Apr 9, 2011 10:40 GMT  ·  By

There are currently six tools included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack which customers can access by paying a subscription of less than $1 per PC per year. The latest version of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, namely MDOP 2011, was released in March 2011, featuring new additions such as Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) 4.6 SP1 and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) 2.0.

In addition to App-V 4.6 SP1 and MED-V 2.0, MDOP 2011 customers can also leverage solutions such as Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM), Microsoft Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM), Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT), and Microsoft Asset Inventory Service (AIS).

Microsoft’s current plan for MDOP is to provide the next iteration by the end of 2011. A specific availability deadline wasn’t provided, but Microsoft employees I’ve talked to revealed that the successor of MDOP 2011 is slated for release in Q2 2011.

IT professionals have two important reasons to look forward to MDOP vNext, an evolved version of DaRT and an entirely new tool, the Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM).

With DaRT 7, the software giant plans to give IT pros a critical reason to recover the PCs they’re administering rather than opt to reimagine them, unmatched performance.

DaRT 7 also features additional enhancements around deployment and remote management which can already be put to the test.

Earlier this month Microsoft released the first Beta for DaRT 7 which can be downloaded from Microsoft Connect.

Also on Microsoft Connect, early adopters can access the Beta of MBAM, the new addition to the next iteration of MDOP.

With MBAM, IT pros will be able to enjoy streamlined BitLocker provisioning and deployments, as well as enhanced compliance and reporting, Microsoft promises.

MDOP “costs approximately $10 per desktop per year, or less, to take advantage of everything MDOP has to offer,” revealed AJ Smith, MDOP product manager.

“You can find proof of the value of MDOP on the MDOP Product Site The ROI calculator on the right side of the page is useful. Additionally, the MDOP Web site provides links for evaluating and purchasing MDOP.

“If you want to explore technical overviews, guidance on how to deploy and utilize MDOP technologies, and other resources for IT pros, check out the MDOP Resource Zone on TechNet.”