Windows 7. for Your Organization. October Page 1

Transcription

1 Windows 7 for Your Organization October 2009 Page 1

2 Understanding the benefits of Upgrading to Windows 7 The phone rings at 1:00 A.M., waking an IT professional with a call from the company s key salesperson who is on the road in Asia. She needs access to confidential application data stored on the server back at headquarters. It s an issue every enterprise faces how can people be more connected from the road, without sacrificing the needed level of security? How many times has this happened to you? What else keeps you up at night? Businesses need technology that helps people work better, but IT departments must balance end user flexibility with tighter management of the infrastructure, data, and applications. This challenge is complicated by several additional forces competing for your time, attention, and resources: managing costs, planning for contingencies, and ensuring compliance with evolving industry and regulatory requirements. Exactly how well companies handle these forces in the context of their unique computing needs ultimately defines their efficiency, user productivity, and overall effectiveness. Meeting both IT and end user needs in today s business environment can be challenging. The Windows Optimized Desktop relieves the common tension between end users and IT by providing the mobility and flexibility end users want while preserving the security and control that IT professionals need. The Windows Optimized Desktop which incorporates Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 R2, System Center, and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) helps organizations transform their desktop infrastructure from a cost center to a business enabler by helping IT make people productive anywhere, manage risks through enhanced security and control, and reduce costs by streamlining PC management. The investments in Windows 7 Enterprise have been shaped by the evolving needs of end users and IT professionals in the enterprise. Are these questions keeping you up at night? Are your employees productive wherever they are? How are your people connected from the road? How many branch offices do you support? How much time do your employees spend searching for the information they need? How do you protect corporate data while keeping your employees productive? When was the last time someone within your organization lost critical data? How do you protect critical data stored on USB flash drives? What technology have you integrated into the business environment as a result of your employees using their personal technology for work? How do you manage costs? How much do you spend annually on managing client computing? How efficiently do you manage and deploy software across multiple regions? Have you been able to make reductions in helpdesk costs? How do you manage power consumption? How do you manage compliance and risk? How much do you spend on managing compliance? Have you made contingency plans for unforeseen emergency events? Page 2

3 This paper explores the questions organizations should consider as they plan for desktop infrastructure that can help them better address client computing challenges. First, it takes a closer look at the issues many enterprise organizations face today, with questions in the first four sections to guide you in a desktop capability assessment for your own organization. Then, later in the paper, you ll learn how Windows 7 Enterprise can help address the challenges you face. Are employees productive wherever they are? More companies have employees working outside of corporate headquarters than ever before. Branch office employees make up a growing percent of a company s workforce, but providing branch offices with network connections to corporate resources can be slow and expensive. The number of mobile workers also continues to grow, and since these users need anywhere access to corporate resources, the cost of supporting, managing, and protecting mobile and remote users and their sensitive data is high. Additionally, information workers spend significant time searching for data and documents they need to do their work. This search time costs organizations millions of dollars annually. How are your people connected from the road? How many branch offices do you support? 29% working in branch or remote offices. 1 The changing structure of organizations puts more pressure on IT professionals to provide a high-performance and secure infrastructure for connecting remote users and branch offices, while minimizing costs and risk. The Forrester Research report states, With branch offices supporting 29% of global workforces, it s unacceptable that 19% of IT managers reported that their branch office workers are dissatisfied with remote access to corporate data and applications on the corporate network. As a result, approximately three quarters of firms have When nearly half of IT pros in large businesses say they are willing to begin migrating to Windows 7 within months of its release, that is a profound indicator of its potential for success. Ed Bott, ZD Net invested heavily in WAN optimization services to bridge the connectivity divide between branch office workers and those who work in the corporate headquarters. We discovered that 21% of firms spend $100,000 or more annually for WAN optimization services worldwide, and for each branch office location, firms spend an average of $2, A study done by Forrester Research and commissioned by Microsoft states that roughly 60% of people work outside their organization s headquarters, with about 1 The Costs And Challenges Associated With Supporting Today s Information Workers, Forrester Consulting, 2009 ( microsoft.com/download/e/6/e/e6e1106a-78b8-4ae1-bd79-5c02d03768e6/costs_challenges_supporting_information_ Workers.pdf) Page 3

4 How much time do employees spend searching for the information they need? customer records, the breach could cost more than $3 million. 2 Information workers typically spend percent of their time looking for information, and about 60 percent of these users express a need to be able to find data easier across multiple data sources. For a company with thousands of knowledge workers, this can cost millions* annually. How do you protect corporate data while keeping employees productive? When was the last time someone within your organization lost critical data? Theft and loss of proprietary data can be very costly to your organization. In a commissioned study by Forrester on behalf of Microsoft, it was discovered that 55 PCs on average are lost or stolen annually and each averages 53GB of corporate data saved locally on PC hard drives. It is clear that organizations must focus resources and funding on protecting the sensitive data that their customers entrust them with as well as give them a competitive advantage. How do you protect critical data stored on USB flash drives? As employees become more mobile, the risk to critical business data goes up significantly. Organizations are seeking ways to better protect themselves from malware and viruses that users may accidentally invite into the organization through messages, peer-topeer file sharing, or Internet downloads. As more employees work on the go, they carry sensitive data with them on PCs, portable hard drives, and USB flash drives. Organizations are constantly challenged to enable employees to work remotely, while guarding their critical files from the growing risk of data loss. Depending on the profile and regulatory requirements of an organization s industry, the cost per record of a security breach can range from $90 to $305. This means if a national bank employee lost a laptop with 10,000 unsecured Hundreds of thousands of laptops are lost or stolen each year. USB flash drives are even more prevalent in the marketplace than PCs, and forecasts suggest that by 2011 an average USB flash drive will hold as much as 32 GB of data, and cost about $25 or less. This paired with the reality that employees are much less likely to report a lost or stolen USB flash drive if they even realize it is missing makes removable storage devices a primary potential threat to the security of sensitive data for organizations worldwide. Securing corporate data using point solutions can cost more per user if removable devices are included. * All dollar figures stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. 2 Calculating the Cost of a Security Breach, Forrester Research, Collin Park (April 10, 2007) Page 4

5 What technology have you integrated into the business environment as a result of employees using their personal technology for work? How efficiently do you manage and deploy software across multiple regions? Many people experience new technology first in their personal life, and then bring it to work. This consumerization trend is especially true for mobile technology, as more workers mobilize themselves by purchasing personal devices they use for work. The challenge is enabling people to choose the technology they like, while ensuring their use of corporate resources and data is appropriate and secure. How do you manage costs? Now more than ever, organizations are seeking to reduce downtime and leverage existing infrastructure, hardware, tools, and training investments. Improving desktop management practices and optimizing the IT and desktop infrastructure have proven to help enterprises achieve cost savings of hundreds of dollars per PC per year. How much do you spend annually on managing client computing? Client computing costs can vary widely from company to company, from a few hundred dollars up to $1,300 or more per machine per year, according to multiple studies. As many organizations expect their IT budgets to remain the same for the next several years, IT organizations will continue to face increasing pressure to identify and manage costs. New operating system deployments can carry huge costs associated with image engineering, deployment, and management. Because of the time and expense associated with common deployment approaches, more organizations are looking for ways to reduce the number of images and streamline ongoing image management and updating through the lifecycle of the operating system in their organization. With offices located in multiple countries, many enterprises also need the flexibility to support multiple languages used by clients and employees throughout the company, while streamlining operating system image management. Have you been able to make reductions in helpdesk costs? Helpdesk management can become costly and unproductive for many large organizations that have thousands of users to support. A helpdesk professional can spend significant amounts of time, while on a user support call, just trying to find out what happened and collect information, which can increase the cost of incident resolution. With decreased budgets, organizations need to reduce these costs, enable efficiency, and maximize the strategic value of helpdesk professionals. With the right tools, helpdesk professionals can access issues quickly and prevent common problems from happening, reducing the number of support calls as well as the average time it takes to resolve issues. Page 5

6 How do you manage power consumption? Power generation is a leading producer of CO2 in the world. 3 Many organizations are exploring ways to reduce their power consumption and thus create a positive effect on the environment while saving on electricity bills. Using centrally-managed power settings is one way organizations can help lower power consumption, and as a result, reduce energy costs and emissions. To encourage these trends, many national governments are considering renewable energy targets and creating incentives for energy efficiency that could multiply the cost-savings of reduced IT power consumption. Have you made contingency plans to keep your IT infrastructure operational and your employees productive in case of an unforeseen emergency event? Every business can experience a serious incident that could potentially prevent the organization from continuing normal operations. From a flood or fire to a serious IT malfunction or information security incident, IT organizations must be able to recover from such incidents in the minimum amount of time, with minimum disruption, and at minimum cost. More companies are preparing for what-if scenarios with careful planning to help them stay adaptable and flexible. How do you manage compliance and risk? How much do you spend on managing compliance? Businesses are spending more on compliance annually, and many are expecting this spend to continue growing. In addition to the financial issues of compliance, corporate governance can be at odds with other IT trends, such as consumerization in the enterprise, as IT administrators may require a higher level of control for information entering and exiting the company. With new regulations contemplated in many industries coping with the fallout of the financial crisis, managing compliance is expected to become even more challenging in the coming years. 3 Page 6

7 Windows 7 Enterprise Page 7

8 Windows 7 Enterprise As an integral part of the planning process for Windows 7 Enterprise, Microsoft conducted extensive research with close to 4,000 customers from developing and emerging markets. This research helped identify their top areas of concern: risk management, compliance, and mobility. In the research, Microsoft confirmed that: Over half of the organizations (56 percent) said they needed help protecting corporate data on laptops. Even more (61 percent) were concerned about en- suring that people install and use only authorized applications for fear of security breaches from unauthorized applications. Nearly half (49 percent) were eager to make it easier for remote workers to access corporate resources. Windows 7 Enterprise is the result of this research, designed to meet the evolving needs of both business users and IT professionals. With its exclusive features tailored to address enterprise requirements, Windows 7 Enterprise can help drive total cost of ownership lower by making users productive anywhere, enhancing data and network security, and simplifying PC management across the organization. Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) integrates into Windows 7 deployments, enhancing application delivery and compatibility leveraging virtualization technologies, and increasing IT responsiveness and user uptime through diagnostics, monitoring and policy management tools. MDOP is a subscription available for Client Software Assurance customers and consists of six products. Windows 7 Enterprise: Focus on Fundamentals Businesses use the Windows operating system because of the value they get from its capabilities. Although each user derives value from a specific set of features, all users benefit from the overall Windows experience that Microsoft refers to as the fundamentals. Fundamentals are broadly outlined as quality improvements in software and hardware compatibility, reliability, performance, battery life, and security. Microsoft has taken a comprehensive approach to driving quality investments throughout the Windows 7 development cycle, and focused specifically in three broad areas to enhance the fundamentals: a) Engineering process improvements, b) increased focus on better partnering with software and PC hardware vendors, and c) investing in platform innovations in Windows 7 to improve dimensions of quality instead of focusing solely on individual problems. Page 8

9 Make people productive anywhere Windows 7 Enterprise helps keep branch workers connected to headquarters and lets organizations enable and enhance mobile worker productivity. With BranchCache, employees at branch offices can access data from servers at a main office as easily and securely as if they were accessing a server at their branch, without negatively impacting network bandwidth utilization. Along with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 Enterprise offers an alternative to alleviate the problems of slow connectivity to the branch. Copies of files are cached locally, so when other users access that file, they access the local copy instead of the corporate headquarter version. Windows 7 Enterprise and other networking features in Windows Server 2008 R2 provide a technology solution that enables users to seamlessly access corporate network resources from anywhere on the Internet, without having to create a VPN connection. Using DirectAccess, file shares, intranet Web sites, and line of business applications remain accessible to users wherever they go, so they can get more done from almost anywhere. Convergent Computing (CCO), which offers IT consulting services to help organizations implement and manage their networks, is using DirectAccess to save about $40,000 a year by eliminating its VPN and all its associated hardware, software, licensing, and carrier charges. 4 Since a Windows 7 Enterprise PC can always be connected to the corporate network, it s also very manageable, even when on the road. Windows 7 Enterprise also 4 aspx?casestudyid= Sporton International, a leading testing and certification company, is using BranchCache to delay the need to expand bandwidth, saving costs. 1 Taking advantage of the BranchCache feature we can spend $20,000 rather than $50,000 per year on bandwidth by postponing our expansion schedule, says David Feng, IT Director at Sporton International. 1 aspx?casestudyid= The IT firm Getronics expects time and financial savings from using DirectAccess. With Windows 7, we hope to reduce the cost of supporting remote users by over 2,000 hours annually, says Kris Bries, Infrastructure Manager at Getronics. 1 That s 2,000 hours spread across 16,000 computers, which could free up an IT administrator for almost a year to focus on the critical IT needs of the organization. 1 aspx?casestudyid= introduces search advancements, including Federated Search and Enterprise Search Scopes, which enable users to search remote document repositories including Microsoft SharePoint sites, databases, and Web sites supporting the OpenSearch protocol, all through the Windows desktop they re already familiar with. People can find the files and folders they need, fast, by easily initiating the search from Windows Explorer and getting a consistent view of search results. With Enterprise Search Scopes, IT administrators can also use Group Policy to deploy links to the users Start Menu or Windows Explorer that put enterprise file share searches at the user s fingertips. Page 9

10 The IT consulting firm Installers has found that employees save two to three minutes each time they turn on their computers, thanks to the operating system s rapid resumption from sleep mode. 5 Employees are also reclaiming another five minutes a day using the Windows 7 Enterprise search functionality. This adds up to approximately 20 minutes saved each day for each employee, or an increase in production efficiency of 3 percent annually. Organizations can gain additional benefits from the Microsoft Optimized Desktop Pack for Software Assurance (MDOP) by deploying Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), which enables users to have on-demand access to the right applications from anywhere without requiring installation or reboots. Virtual application and user settings are preserved when users are online or offline. Likewise, Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), gives users seamless access to legacy applications they may need to perform their job by creating a managed virtual environment that runs these legacy applications. With enhanced connectivity and a seamless experience in using corporate collaboration tools in a mobile environment, users are empowered to make our company more successful. We are a knowledge company, and human capital is critical to our success. Petter Wersland Leader of the Windows Ecosystem at StatoilHydro Employees don t have to worry about manually synchronizing their data it s now synchronized automatically, and users have access even when they are disconnected from the network. This is a big win for our users. Dieter Reichert Program Manager of Workplace Solutions, F. Hoffmann-La Roche The technologies in Windows 7 give us the ability to improve our networking capabilities this is important with so many branch offices. 5 aspx?casestudyid= Sorin Marinescu IT Director at Transelectrica Page 10

11 Manage risk through enhanced security and control Windows 7 Enterprise builds on the strong Windows Vista security foundation, adding advanced capabilities for IT to protect corporate data and help attain better compliance. Windows 7 Enterprise helps IT administrators keep the network safe from unauthorized applications, while protecting against lost or stolen company data. With AppLocker, Windows 7 Enterprise improves the productivity and effectiveness of the IT department with powerful application control policies that make it easy to restrict unauthorized software and allow only approved applications. This capability provides a flexible mechanism that allows administrators to specify via Group Policy exactly what is allowed to run on their systems, and gives users the ability to run applications, installation programs, and scripts that administrators have explicitly granted permission to execute. In addition to protecting the organization from attacks due to unwanted software downloads, AppLocker can help ensure that task workers, for example, stay more efficient by only having access to the applications they need. Getronics, a provider of information and communication technology solutions and services, expects to strengthen desktop security and reduce downtime with its rollout of Windows 7 Enterprise. We are using the BitLocker To Go feature to protect corporate data when it leaves the network on a USB data stick, which is an increasingly popular means of transferring data, says Harald den Houter, Principal Technical Consultant at Getronics. We have better control over our desktop configurations using Group Policy and BitLocker, which enables us to make faster, better decisions about security changes. Deploying MDOP can help organizations achieve compliance goals, as well. The Asset Inventory Service shows which software licenses have been deployed in an environment and helps IT Professionals distinguish whether all software is compliant with license agreements, key industry standards, and corporate policies. Likewise, Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM) helps define user roles so IT Professionals can control who can edit and deploy Group Policy Objects more easily. Windows 7 Enterprise also helps organizations to enable richer collaboration through the power of portable data while ensuring users avoid putting critical organization or customer data at risk. Today, more than twice as many USB Flash Drives enter the marketplace than PCs and analysts forecast that by 2011, the average USB flash drive will hold 32 GB of data and cost less than $25. With BitLocker To Go, users can conveniently store and share data using encrypted USB drives and minimize the risk of exposing sensitive data if those drives are misplaced or stolen. The built-in security enhancements in Windows 7 help assure us that our information is protected. Andreas Viehauser Head of Client and Software Management, Raiffeisen Informatik Page 11

12 Reduce costs by streamlining PC management IT organizations are looking for ways to help their companies cut costs and get more business value from their IT spend especially in today s economic climate. Improving desktop management practices and optimizing the IT and desktop infrastructure have proven to help enterprises achieve cost savings of hundreds of dollars per PC per year. Windows 7 Enterprise makes managing and deploying desktops, laptops, and virtual environments even easier, while enabling IT professionals to use the same tools and skills they use today with Windows Vista. New scripting and automation capabilities, based on Windows PowerShell 2.0, reduce the costs of managing and troubleshooting PCs. Windows 7 Enterprise also helps businesses more easily maintain virtual machine images, and provides a richer user experience when accessing those virtual machines running on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V over remote connections. To help reduce IT management costs, Windows 7 Enterprise supports up to 36 different languages (as language packs within the operating system) and provides tools for streamlining deployment and enabling multiple languages within a single Windows image. With advanced deployment tools, Windows 7 Enterprise can save hundreds of dollars per PC per year, offering tools for offline image servicing for both physical and virtual images that allows IT workers to more easily set up and manage computers throughout the organization. Windows 7 Enterprise offers powerful self-support and helpdesk management tools such as the Problem Steps Recorder and the Windows Troubleshooting Platform that can reduce the amount or length of calls to the helpdesk, making the helpdesk more efficient, more organized, and better equipped to tackle user challenges when they arise. Windows PowerShell 2.0 provides even further efficiency by enabling IT professionals to automate common or complex tasks, including scripting Group Policy settings ranging from power management to Windows Internet Explorer 8 configurations. Organizations can also reduce their power consumption with Windows 7 by deploying power management policies. Additional power management features, such as automatically turning off the display and enabling sleep after a period of inactivity, can help reduce PC energy expense and the associated environmental impact. Enhanced diagnostics and support for Wake on LAN for Remote Management also help IT professionals identify and resolve PC power management problems in the enterprise. Because Windows 7 Enterprise works on the hardware many businesses are using for Windows Vista now, and can be deployed seamlessly using the same processes used to deploy Windows Vista, organizations can get even more value out of existing IT infrastructure and deployment training helping to keep deployment costs low. Using the integrated management tools in Windows 7 is a lot simpler. And simpler is almost always better and cheaper. Tom Basham Manager, IT Architecture and Planning Page 12

13 NTx BackOffice Consulting Group of Vienna, Austria, has upgraded its 30 client computers to the Windows 7 Enterprise operating system to help consultants connect to corporate systems more easily and to better secure computers. Employees save 30 minutes a day through improved connections, and the IT staff saves at least seven hours a week in easier document encryption and software deployment. NTx can also offer customers new solutions with Windows 7 Enterprise. IT professionals conducting the deployments are also realizing desktop management time savings with Windows 7 Enterprise. Deploying the new operating system takes two hours less per computer than Windows Vista required. MDOP provides additional manageability benefits for the organization. Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset enables administrators to quickly recover unusable PCs and rapidly diagnose the root cause of PC problems so end users get back to work quickly. System Center Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM) helps administrators centrally monitor all application and system errors to proactively address trouble drivers and applications. Page 13

14 Start your deployment now Windows 7 Enterprise reflects a continued focus on end user productivity, security, and manageability, in addition to a strong emphasis on fundamentals and efforts to help enterprise organizations get the most out of their technology investments. By optimizing desktop infrastructure to make users more productive anywhere, managing risk by enhancing security and control, and reducing costs by streamlining PC management, Windows 7 Enterprise with MDOP gives organizations better tools to more efficiently handle the challenges of today s client computing. As the pace of business keeps moving forward, it s time to address the needs of the organization without sacrificing the needed level of management and security of the infrastructure. The phone doesn t have to wake you at 1:00 A.M. anymore. The time is now for your organization to begin your Windows 7 Enterprise and MDOP deployment. Addressing application compatibility As organizations begin their pilots and start testing Windows 7, many have questions about application compatibility. Listening to customers and working with them to understand these requirements, Microsoft has created a comprehensive set of tools, guidance, and resources to help organizations address application compatibility as part of their Windows 7 deployment. Will my mission-critical applications work on Windows 7? Organizations that tested and remediated their applications for Windows Vista can leverage these investments and will be well prepared for their Windows 7 migration. The vast majority of the applications that work on Windows Vista will work on Windows 7. Since the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft has been focused on addressing application compatibility issues for customers, working together closely with independent software vendors to ensure smooth application migration with Windows 7 today. We are committed to cost management, but not at the expense of future value. That s why we continue to invest in upgrades to our operating systems. Microsoft products are the core components of our infrastructure, and we expect to continue building on the robust foundation of Windows 7 for years to come. Jim Thomas Director of IT Operations and Infrastructure, Pella Corporation Page 14

15 Building on the security enhancements of Windows Vista, Windows 7 is now the highest quality client operating system available. The significant investments Microsoft made in advancing the security of Windows Vista, however, had a compatibility impact on some applications at the time. Windows Vista included profound architectural changes compared to Windows XP. In contrast, Windows 7 does not include deep architectural changes compared to Windows Vista. How we can scope application testing and migration efficiently and are there any best practices we can learn? For guidance on how to scope an application compatibility testing project and best practices, view Getting Started with Application Compatibility in a Windows Deployment: dd835539(ws.10).aspx How can I take advantage of the virtualization technologies to ease application migration? The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance (MDOP) includes two key products which can help mitigate application compatibility issues. Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) can help reduce the time-consuming regression testing for application-toapplication conflicts, by isolating applications from each other and the rest of the operating system. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization MED-V), helps to mitigate application-to-operating system compatibility issues by providing an integrated virtual environment for legacy operating systems. This allows incompatible applications to run seamlessly for users. To learn about leveraging virtualization technologies, view the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP): bb aspx What tools and guidance does Microsoft offer to help us with application testing and migration? To learn about conducting an inventory and assessment of applications for compatibility and for tools to help fix incompatibilities, view the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT): cc722055(ws.10).aspx For information on over 100 Microsoft Solution Integrator partners worldwide that can help organizations remediate in-house line of business applications, learn more about the Microsoft Application Compatibility Factory Program: bb aspx For additional guidance and best practices, explore the Windows 7 Application Compatibility Center: aa aspx Page 15

16 Begin your pilot and testing today Learn more about Windows 7 Enterprise: Windows 7 Enterprise Web Site The Windows Optimized Desktop Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for Software Assurance Web Site Windows 7 Case Studies Search_Results.aspx?Type=1&ProTaxID=3478 Springboard Series Technical Resources for Windows 7 Contact your Microsoft Account Team Your Microsoft account team is ready to help demonstrate the value of the Windows Optimized Desktop, discuss deployment and licensing options, and help you with a Proof-of-Concept. Contact your account team today for more information and take the next step to the Windows Optimized Desktop Start a Windows 7 pilot deployment: Use the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 5.5 contains the necessary tools and documentation to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying Windows 7, Windows Vista, a Windows Update, or a new version of Windows Internet Explorer in your environment. playlang=en&familyid=24da89e9-b581-47b0-b45e- 492dd6da2971 Get step-by-step Windows deployment guidance for IT Professionals: For a comprehensive description of all the tools and deployment methods, see the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) User s Guide. This document demonstrates a basic example of how to configure and deploy a Windows image. At the end of this process, you will have a valid answer file, a bootable Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) CD, and you will have deployed your first custom Windows image. After creating this basic answer file, you can modify it to include additional customizations. You can also automate parts of the process by scripting some of the manual steps in this scenario. The time is now to start conducting a Windows 7 pilot deployment and explore the new networking features like BranchCache and DirectAccess, security features like AppLocker and BitLocker, and manageability capabilities including power management and PowerShell. dd744251(ws.10).aspx Page 16