support a VDI
environment without expensive SAN investments. End users will find
RemoteApp behavior is more like local apps, and the experience in low-
bandwidth is better, with faster reconnects and improved compression, and
support for multiple monitors.
NFC Tap-to-pair Printing
Tap your Windows 8.1 device against an enterprise NFC-enabled printer and
you’re all set to print. No more hunting on your network for the correct printer
and no need to buy a special printer to take advantage of this functionality.
Simply attach an NFC tag to your existing printers to enable this functionality.
Wi-Fi Direct Printing
Connect to Wi-Fi Direct printers without adding additional drivers or software
on your Windows 8.1 device, forming a peer-to-peer network between your
device and the printer.
Native Miracast Wireless Display
Present your work wirelessly with no connection cords needed; just pair with
a Miracast-enabled projector via NFC and Miracast will use Wi-Fi to let you
project wire-free.
Mobility Enhancements
VPN
We have added support for a wider range of VPN clients in both Windows and
Windows RT devices. We have also added the ability to have an app
automatically trigger VPN connections.
Mobile Broadband
At Windows 8 launch, the devices had embedded radios that were separate
components within the devices. Windows 8.1 supports embedded wireless
radio, which gives you increased power savings, longer battery life, also
enables thinner form factors and lower cost devices.
Windows To Go
With Windows To Go in Windows 8.1, the Windows Store is enabled by
default. Windows To Go users may roam to any number of machines and
access the Windows Store and use Windows Store apps.
Broadband Tethering
Turn your Windows 8.1 mobile broadband-enabled PC or tablet into a
personal Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing other devices to connect and access the
internet.
Auto-triggered VPN
When you select an app or resource that needs access through the inbox VPN
– like a company’s intranet site – Windows 8.1 will automatically prompt you
to sign in with one click. This feature will be available with Microsoft and
third-party inbox VPN clients.
Security Enhancements
Remote Business Data Removal
Corporations now have more control over corporate content which can be
marked as corporate, encrypted, and then be wiped when the relationship
between the corporation and user has ended. Corporate data can now be
identified as corporate vs. user, encrypted, and wiped on command using EAS
or EAS + OMA-DM protocol. This capability is requires implementation in the
client application and in the server application (Mail + Exchange Server). The
client application determines if the wipe simply makes the data inaccessible
or actually deletes it.
Improved Biometrics
All SKUs will include end to end biometric capabilities that enable
authenticating with your biometric identity anywhere in Windows (Windows
sign-in, remote access, User Account Control, etc.). Windows 8.1 will also be
optimized for fingerprint based biometrics and will include a common
fingerprint enrollment experience that will work with a variety of readers
(touch, swipe). Modern readers are touch based rather than swipe and include
liveliness detection that prevents spoofing (e.g.: silicon emulated
fingerprints). Access to Windows Store Apps, functions within them, and
certificate release can be gated based on verification of a user’s biometric
identity.
Pervasive Device Encryption
Device encryption previously found on Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 is
now available in all editions of Windows. It is enabled out of the box and can
be configured with additional BitLocker protection and management capability
on the Pro and Enterprise SKUs. Consumer devices are automatically
encrypted and protected when using a Microsoft account. Data on any
Windows connected standby device is automatically protected (encrypted)
with device encryption. Organizations that need to manage encryption can
easily take add additional BitLocker protection options and manageability to
these devices.
Improved Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 11 improvements include faster page load times, side-by-
side browsing of your sites, enhanced pinned site notifications, and app
settings like favorites, tabs and settings sync across all your Windows 8.1
PCs. Internet Explorer 11 now includes capability that enables an antimalware
solution to scan the input for a binary extension before it’s passed onto the
extension for execution
Malware Resistance
Windows Defender, Microsoft’s free antivirus solution in Windows 8, will
include network behavior monitoring to help detect and stop the execution of
known and unknown malware. Internet Explorer will scan binary extensions
(e.g. ActiveX) using the antimalware solution before potentially harmful code
is executed.
Device Lockdown
With Assigned Access, a new feature offered in Windows 8.1 RT, Windows
8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise, you can enable a single Windows Store
application experience on the device. This can be things like a learning
application for kids in an educational setting or a customer service application
at a boutique, Assigned Access can ensure the device is delivering the
intended experience. In our Windows Embedded 8.1 industry product, we
deliver additional lockdown capabilities to meet the needs of industry devices
like point of sale systems, ATMs, and digital signs.
Modern UI Experience
Variable, Continuous Size of Snap Views
You have more ways to see multiple apps on the screen at once. You can
resize apps to nearly infinite sized windows, share the screen between two
apps, or have up to three apps on each monitor.
Boot to Desktop
We have made configuration options available which will allow you to boot
directly to the desktop in Windows 8.1.
Desktop and Start Screen
Improvements have been made to better support users who prefer a mouse
and keyboard experience to access applications.
These are just some of the key features available in Windows 8.1 We
These are just some of the key features available in Windows 8.1 We
encourage you to test out and try these features when you evaluate Windows
8.1 for use both in your work environment as well as at home in your personal
life. Please note that Windows Server 2012 R2 may be required in order for
some of these features to be available.
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