Windows 8 the platform for Converged Devices

I recently watched an edition of the Channel 4 program ‘Undercover Millionaire’. Now some will enjoy the fly on the wall documentary, and some will not, nevertheless I couldn’t help but be humbled as several less fortunate folks were given a huge boost by the recognition provided. This reminded me of a recent letter we received at SaintGroup from a customer, importantly, highlighting how the services used impact their ability to deliver to their Core Purpose as a business. “The service SaintGroup delivers makes a direct difference to the lives of people in difficult situations and they are frustrated when hampered in their efforts.  I guess we are the ones that feel the heat when their passion is slowed!”

When everything is running smoothly, the delivery of IT services for most is “out of sight, out of mind”. Clearly IT is an enabler for both small and enterprise businesses; however when things start to go a little awry then IT services delivery can become a front and centre controversial conversation!! As an IT Managed Services provider SaintGroup’s Core Purpose is to allow you and your business to focus on your Core Business.

So will the next generation of Microsoft products and in particular the new Operating System Release Windows 8, be ready for business?

I was fortunate to be at the recent Global Microsoft Conference aimed at supporting Microsoft Partners, (WPC). At one of the keynotes Microsoft’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner was talking about plans for the current year ahead. The biggest launch for the company, of course, will be Windows 8. With Windows 8, "for the first time in the history of operating systems, we'll have the same user experience across the smartphone, tablet, slate, laptop, desktop and television with the Metro user interface,

He went on to comment “Windows 8 is the biggest deal for our company (Microsoft) in at least 17 years.” The conference announcement that the public availability of Windows 8 will be October this year, means that it is less than three months away! So when does your planning start?

I have been asking myself for some time if the upcoming Windows 8 release is ready for Business Use and will support the transformational journey for SaintGroup and our Customers! My conclusion is very clearly yes and the evidence I believe is there to support this.

Just consider some of the key Windows 8 family features:

• An intuitive user interface, with “live” Metro tiles, works seamlessly with both Touch and / or Keyboard & Mouse, which makes for more information at your fingertips as live data is auto updated on the live tiles. With the Windows 7 desktop, you already know a single click away from the start screen.

• A convergent device strategy delivered for business irrespective of device choice. This is the competition leveller for Microsoft; no other vendor has an enterprise class consistent operating system family available across the range of hardware devices! Many manufacturers are preparing the release of next generation devices in time for the release of Windows 8. Also not to forget Microsoft themselves entering the tablet hardware market with the Microsoft Surface, potentially another game changer in the tablet market.

• Windows to Go is a cost-effective solution for alternative workplace scenarios. It is a unique and powerful tool that will support a number of business scenarios including a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ strategy. In Windows 8 Enterprise, IT administrators can provide employees with a corporate Windows image on a compatible USB storage device that includes line-of-business apps, settings, and corporate data. With Windows To Go, employees get a rich, consistent, and personalized Windows 8 experience that’s as secure as a fully managed PC. When they shut down, they can remove the USB device and no data is left on the host PC.

Features for business built in:

• With lower specification requirements it is fast and will operate on many existing hardware in place.
• Direct Access, remote access technology allowing access to the corporate network without having to launch a separate virtual private network (VPN)
• Consistent policy across devices, a common Policy Management approach is easier to enforce.
• Branch Cache downloads files and apps from a corporate headquarters, storing this data in the branch office. Client PCs in the branch office can access the content locally, rather than repeatedly downloading it from headquarters.
• Security improvements with upgraded BitLocker, AppLocker. 

• Windows 8 for Applications, provides the blend of all the full traditional Client Applications you use today including LOB Applications, Office, Outlook and Sharepoint and many new Metro Apps, smaller applets designed for a specific function and may often link on to web based on data centre hosted applications!

• Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core Operating System as its full blown sibling. This will deliver benefits around policy management, security with built in encryption and business productivity with the consistency for Business. Many Integrated Apps include Office and Outlook and Turn by Turn Navigation Map integration. Apps can be added via the public Microsoft Store or Partner or Company Stores for LOB App Deployment.

Windows 8 is great for businesses because it delivers the experiences people will love and the enterprise-grade capabilities that IT departments need.

All this goes to demonstrate that not only is Microsoft thinking about business, it is delivering for business and the next few months will see an enabler for a new level of IT efficiency and productivity, Windows Reimagined, and with SaintGroup Managed Services’ decision to deploy Microsoft Systems Centre 2012, we are ready to support your business on that roadmap with Windows 8 deployment.

What is your business’s Core Purpose? Does the IT delivered in your organisation help or hinder the delivery of that Core Purpose? SaintGroup delivers a range of Managed Services tailored to suit the customers’ business drivers and works in partnership as the trusted advisor with our customers to support their transformation journey, a journey built around the core needs within your business for:

• Data Centre Optimisation
• End User Compute Optimisation
• Business Productivity Services

Let SaintGroup take the complexity out of your infrastructure. If you would like to understand how SaintGroup can support your business transformational journey, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .