Author Topic: Microsoft locks down Windows 10 with the S edition.  (Read 1394 times)

Offline riso

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Microsoft locks down Windows 10 with the S edition.
« on: May 22, 2018, 06:45:04 PM »
New security features and limits on what you can load and customize promise to make Microsoft Windows 10 S the more secure version ever. It might not be for everyone, though. Windows 10 S mode is Microsoft’s new secure platform. Its goal is to provide the familiar Windows 10 interface with a much more restricted software deployment process. Consider Windows 10 S similar to the Apple iPhone and iPad ecosystem: All applications must be deployed through a vetted deployment process. Windows 10 S can also be used to deploy systems in kiosk mode and in limited-use needs. You purchase Windows 10 S for new machines, or you can image and use it in deployment on Pro and Enterprise versions. You can change from Windows 10 S to Pro or Enterprise versions with appropriate licensing. Currently, you can’t flip back and forth between Windows 10 S and the more traditional Pro or Enterprise versions. Note I said “currently,” as I think the future of Windows is heading toward a version of the software that can be opened up for purposes of deployment and then locked down into a restricted version that malware and malicious software can’t easily exploit.
Supported Windows 10 S apps
S mode provides support for Windows Hello for authentication, Cortana for search, Windows Ink and Microsoft Edge. In fact, Edge is the only allowed browser and Bing the only allowed search engine. The only applications that can be installed on Windows 10 S are those that can be deployed using the Windows Store. Line-of-business applications will need to be converted to a packaged app with Universal Windows Platform (UWP) manifest. Unlike Windows 10 Home edition, Windows 10 S allows the use of BitLocker for more protection for devices. Furthermore, the ability to defer and pause updates, which is not offered in Windows 10 Home, is allowed in Windows 10 S mode, thus making it a contender to be the preferred platform for the use in Kiosks and other unique applications where the need to provide user interfaces that are locked down for single purpose is key. S mode also allows for mobile device management control (Intune) and Azure Active Directory (AD) join. It does not support Group Policy Management or AD domain services, thus traditional management using Microsoft AD is not the goal of this mode. Rather, if there is a need for a controlled but disconnected computer deployment, S may be a consideration.
Default applications for Windows 10 S
S mode provides the following applications as the defaults:
For email, the Windows 10 mail application is default.
For maps, the default Windows 10 maps program is used.
Photos are viewed through the Photo Viewer program.
The search engine is locked down to the Bing search engine and cannot be changed.
The default video player is Movies and TV application.
The web browser default is Edge and cannot be changed.
OneDrive is automatically configured for MSA accounts so that documents, Photos, and Desktop are automatically synced and the user has 5GB of standard storage.
However, you can install or deploy any application available in the Windows Store to Windows 10 S. Microsoft has a version of Office that you can deploy to Windows S mode devices either using an Office OEM Preinstall Kit (OPK) or using the Office that can be purchased through the Microsoft Store. That means you can deploy the Store version of Office and thus change the defaults through this process.
Via itworld.com