Windows 10 upgrades in line as HP takes control of Microsoft mobility suite

HP has added Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite (EMS) to its mobility portfolio, creating one of the industries' first sets of end-to-end, enterprise-grade services for the Microsoft ecosystem.

With complete HP service accountability, this Microsoft ecosystem allows enterprises to allow users to work across mobile devices and PCs while helping IT manage the user environment and data security at the user level rather than at the device level.

Building on the recent agreement with Microsoft to offer Office 365 and HP service delivery as one enterprise solution, HP is now adding EMS to its Microsoft ecosystem as part of the deal.

Adding service delivery for EMS to HP's Microsoft ecosystem offerings delivers a common management platform across multiple operating systems and devices, and using a common identity delivers capabilities such as single sign-on to apps, self-service password reset and rights management.

“When deploying mobility and workplace solutions in the enterprise, our customers want a simplified, consumer-grade experience that empowers employees to be more productive anytime, anywhere on any device they choose," says Mike Nefkens, executive vice president, HP Enterprise Services.

"Implementing EMS into an existing Office 365 environment allows customers to realise the full potential of both solutions while providing a lower cost on-ramp for Windows 10 upgrades in the future."

Microsoft EMS brings together identity and access management capabilities, including multi-factor-authentication, together with PC and mobile device management, which delivers managed productivity capabilities for the Office mobile apps, in addition to file level data protection.

Furthermore, both parties believe that implementing EMS into an existing Windows environment allows for “strong integration” with Office 365 and Windows 8.1, and capabilities increase with Windows 10 when available.

"HP's position as a Preferred Partner, combined with our 30 year relationship, provides a strong foundation to help enterprise IT embrace our mobile-first, cloud-first world," adds Scott Guthrie, Executive VP of the Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise Group.

"By adding EMS to HP's offering we'll provide a simple and natural extension of the benefits already experienced by over 6 million devices currently managed by System Center Configuration Manager and HP Managed Desktop."

HP advisory and transformation services for Workplace of the Future, Microsoft Azure AD, and Microsoft Office 365 are available today, alongside HP Services for Office 365 and Skype for Business (including HP management of an Office 365 environment).

Additional advisory, transformation, and management services will be made available in 2015.