Windows to Go - Worth Evaluating!

Ok, so Microsoft has now made available Windows 8 RTM and since the launch of the consumer and release previews we have been testing a number of the key features that will make Windows 8 a compelling move. One such compelling reason is Windows to Go.

WTG has been accessible since the previews were made available but needed to be created via command line. Now with RTM Microsoft has enabled the creation of a Windows to Go desktop through the GUI, albeit the HCL for the supported USB devices is restricted to Kingston at the time of writing this. Although the old method of creating WTG via command line still appears to work fine with any USB 2 or 3 device.

Part of the Windows 8 Enterprise edition includes Windows To Go which will enable users to access their Windows 8 corporate image from a USB drive.
IT administrators will have the capability to build their corporate or divisional desktops on USB drives, so they can determine the exact OS experience their users will have. Users can then boot that image from any x64 PC at any location, regardless of whether they are online.

IT administrators are able to control the environment their users work in certainly supporting the BYOD message, all through a single BitLocker encrypted USB device.

Employees should like Windows To Go because their devices will retain the same user interface and provide access the same apps and programs. Plus if there is one thing they are familiar with its USB devices.

No matter what device the user logs on to no data will be stored on their computers. Simply removing a Windows To Go drive from any device causes the system to shut down just 60 seconds later—without leaving a footprint.
So WTG a simple way to deploy, manage and secure desktops that is only restricted by your imagination. Imagine a WTG environment leveraging BitLocker To Go, O365, DirectAccess, App-V and SkyDrivePro managed through InTune. Now there is a compelling proposition to support both corporate assets and personal devices.

Need help on migrating from XP to Windows 8 or defining your EUC strategy then contact us.