10 Windows 8 features that could help improve your

business

Page 2 10 Windows 8 features that could help improve your business

A look at Windows 8 business features that will persuade companies to upgrade

Microsoft has packed Windows 8 full of features that

will appeal to businesses, from workflow and usability

enhancements to new management tools and security

innovations. Here are ten Windows 8 features that could help

improve your business.

1. End-to-end operating system

Windows 8 runs on desktop PCs, notebooks, tablets

and phones, enabling businesses to standardise on a single

operating platform across the organisation, making IT

management simpler.

But that’s not all. IT functions such as application

integration, software patching and updating, asset control,

backup and restore, and application lifecycle management

all become easier when you are working with one operating

environment.

Furthermore, businesses that adopt 64-bit Windows 8

desktops, notebooks and tablets can standardise on 64-bit

images and 64-bit apps - right across the business. With 64-bit

computing, the processor can address more RAM which makes

applications perform at higher levels. This is particularly useful

for processor-intensive applications like high-definition video

and high-volume data processing, although any app optimised

for 64bit will perform better than its 32bit counterpart.

In addition, having an end-to-end operating system enables

the business to give employees the right machine for them.

It might be a powerful desktop PC such as the HP EliteDesk,

or a highly-portable notebook like the HP EliteBook 840 or

1040. It could even be the Elitebook Revolve 810, an ultra-thin

notebook that rotates in an instant to become a tablet.

All of these HP devices offer a combination of Intel 64-bit

processing and Windows 8, with its user-friendly touchscreen

interface, bringing new business efficiencies across the

organisation.

2. New computing devices

New and exciting hardware devices can have a positive

disruptive influence on the business.

They bring to the organisation highly portable, always-

on computing. With them come powerful processing, cloud

apps that can be accessed from almost anywhere, and tools

that benefit team working, such as online collaboration and

videoconferencing.

Take the HP EliteBook Folio 1040, for example. This is

HP’s thinnest business Ultrabook to date, but it is packed with

enterprise features designed to carry out business on the go,

such as videoconferencing, web-based training and streaming

video. This new generation of devices also comes with better

security than ever before: innovations such as processor-level

data encryption and biometric security.

The HP EliteBook Revolve 810 is another new device worth

investigating. Featuring enterprise-class security and powered

by the fourth generation 64-bit Intel Core processor, the

Revolve is a notebook that transforms into a tablet with a twist

of the screen. It also has enterprise docking capabilities that

enable it connect to displays, printers and other peripherals.

10 Windows 8 features that could help

improve your business

In addition, having an end-to-end operating system enables the business to give employees the right machine for them.

This new generation of devices also comes with better security than ever before: innovations such as processor-level data encryption and biometric security.

Page 3 10 Windows 8 features that could help improve your business

3. Fast Boot up

Windows 8 has a significantly faster boot-up time than

older operating systems, saving time for workers and IT teams.

In fact, Windows 8 starts up almost twice as fast as older

operating systems because it uses a new boot-up system called

the Unified Extensible Interface (UEFI) to access graphical

drivers before the operating system is fully active.

By accessing visual graphics earlier in the boot sequence,

the operating system can replace older and lengthier boot-

up visuals with a shorter sequence of visual cues. From the

user’s perspective, it means they can get to work in a matter of

seconds.

This speedy boot-up also saves time for the IT team when

applying patches, software updates or other tasks that require

a system restart.

4. Workflow improvements

Windows 8 has many workflow and usability improvements,

the primary one being touch-friendly enhancements such as

app snapping, where the user can arrange up to four apps on

the screen side by side.

There is also touch-enabled switching between apps,

and easy access to commonly used apps, through the touch

interface. Studies have shown that converting workflow to a

slate interface improves employee response time, increases

team decision-making time and quickens resolution of critical

issues.

Windows 8 gives the user easy access to the Windows

Store, a single point from which they can find and download

apps.

In addition, there is more powerful system-wide search, and

a series of quick-select ‘Charm’ icons that appear on-screen to

jump to the main controls: Search, Share, Start, Devices and

Settings, which are context-sensitive.

Windows 8, and the Microsoft software suites that

run under it, have a number of additions to aid workflow

management and team-collaboration.

For instance, users can add comments to Excel, PowerPoint

and Word 2013 documents, and readers who want to respond

to those comments can do it directly in the document or by

email, IM, text or even video-chat with team members, through

Skype or by using the corporate communications client,

Microsoft Lync.

5. New Security features

Windows 8 packs end-to-end security which far exceeds

Windows XP’s. This is partly down to security innovations in

the operating system itself, but also because of the chip-level

security that Intel has developed.

Intel’s 4th Generation Core vPro processors have

embedded technology, called Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

that reduces the threat of viruses and malware by creating a

protected environment at start-up.

Secondly, Intel Virtualisation Technology and Trusted

Execution Technology work below the Windows 8 operating

system to protect virtual environments.

Thirdly, Intel provides hardware-based authentication

through Intel Identity Protection Technology (IPT) that

includes a ‘no password’ VPN experience. By using chip-level

hardware authentication, it is possible to protect the user from

key logging and screen scraping attempts at identity theft.

Other security measures incorporated into Intel’s fourth

generation processors are accelerated, automatic full-disk

encryption, and antitheft capabilities that lock down the

machine if it’s stolen.

Windows 8 has a whole raft of security features of its

own. For example, Microsoft Defender now protects against

Trojans, worms and botnets. And Microsoft offers Enhanced

BitLocker, an encryption tool that can render whole hard

drives unreadable to users who lack the right credentials.

Windows 8 has a whole raft of security features of its own. For example, Microsoft Defender now protects against Trojans, worms and botnets.

All of these enhancements make Windows 8 running on Intel

processors the most secure operating system to date.

6. Enhanced architecture

The secure boot environment, which prevents malware from

infecting the system before the operating system loads, is just

one of the innovations that combine to make up Windows 8’s

enhanced architecture. The new operating system also supports

“SuperSpeed” USB 3: the next-generation connectivity standard

for peripherals; and devices that come with high-resolution

displays of 1366×768 and above.

But the architecture enhancements really start with the

Windows runtime platform itself, which is based on a new type of

application known as Windows Store apps, or ‘Metro’-style apps.

These run within a secure sandbox, which means that apps can be

run alongside each other and share data with each other.

The great thing about apps is that they can snap to the side of

a widescreen display to allow the user to multitask, and multiple

apps can be snapped automatically to occupy half or a quarter of

the screen.

Another feature of the Windows 8 enhanced architecture is

fast desktop search, with Windows 8.1 introducing unified search

powered by Bing. It can analyse a user’s search habits to return

relevant content stored locally and from the Internet.

Another major business enhancement is integrated support for

Exchange ActiveSync in both the operating system and Outlook

2013, which makes creating email accounts easier than

before. Exchange ActiveSync makes it simple to connect

multiple email accounts across Windows 8 or other laptops,

tablets and smart phones, as well as sync calendars and

manage contacts.

7. Integrated app store

Windows 8 presents a single place to download and

install new software applications via the Windows Store,

which is particularly helpful for smaller businesses as it saves

them time and effort.

And by integrating the Windows Store into the operating

system, it means users can find the apps they need and

get working quickly. In Windows 8.1, the Windows Store

features a redesigned interface with improved app discovery

and recommendations, and offers automatic updates for

apps.

Application developers are able to advertise their

desktop software through Windows Store, and Microsoft

has retained the right to ensure these are secure and high-

quality by only allowing them to distribute software through

the App Store. This gives businesses assurance that their

apps will have integrity.

8. Access to cloud-based business software

Unlike Windows XP, Windows 8 has native support for

cloud computing. Cloud apps such as OneDrive offer easy

data syncing and backup straight from the desktop.

Then there’s Microsoft Office 365, the latest version of

the Office suite which is redesigned to be used from the full

range of devices. Office 365 offers a full featured version

of office on any Internet-connected PC, laptop or tablet,

running Windows 8.

Page 410 Windows 8 features that could help improve your business

The great thing about apps is that they can snap to the side of a widescreen display to allow the user to multitask

Page 5 10 Windows 8 features that could help improve your business

The suite enables workers to keep up-to-date with all users’

changes in the same document, even if changes are made at the

same time. In addition, teams who use Office 365 can share files,

calendars and contacts in the cloud, and communicate using Skype

or Microsoft Lync or Lync Online.

Lync Online is a cloud-based service that gives users the ability

to host audio and video meetings with high-definition video

streaming, and share screens, which is a boon for teams of mobile

workers.

9. More powerful management tools

Windows 8 comes with powerful systems management

tools such as advanced remote management, virtualisation

management, and user self-service, which make configuring and

managing the desktop and mobile IT estate much easier for IT

departments.

It is now far simpler to restore a Windows PC to its factory

settings as there is no longer any requirement to back up files,

data or settings. Instead, with a new tool called Refresh, Windows

users can reinstall the operating system while maintaining their

own settings, document libraries and customisations, and once it’s

restored, the user’s saved data, settings and Windows Store apps

are automatically reinstalled.

Another new tool, File History, saves a running timeline of all of

the user’s files, which assists with automating backups, saving time

for IT managers.

Virtualisation management has also been improved. The

Windows 8 operating system has better support for both

virtualised systems and remote desktop support. Microsoft offers

multiple virtualisation options, including a tool to use Windows XP

as a virtual operating system on a Windows 8 machine.

And by using Microsoft Server 2012 together with a

technology called User Experience Virtualization, employees can

access a remote, server-side and virtual copy of their Windows 8

desktop.

Windows 8 also has support for Microsoft Virtual Desktop

Infrastructure (VDI), enabling the business to create multiple

virtual PCs on one physical computer, which can lower IT capital

costs.

Two more useful administrative technologies are Windows

To Go and DirectAccess. The former allows users to carry a

fully-functional copy of the corporate Windows 8 desktop on

a bootable external USB stick. This means they can insert it

into a Windows 7 or 8 machine and access the apps and files

they need to get the work done.

It also means IT organisations can support the Bring Your

Own PC trend, issuing workers with a secure corporate

desktop environment for their chosen device.

DirectAccess allows remote users to seamlessly access

resources inside a corporate network without having to

launch a separate VPN. It also helps IT administrators to

keep remote users’ PCs in compliance by applying the latest

policies and software updates.

10. Better Wi-Fi

Finally, Windows 8 features more efficient wireless

connection management by means of the new Wi-Fi

Manager, which is more intelligent and faster. The Wi-Fi

Manager measures each signal’s throughput and chooses the

source with the strongest bandwidth, instead of looking for

the nearest wireless network.

Windows 8 mobile devices have a Connection Standby

mode, for updating data while a Windows 8 laptop or tablet

is asleep. And to reduce battery life usage, the device can be

placed in Airplane Mode, like most modern smart phones.

Lastly, Windows 8 devices boast a new data usage tracker

for mobile broadband, which helps to reduce mobile costs.

The Windows 8 operating system is ideal for small and

medium-sized businesses, as it offers them enterprise-

class technologies and helps them compete with the larger

players. Its usability and workflow enhancements help to

produce greater levels of productivity from the workforce.

Meanwhile, the enhanced architecture of Windows 8

ensures the business is more efficient and secure. It’s time

for a change.

And by using Microsoft Server 2012 together with a technology called User Experience Virtualization, employees can access a remote, server-side and virtual copy of their Windows 8 desktop. www.hp.co.uk