14 DAY TRIAL // The next major iteration of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) will be made available for download in August 2011, Microsoft announced officially during its Worldwide Partner Conference 2011. Labeled Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2011 R2, the offering coming to IT professionals next month will feature a few improvements, including new versions of some of the components it packs.
According to the software giant, MDOP updates will bring to the table new release of Microsoft BitLocker Administration & Monitoring (MBAM), Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) and Asset Inventory Service (AIS).
MBAM is a new tool that has been added to the pack for the successor of MDOP 2011 which was released in March 2011.
Microsoft’s Erwin Visser highlighted the components which will evolve as a part of MDOP 2011 R2, along with their specific improvements:
“• Microsoft BitLocker Administration & Monitoring (MBAM) 1.0: Adds BitLocker Administration & Monitoring capabilities to the suite, which simplifies BitLocker provisioning and deployment, improves compliance and reporting, and reduces support costs
“• Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) 7.0: New features, such as remote boot, make DaRT more flexible to administer and resolve issues while offsite
“• Asset Inventory Service (AIS) 2.0: Updated/localized UI and improved software reporting improves inventory capabilities.”
Microsoft has not provided a specific availability deadline for Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) 2011 R2, only mentioning that IT pros will be able to get their hands on the package of tools by the end of next month.
“There are many businesses that can benefit from purchasing MDOP for the first time and the more MDOP components you deploy, the higher the ROI. We recommend customers look into MDOP and find out how they can benefit from the six technologies that it offers. Windows Intune customers can have the MDOP on-premise tools as an add-on for an additional dollar per seat per month,” Visser added.