Desktop Optimization Pack Applications

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 DOP is available as an add-on for organizations that have active Software Assurance coverage for the Windows client OS, Windows Virtual Desktop Access licenses, subscriptions to the Windows Intune online service, and to organizations that license the Windows client OS through Windows per-user subscriptions.

The Desktop Optimization Pack 2014 R2, released in Dec. 2014, is made up of the following components:

Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM). Based on the acquired DesktopStandard GPOVault, AGPM gives administrators more control over the configuration of PCs via Group Policy, the Windows service for centralized configuration of user and computer settings and applications. The current version is AGPM 4.0 SP2, released in Dec. 2013.

Application Virtualization (App-V). Based on the acquired Softricity SoftGrid for Desktops, App-V lets applications run in an isolated environment on each user’s computer, and organizations can deploy and update the applications from centrally managed servers. The current version is App-V 5.0 SP3, released in Dec. 2014. The App-V technology is also used with Microsoft’s Office 365 Click-To-Run offering.