Microsoft previews enterprise features of Windows 8 RT

SOFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft has given developers a preview of the enterprise features of Windows 8 RT, the ARM-based version of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

At the firm's Tech Ed Europe event in Amsterdam attended by The INQUIRER this week, the firm gave a sneak peek at capabilities that will provide enterprise class security on ARM-based tablets.

It also disclosed some details of how organisations will be able to manage employees bringing their own Windows RT tablets into the workplace as part of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend.

Windows RT has been designed to be virtually identical to Windows 8 for Intel-based systems, but because it runs on ARM-based devices it will not support existing Windows PC applications, only those designed for Microsoft's new Metro environment.

One of Microsoft's recently disclosed Surface tablet models will be based on Windows RT, the company has already revealed.

Another effect of being non-x86 is that Windows RT systems cannot be joined to a Windows domain, and so cannot be managed via Active Directory the same way that corporate PCs can.

Instead, Microsoft is enabling management control via its Windows Intune cloud service, lumping in Windows RT with other mobile device platforms such as Apple's IOS and Android.

However, instead of giving admins the right to lock down user-owned devices, this approach will centre on users and the permissions they have to access applications and data, according to the company.

"It's all about basing everything on the user. Everything that the user is going to do from that device is based around their Active Directory ID," said Brad Anderson, VP of Microsoft's management and security division, speaking during a keynote address at Tech Ed.

This article was originally published on V3.