The MDOP add on for Windows Intune is an interesting offering from Microsoft, allowing subscribers to get even more of the capabilities that would usually only be available to a customer under a Microsoft volume license agreement that included desktop software assurance.
MDOP is a collection of technologies from Microsoft, and here’s a description of it in Microsoft’s own words…looks like we need to remind them that it’s available via Windows Intune as well…
MDOP
The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of technologies available as a subscription for Software Assurance customers. MDOP helps to improve compatibility and management (App-V/MED-V), reduce support costs (DaRT), improve asset management (AIS) and improve policy control (MBAM/AGPM).
Application Virtualization
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) transforms applications into centrally managed services that are never installed and don’t conflict with other applications.
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization
MED-V removes the barriers to Windows upgrades by resolving application incompatibility with Windows 7 and delivering applications in a Windows XP-based application compatibility workspace. Upgrades can proceed on schedule, and users can take advantage of the power of Windows 7 right away without losing access to applications they need while IT departments can remediate incompatible applications.
Advanced Group Policy Management
Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM), a core component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, makes it easier for IT organizations to keep enterprise-wide desktop configurations up to date, enabling greater control, less downtime, and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).
Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset
Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset, a core component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, helps IT teams make PCs safer to use, keeps employees productive, and enables desktops that are easier and less expensive to manage. Administrators can easily recover PCs that have become unusable, rapidly diagnose probable causes of issues, and quickly repair unbootable or locked-out systems, all faster than the average time it takes to reimage the machine. When necessary, you can also quickly restore critical lost files.
Bitlocker Administration And Monitoring
Organizations around the world rely on BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go to protect data on Windows 7 PCs and portable storage devices. To make large-scale BitLocker implementations easier to manage, enterprises turn to Microsoft® BitLocker® Administration and Monitoring (MBAM).
Asset Inventory Service
Microsoft Asset Inventory Service (AIS), a core component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, provides a comprehensive view of your enterprise’s desktop software and hardware environment. AIS helps reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and improve license compliance through advanced software inventory scanning and by translating inventory data into actionable information.
Well, all of this is well and good, but how well will these work for your company? That is the topic for the next post, where I will delve into what organisations of different sizes may benefit from with MDOP, as all of the pieces aren’t necessarily right for everyone.