Microsoft government desktop optimization solutions

Introduction to desktop virtualization Windows Media Video file, 2:35 min.

Related solution U.S. Government Configuration Baseline (USGCB) Related links Building a technical proof of concept: Joint deployment of Windows 7 and Office 2010 Desktop deployment planning services Desktop energy savings calculator MDOP desktop virtualization and other management tools Podcast: How to jumpstart your desktop virtualization initiative Downloads Datasheet: Microsoft desktop optimization solutions for state and local government  Portable Document Format file, 388 KB IDC white paper: Optimizing infrastructure  Portable Document Format file, 1 MB Microsoft technology solutions for cybersecurity  Portable Document Format file, 306 KB Microsoft virtualization: From data center to desktop  Portable Document Format file, 6 MB Case studies City of Miami, Florida, uses Windows 7 to improve city services while lowering costs Fulton County, Georgia, government enhances IT security and manageability Products and technologies Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) Microsoft Forefront Client Security Microsoft System Center The 2007 Microsoft Office system Windows 7 Windows Phone 7       Share this on:     Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Government desktop optimization

Your agency is likely to realize significant value from an optimized desktop solution, including major operational improvements, both in the IT department and in public-facing functions. Chief benefits include:

• Strengthened data security to help you protect citizen privacy and government data and to help you be vigilant about monitoring outside threats.
• Centralized, streamlined management of desktop computers and other devices that can help lead to greater stability and reliability, faster problem resolution, faster software deployments with fewer issues, and reduced training requirements.
• Faster compliance with agency or government requirements and consistent enforcement of policies, including software license management, throughout the agency.
• Improved interagency communication and information sharing, including collaboration among small groups of users anytime and anywhere; secure information transfer across divisions and agencies; enriched online presence information; and IM for real-time communication.
• Reduced energy consumption through centralized system and energy management.
• Seamless and secure access to data and applications—even legacy applications—from any PC, no matter where users, and the citizens they serve, are located.

You should be prepared to address organizational and IT issues as part of the implementation process, including the following common issues:

• Your users may be accustomed to running with administrator rights instead of standard user rights.
• Your organization may have decentralized procurement and management of user desktops, which lead to multiple standards and configurations.
• Your line-of-business applications may ignore least user-privilege access (LUA) issues, so applications may fail when users log on with standard user privileges.
• Your users may be concerned that some standard settings are too restrictive for their current business needs.

Addressing these issues at the start will make it easier for you to implement a desktop optimization that can help your agency achieve your two most important objectives—delivering better service to citizens and increasing agency-wide efficiency.