Windows 8 to Offer Improvements for Government Users

Microsoft is set to release Windows 8 this fall. Michele Bedford Thistle, Marketing Manager, Worldwide Public Sector, took some time to share why she is excited about the release and how new features will provide an improved experience for government users. In her post she identifies three core features of Windows 8 for government customers. Michele cites that Windows 8 will support new ways of working, security, and unified administration of all devices.

The three areas that Michele lists are critical for government agencies. As Michele identifies, the mobile revolution has made the workforce desire increasing flexibility. Tablets and smartphones have now allowed us to compose documents, check email, share resources, and connect virtually. We can even sit in meetings on the go. As much as we desire a work/life balance, our worlds are continually getting blended together.

Michele states, “Whether government employees are working from their tablet, laptop or Windows phone, they will have the same intuitive experience to carry out their daily work. That includes having support for a consistent, touch-enabled experience, as well as access to their data and apps from any Windows-based device.”

With the increasingly mobile environment which the workforce operates in, security is becoming more and more of a concern. Cyber-security is constantly one of the top ranked priorities for IT departments. Michele shared an article from GCN which provides an interesting look at the security improvements behind Windows 8. The article states, “Microsoft has significantly reduced the attack surface of Windows 8, raising the bar for attackers targeting the new version of the operating system, said Chris Valasek, a senior security researcher at Coverity who has been examining early releases of the new operating system.”

The final element for Windows 8 is integration of multiple devices. Bring your own device is a hot topic in the workplace. For BYOD to really take off, there remains barriers legally, especially in terms of who owns data, the blurred use of private and personal uses, employee reimbursements. The good news is that these challenges are quickly being addressed in government, and technology is in place to allow BYOD to really take off.

Michele confirms this, as she states, “The great news about Windows 8 is that it takes a great deal of complexity out of this process, enabling government administrators to manage these devices within a centralized environment. That includes being able to provide end users with access to their data and apps on any device and having the ability to manage Windows PC and tablet users from the cloud.”

The three elements that Michele cites for Windows 8 are tightly integrated, you cannot have increased mobility without integration of devices, and security crosses all different kinds of services.

It will be exciting to see what kind of other features are available for Windows 8, and how government can leverage the software.

What features do you want to see in Windows 8?

Every day at Microsoft we are motivated and inspired by how our customers use our software to find creative solutions to business problems, develop breakthrough ideas, and stay connected to what’s most important to them. Check out their Microsoft Productivity for Government group on GovLoop as well as the Technology Sub-Community of which they are a council member.