<a href="http://egroup.jasonmangone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DA.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-7384" title="DA" src="http://egroup.jasonmangone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DA.png" alt="Desktop Authority" width="641" height="443" /></a>

For those of you that haven’t seen my previous post on Quest <a href="http://egroup.jasonmangone.com/why-you-need-scriptlogics-desktop-authority">Desktop Authority</a>, you may not know that I am a huge fan of the product and how it easily centralizes management of the entire user environment.

It handles everything from patching, desktop and server policies, customization, to application deployment (I think the only thing they left out was the kitchen sink). That being said, my experiences with this product have always been positive, the flexibility it gives you when making customizations was always a huge value add but with end user computing constantly changing the way we do work and Firefox becoming more and more pervasive, I was quite concerned Desktop Authority may not be able to keep up.

I must confess – I was wrong.

<a href="http://www.quest.com/news-release/quest-reduces-cost-and-risk-of-delivering-a-customized-user-wor-062012-817704.aspx">Desktop Authority 9</a> was released in June and I’ve finally had the time to talk with our customers about their upgrade experiences as well as take it for a test drive myself.

Thus far, the feedback I have received has been extremely positive. The all new user interface is now web based for ultimate access but still gives you that familiar feel that old school Desktop Authority users are accustomed to.

The Web UI wasn’t the only big change, of course. Below are a few of the more relevant ones I wanted to call out:
<ul>
	<li><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>Multiple Editions to suit customer needs</strong>:</span> Desktop Authority Standard Edition is the right choice for customers who need user environment management functionality to complement their existing management solution. Desktop Authority Essentials is ideal for basic user environment management or logon script replacement. Desktop Authority Professional is the right choice for companies with limited IT infrastructure. What does this mean? We have a heavy, light and in between version for those that need the little extra or not quite as much, saving you valuable dollars should you only need a few of the features.</li>
	<li><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>A high-performance console customers can access from anywhere, using only a web browser:</strong> </span>Install of a full Windows client just to change a setting or add a user is no longer required. The web console offers seamless support for dozens of concurrent administrators that allows, for example, one admin to edit a single element while another one moves the entire profile to another location. We live in a mobile world these days so it’s important to be able to access the console from anywhere on any device, and what better way to do that than through the web?</li>
	<li><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) support in Validation Logic: </strong></span>Customize configurations based on whether a user is on a physical machine, a Terminal Server, or a virtualized desktop. To me this is HUGE - it’s not all servers and physical desktops anymore! The VDI initiative is very popular (just ask <a href="http://egroup.jasonmangone.com/author/jflisher" target="_blank">John Flisher</a>) and having the ability to customize your environment for VDI is a must!</li>
	<li><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>Internet browser management object with exclusive support for Mozilla Firefox:</strong></span> Administrators can configure the web browser home page, tabbed browser settings, privacy settings, restricted and approved sites and pop-up blocker settings for both Internet Explorer <em>and</em> Firefox (only Desktop Authority offers central configuration of Firefox). Finally! IE haters raise your hand… Okay, okay put them down, Desktop Authority now supports Firefox, go download the upgrade now!</li>
	<li><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>Updated settings for Windows 7 and Office 2010 to support common folder redirection for Windows 7 (Music, Videos, Contacts, etc) as well as the new features in Office 2010:</strong></span> IT admins can easily make use of these this functionality and features through Desktop Authority and quickly migrate users to these newer platforms. This one is pretty self explanatory if you are using redirection now. If you are not, why!? Surely you hate roaming profiles as much as the next guy so take advantage of this and let Desktop Authority ease your pain.</li>
</ul>
In my humble opinion, Desktop Authority <em>is</em>  <em>absolutely</em> ready for primetime.

That said, don’t just take my word for it. This is what one of our Healthcare customers had to say:

<strong><em>“I've been using Scriptlogic's Desktop Authority at version 8.1 for a little over a year now.  I was initially very impressed with the product so much so that I recommended it to some of my former colleagues.  My impression hasn't changed, however, I did find a few shortcomings with the product that have now been rectified in version 9.0. Specifically folder redirection on Windows 7 and Internet Explorer management, both have been greatly improved from their previous limited states.  I'm also excited about the introduction of validation logic for VDI and the ability to craft policies specifically for our VMware View desktops. Overall Desktop Authority 9.0 is a tremendous product that would be a welcome addition to any IT Administrators tool set.”</em></strong>