Windows Server 2012 R2 preview

If you want, you can insist that devices are signed up for the new Workplace Join option, which stores their details in Active Directory using the new Device Registration Service (in Preview this is available for Windows 8.1 Preview and iOS devices), and can be used to make them use secondary authentication.

You can also set a 'lockout' time where users who have typed their password wrong too many times cannot access apps remotely for a set period, and disable access for lost devices in Active Directory.

File syncing

Work folders only need the normal file share role. You can mark specific shares to be accessible to remote users, again using their Windows login. Files are synced offline, so users can access server files when they're on a plane and if they create new files these are automatically copied back to the server.

You can specify a single folder on the server rather than syncing the entire file share and screen out files by type (no MP3s for example), but users cannot pick and choose which files and folders to sync inside.

Initially it only works with Windows 8.1, but it will support Windows 7 soon after Server 2012 R2 is released, and iPad users will at least be able to access work folders remotely in future. Again, you can require workplace join or secondary authentication and you can revoke access if someone leaves the company.

Work folders are easier to set up than ADFS and the Web Application Proxy – and useful to more companies – although without selective sync they can't act as a replacement for the still-fragile offline files.

R2 work folders

Choose specific folders to make available remotely and they will sync on Windows 8.1 PCs

It will become more powerful when the next version of Windows Intune, Microsoft's PC and mobile device management service, lets you selectively wipe company data from devices when employees leave. Intune will increasingly be the way to manage how PCs, tablets and phones can take advantage of the features you enable in Windows Server 2012 R2.

The preview shows that this will be a powerful server release that isn't overly complicated for the small business, but you need to start thinking of Intune to make the most of Windows Server for your users.

TOPICS
Contributor

Mary (Twitter, Google+, website) started her career at Future Publishing, saw the AOL meltdown first hand the first time around when she ran the AOL UK computing channel, and she's been a freelance tech writer for over a decade. She's used every version of Windows and Office released, and every smartphone too, but she's still looking for the perfect tablet. Yes, she really does have USB earrings.

Latest in Pro
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today
Racks of servers inside a data center.
Modernizing data centers: an efficient path forward
Dr. Peter Zhou, President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line
Why AI commonization is so important for business intelligent transformation and what Huawei’s data storage has to offer
Wix automation
The world's leading website builder aims to save businesses time with new tool
Data Breach
Thousands of healthcare records exposed online, including private patient information
China
Juniper patches security flaws which could have let hackers take over your router
Latest in News
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Brad Pitt looks over his right shoulder with 'F1' written behind him
Apple Original Films will take you behind-the-scenes of a racing cockpit in this new thrilling F1 movie trailer
AI writer
Coding AI tells developer to write it himself
Reacher looking down at another character from the Prime Video TV series Reacher
Reacher season 3 becomes Prime Video’s biggest returning show thanks to Hollywood’s biggest heavyweight
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today
Image showing detail of the Leica D-Lux 8
Still can't get a Fujifilm X100VI? This premium Leica compact costs less, and it's in stock