Desktop Optimization Pack 2013 Arrives

The Desktop Optimization Pack 2013 has been released. The Desktop Optimization Pack (DOP, which Microsoft calls MDOP) is a set of PC virtualization and management utilities available to companies on a subscription basis. The major change in this version is to the BitLocker Administration and Monitoring tool, which has better management and compliance features and can be used in conjunction with System Center Configuration Manager. Changes to other components are minor (most have been in preview for several months) but include broader language support.

Better BitLocker Management

BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (BAM) is used with BitLocker, Microsoft’s full disk encryption feature for Windows, to simplify BitLocker deployment, key recovery, monitoring, policy enforcement, and reporting of encryption status. These capabilities are critical to large-scale deployments of BitLocker, as they enable an organization to ensure that users employ the technology while retaining access to data if users leave the organization or encryption keys are lost. With BAM 2.0, released as part of DOP 2013, customers get improved management and compliance tools, including the following: