Windows Optimized Desktop scenarios
There is a growing expectation that people will be able to work from anywhere and have access to their data at any time. While this increases productivity, it also introduces additional management and security burdens for an organization's IT department. Although it is important to deliver flexible configurations, provide offline access to data and applications, and enable people to customize their PC environment, IT departments are also required to manage which applications users should have access to, ensure data is being backed up, and provide an option to centrally execute applications which use sensitive data or require high data transfer bandwidth.
Traditionally, the desktop computing model has been one where the operating system, applications, and user data and settings are bonded to a single computer, making it difficult for users to move from one PC to another in case of upgrades or a lost or stolen laptop. Depending on the usage scenario and business needs, the right level of balance between user flexibility and centralized control would be different across various organizations and even across various user groups within each organization. The Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios give organizations the ability to choose the client computing scenarios that best meet the unique needs of their businesses. Windows Vista Enterprise, the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), System Center, and Windows Server 2008 offer technologies which enable the decoupling of the traditional desktop stack, making desktop management more efficient and easing change and user migration, while providing the end user with access to their applications and data where and when they need it.
There is no "one size fits all" solution; with technologies such as Folder Redirection and Offline Files and Folders, Microsoft Application Virtualization, Terminal Services, Virtual PC 2007, and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, organizations can create a flexible desktop environment—one where users can log on to any PC and have the same familiar environment and access to applications and data, while enabling IT departments to reduce costs and become more agile in delivering applications and data services that are compliant with their data security and regulatory requirements. By using some or all of these technologies together, organizations can provide very flexible solutions to support many user scenarios.
Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios - Solution Accelerator
A Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios - Solution Accelerator is available as a free download to assist with the technology selection process. With this guidance and selection tool, an IT organization can make a structured evaluation of desktop user requirements and their fit within one or more scenarios. Read more here.
Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware.