Introducing Windows 8.1 for IT Professionals: Technical Overview

NOTE: This title is also available as a free eBook. It is offered for sale in print format as a convenience. Get a head start evaluating Windows 8.1 - with early technical insights from award-winning journalist and Windows expert Ed Bott. Based on the Windows 8.1 Preview release, this guide introduces new features and capabilities, with scenario-based advice on how Windows 8.1 can meet the needs of your business. Get the high-level overview you need to begin preparing your deployment now. Preview new features and enhancements, including: * How features compare to Windows 7 and Windows XP * The Windows 8.1 user experience * Deployment * Security features * Internet Explorer 11 * Delivering Windows apps * Recovery options * Networking and remote access * Managing mobile devices * Virtualization * Windows RT 8.1 Cover 1 Copyright 2 Contents 3 Introduction 7 Acknowledgments 7 About the author 8 Errata & book support 8 We want to hear from you 8 Stay in touch 8 CHAPTER 1: An overview of Windows 8.1 9 What is Windows 8.1? 10 Support for new device types 10 User experience 11 User accounts and synchronization 13 New apps 14 What’s new for IT pros? 15 Security enhancements 15 Deployment and migration 18 Manageability 19 Virtualization 19 Under the hood 20 Windows 8.1 installation and upgrade options 21 CHAPTER 2: The Windows 8.1 user experience 23 Introducing the Windows 8.1 user experience 24 The Windows 8.1 desktop 27 Customizing the Start screen 30 Managing the user experience 32 CHAPTER 3: Deploying Windows 8.1 35 Windows 8.1 editions at a glance 35 Assessing compatibility 37 Choosing a deployment strategy 39 Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit 41 Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 42 Deployment and Imaging 42 Windows Preinstallation Environment 43 User State Migration Tool 43 Volume Activation Management Tool 45 Windows Performance Toolkit 45 Windows Assessment Toolkit 45 Windows Assessment Services 45 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 46 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 46 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager 47 Windows To Go 47 Who should use Windows To Go 48 Preparation and requirements 49 Management and security 50 Windows To Go workspace creation 52 CHAPTER 4: Security in Windows 8.1 55 Assessing the threat landscape 56 New hardware, new security capabilities 56 Securing the boot process 57 Securing the sign-in process 59 Blocking malware 60 Windows Defender 61 Internet Explorer 11 61 SmartScreen and phishing protection 63 Securing data 63 Device encryption 64 BitLocker Drive Encryption 64 Remote business data removal 65 CHAPTER 5: Internet Explorer 11 67 The two faces of Internet Explorer in Windows 8.1 67 What’s new in Internet Explorer 70 Deploying and managing Internet Explorer 11 72 Compatibility changes in Internet Explorer 11 75 CHAPTER 6: Delivering Windows Store apps 77 What is a Windows Store app? 78 How Windows Store apps work 79 Distributing a Windows Store app 82 Publishing an app to the Windows Store 82 Distributing apps within an enterprise 84 Managing Windows Store apps 87 CHAPTER 7: Recovery options in Windows 8.1 93 Using Windows Recovery Environment 93 Customizing Windows Recovery Environment 98 Refresh and reset options 99 Refresh Your PC 101 Reset Your PC 101 Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset 102 CHAPTER 8: Windows 8.1 and networks 105 What’s new in Windows 8.1 networking? 105 Mobile broadband support 106 Changes in the Wi-Fi user experience 106 Connecting to corporate networks 108 VPN client improvements 109 BranchCache 110 DirectAccess 110 IPv6 Internet support 111 CHAPTER 9: Virtualization in Windows 8.1 113 Client Hyper-V 114 Desktop virtualization options 116 Application virtualization 119 User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) 121 CHAPTER 10: Windows RT 8.1 123 What Windows RT 8.1 can and can’t do 124 Office 2013 RT 125 Connecting to corporate networks 127 Access to data 128 CHAPTER 11: Managing mobile devices 129 Mobile device management strategies 129 System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager 130 Windows Intune 132 Workplace Join 132 Work Folders 134 Web Application Proxy 138 Device lockdown (Assigned Access) 138 Survey Page 139 Based on the Windows 8.1 Preview release, this guide introduces new features and capabilities, with scenario-based advice on how the operating system can meet the needs of your business.