Windows Tablets Controlled by Cloud
Windows RT is the name given to Windows 8 when it runs on ARM processors rather than Intel. Sometimes I think Microsoft just does all this crazy naming to confuse us.
Here's something else confusing about Windows RT. Unlike Windows 8, it won't run Active Directory (AD), which makes it more difficult for IT to authenticate these tablets.
That's where a new way of managing devices from Microsoft based on the cloud comes in.
AD is a broad-based form of management that includes authentication. The new approach for Windows RT seems to focus on the apps themselves and provides permission on a per-program basis through a new self-service-portal (SSP).
The SSP is really like an apps store for both commercial and custom apps. In fact, SSP includes apps from the Windows Store itself.
The difference is the end-user authenticates through SSP, which itself can be configured to authenticate the corporation's management infrastructure. AD authentication problem hopefully solved.
You can dive into the details here.
Posted by Doug Barney on 05/29/2012 at 12:47 PM