The Edge : DirectAccess

Is Windows 7 a Grand Slam Hit?

tonybradley — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:11:00 GMT

Recent surveys suggest that businesses are ready to embrace and deploy Windows 7 en masse as soon as Redmond makes it available. Traditionally, businesses are slow to adopt new operating systems. Its like waiting for the second model year of a new automobile...(read more)

Application Compatibility Toolkit for Windows 7

tonybradley — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:36:00 GMT

Windows 7 will be here before you know it. So far, Windows 7 is getting much attention and rave reviews in its Beta version. The improvements from Windows Vista to Windows 7 are exciting and the new features like DirectAccess and JumpLists have many enterprises...(read more)

Paving The Way for DirectAccess

tonybradley — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:19:00 GMT

Windows 7 has a lot of exciting features both for consumers and enterprises. One of the most promising features for enterprises is DirectAccess . DirectAccess makes VPN connections obsolete and provides seamless connectivity between the internal enterprise...(read more)

Windows 7: Overview of DirectAccess

tonybradley — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:03:00 GMT

For businesses with remote users that rely on VPN connections to securely access data and resources on the corporate network, DirectAccess offers a very compelling business case for Windows 7. VPN connections can be complex and cumbersome for users. Conversely...(read more)

Windows 7 Manageability Overview

tonybradley — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:51:00 GMT

Combined with Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 will provide enterprises with unprecedented manageability and whole new methods for networking and administering clients. Microsoft has put together a white paper providing a detailed look at the new management...(read more)

Attend Windows 7: To the Beta and Beyond

tonybradley — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 12th Microsoft's Springboard program will be hosting another Virtual Roundtable broadcast. Windows 7: To the Beta and Beyond will start at 11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern time. Join Mark Russinovich and a panel of subject matter...(read more)

SMB's May Be Disappointed With Windows 7 Professional

tonybradley — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:42:00 GMT

Microsoft today unveiled the various versions of Windows 7 that will be available when the new flagship desktop operating system launches. Here is a table of the versions an the features available in each: Some versions like the Starter version (aimed...(read more)

DirectAcess in Windows 7

tonybradley — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:05:00 GMT

One of the big frustrations for IT administrators is how to administer and maintain mobile systems. Whether conducting an asset inventory, a risk assessment, a vulnerability scan, or trying to manage system configurations and deploy patches, mobile systems are always somewhat of a wildcard. Many administrators actually have no idea just how many such systems are floating about or what their current state is. Until or unless the systems connect locally or VPN into the network, they are just rogue systems operating as islands unto themselves. It can be an administrative and compliance headache, if not nightmare.

Windows 7 has a very promising solution that seems like it can solve those issues for IT administrators. DirectAccess enables IT administrators to manage mobile computers...directly. That means that as long as the mobile computer has an Internet connection it can receive Group Policy settings, software distributions, and patch updates. The user does not even have to be logged on. With the growing number of users relying on laptops and other mobile computing devices, the ability for IT administrators to manage and protect those systems (and the data they contain) is critical.

DirectAccess uses IPv6-over-IPSec to encrypt data as it is transmitted over the public Internet. DirectAccess authenticates the computer and the user to the corporate network and even supports multi-factor authentication methods such as smartcards.

I will post a much more in depth look at how DirectAccess works and more details about how it will benefit organizations and IT administrators in the near future. For now, suffice it to say that I feel like DirectAccess is a huge advantage for Windows 7 and a feature that many corporate IT administrators will be drooling over.