Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 New Features

EUFI In | Enhances Boot Security and Bios Out

All  the new computers with Windows 8 installed will be required to have the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) in order to boot up with unlike the traditional Basic Input Output System (BIOS). This is meant to speed up the boot times for Windows machines and protect them against those pesky Rootkit Viruses that have caused problems for many years. 

This UEFI experience will help IT outsourcing departments drastically by saving time which normally gets wasted byVirus infections. Windows 8 will launch an Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM) that will allow IT consultants to perform Malware removals before the operating system boots up. The UEFI will also contains remote access allowing IT consultant's access to a pre-Operating System environment. This will reduce the need to send a technician on-site to perform many diagnostic repairs including removals of Malware, instead tasks can be done on the network. Many managed services can also be performed through the EUFI. 

In Windows 8 you will see much faster boot times than the previous Windows Versions. This will save IT administrator's time because the restarts will not require as much downtime. The UEFI is still facing some controversy because users will be required to the feature off for people who want to dual-boot their computers. 

A  new Tablet Experience

Windows x86 tablets will likely have full enterprise support like we have seen in the iPad, iPhone, and many of the Blackberry phones. Windows users will also be able to use the full version of Microsoft Office 2013 and many more applications that fully install on Windows 8 platform. This will be great for IT technicians as they will be able to use the full networking features identical to Windows 8. This might be different however on the Tablets with ARM processors bearing the Windows Run Time operating system. 

Taking Windows to go

Very similar to how Linux can be loaded completely from a USB drive and ran on any single computer, Windows will be able to have the same feature. In the new version of Windows 8 Enterprise a feature called Windows To Go that can install a full version of Windows 8 on a USB drive 32GB or more. 

This feature is confirmed to run on Windows 8 PC's and Windows 7 too, hopefully this will be the same on Windows Vista and XP computers also. Windows To Go will be specifically beneficial to IT technicians and temporary contractors because they will be able to use features such as Active Directory and BitLocker to defend against any information being misplaced or stolen. This might also be a very beneficial tool for Backups as it will provide an exact copy of your computer if you want. 

New Network Types for Roaming and Wireless

Many network types are now added for Windows 8. Features that accommodate to 3G/4G networks will be available through the EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA, AKA Prime protocols for network authentication. Windows 8 will also allow universities and enterprises to authenticate PC's on their network and there will be no more reason to install 3rd Party program. This will save both IT Technicians and users time and headaches. 

Windows has finally solved roaming in between WiFi carriers just like cell phone carriers can change from tower to tower. The Wireless Internet Services Provider roaming (WISPr) protocol will allow users to change from one hotspot to the next, regardless of their ISP carrier.

Network Improvements

IT Technicians and administrators will see the benefit of the new networking features that Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 includes. A new Server Message Block (SMB) protocol now improves file sharing, network strength, administration and security features by transparent failovers and encryption. Along with an improved SMB, Native network interface card (NIC) teaming provides network load balancing and failover protection by bonding multiple network interfaces. 

Recovery Options - Refresh and Reset

Windows 8 brings two new recovery options to the table called Refresh, and Reset. This could save IT technician's time and money when a PC gets corrupted or infected with malware. Both of these recovery options are available through the new boot Windows Recovery Environment. 

Reset - This feature does exactly what it sounds like. It will reset your PC to a brand new PC by removing all data and reinstalls Windows. With the BitLocker function enabled this process will take about 10 minutes, and 25 minutes if it is disabled according to Microsoft. One option allows users to simply erase and reformat, through the Regular Option; the other option scrambles code in the previous installation making it much more difficult to recovery any information, this is called Thorough option.

Refresh - This feature allows users to re-install Windows 8 but keeps their applications and user files while doing this task. All in under 10 minutes Windows will backup as much user information as needed and install a new version of Windows, keeping all of the programs in an HTML file, but not the licenses. If you create a Windows Image Backup before this process you can restore all settings and applications to normal again without sacrificing any loss of data.

Windows 8 and Server 2012 will offer users a whole new experience for their systems. IT Technicians are also able to service networks much easier and more effectively.