As a brief aside, for those of you who may not be familiar with Windows To Go, it’s a fully manageable corporate Windows 8 desktop on a bootable USB stick which allows employees to work from anywhere on any compatible device, while also helping IT professionals keep their organizations secure. In essence, IT provisions Windows 8 Enterprise on a certified USB drive and provides the drive to end users. A Windows To Go user inserts the drive into a compatible personal or company provided PC and boots into their personalized Windows 8 image.
What does it mean to be certified for Windows To Go?
Drive certification and optimization is a process that each of the drive vendors must go through to ensure their USB drives will provide an optimal experience for end users. Aside from passing a battery of certification tests (HCK), each drive undergoes supplemental testing including a self-hosting process across numerous PCs. Any time an anomaly is found it is remediated and the drive is retested. As noted, this is not an easy process; each vendor seeking certification has put significant time, effort, and financial support behind creating and certifying their Windows To Go drives.
Important Windows To Go documentation links:
- Windows To Go on TechNet: Technical information, deployment guidance, frequently asked questions, up to date certified drive listings, etc.
- Windows 8 Enterprise: Includes new updated branding and important information for businesses.
Vendor drive certification, and availability:
|
Vendor |
Drive Name |
Vendor Link |
Press Release |
Status |
|
Kingston |
DataTraveler Workspace |
Certified drives available |
||
|
SuperTalent |
Express RC8 |
Certified drives available |
||
|
WD |
My Passport Enterprise |
Certified drives available |