Whats new in Windows 8.1

Microsoft Reveals New Key Business Enhancements with Windows 8.1

The launch of Windows 8 in August 2012 saw Microsoft clearly focus its new flagship operating system towards home users, making way for a wave of new portable touch devices. This focus has resulted in a comparatively slow uptake in the traditional business desktop market. However, this is tipped to change shortly with Microsoft’s recently announced Windows 8.1 upgrade, which includes a whole host of key business advantages.

With the industry continuing to promote a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture, Microsoft has significantly increased the ease with which this approach can be achieved. Access to corporate resources via Workplace Join is a great example. This new networking mode enables users to connect to their workplace domain even when the device is not explicitly a member of the Windows Domain.

A host of new features designed to help simplify your employees’ access to key network resources and applications accompany the BYOD approach. These include the auto-triggering of VPN clients when users remotely access corporate applications, and the introduction of automatic data synchronisation between the user’s devices and their network folders.

Security enhancements – including anti-malware software and Mobile Device Management with remote business-data-wipe capability – are all essential in encouraging the safe use of user-owned devices on sensitive corporate networks.

Trident are busy planning ahead of these changes to help customers access and integrate Windows 8.1 features, and will continue to provide Windows 8 compatibility assessments to help prepare for the inevitable user demand for the native flexibility and remote working capabilities Windows 8.1 has to offer.

A full list of Windows 8.1 enhancements is available in this Microsoft TechNet article.