Microsoft has released to web and made available for download the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator 1.1. The tool is designed to bridge five standard user scenarios with business requirements and the technology solutions available in an IT environment. Microsoft's core scenarios are designed to provide companies with streamlined desktop optimization related to specific user types: Office Worker, Mobile Worker, Task Worker, Contract Worker, as well as employees that leverage Access from Home.

Comprised of the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Assessment guide and the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenario Selection Tool, a Microsoft Excel-based tool, the solution accelerator promises to help customers make their desktops increasingly flexible, more efficient, and better managed.

“The Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Assessment describes the five user scenarios defined for the Windows Optimized Desktop and further describes the Microsoft products and technologies that underpin each scenario solution. Additionally, this document guides you through an assessment of the user profiles in your organization to identify which scenario or scenarios best meets their needs. You may find the following decision flow very useful as well when selecting various desktop technologies,” revealed Microsoft's Tejinder Singh, from the Windows optimized Desktop Team.

In November 2008, Microsoft was asking for participants in the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator 1.1. Now, the solution accelerator is finalized and up for grabs. Customers looking for desktop optimization will discover that version 1.1 of the accelerator has been tailored to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. In this regard, Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator 1.1 offers support for BranchCache, DirectAcess, BitLockerToGo, AppBlocker and
Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services).

“WODS provides a framework with predefined questions to make the process easier. In addition, the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenario Selection Tool complements the guide with a simple-to-use Microsoft Excel spreadsheet tool that maps user requirements to the different Windows Optimized Desktop scenarios. WODS offers customers and partners a quicker and easier way to select the right technologies for a diverse population of desktops users with varying degree of needs. WODS covers a wide range of desktop and server technologies to deliver the best and optimal desktop experience to desktop users,” Singh added.