Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Networking Enhancements for Enterprises

In the past few years, advances in mobile computers and wireless broadband have enabled users to be more productive while away from the office. According to IDC, the third quarter of 2008 marked the point at which computer manufacturers began shipping more mobile computers than desktop computers worldwide (IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, December 2008).

In 2008, mobile workers will represent 26.8% of the total workforce, and that number will increase to 30.4% by 2011 (IDC, "Worldwide Mobile Worker Population 2007–2011 Forecast," Doc #209813, Dec 2007). Clearly, users are becoming more mobile, and IT professionals must provide an infrastructure to allow them to remain productive.

Additionally, more users are working from branch offices or home offices instead of the central office. The changing structure of business puts more pressure on IT professionals to provide a high-performance and secure infrastructure for connecting remote users and branch offices while minimizing costs.

With Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2, Microsoft® introduces several new networking features to improve the productivity of mobile users and users at branch offices. This document describes those features, as well as other networking improvements in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The following topics are covered:

DirectAccess

VPN Reconnect

Mobile Broadband

BranchCache

File Sharing and Offline Files Enhancements

URL-based QoS

DNS Security Extensions

Support for Green IT

Summary

Note

For a complete view of Windows 7 resources, articles, demos, and guidance, please visit the Springboard Series for Windows 7 on the Windows Client TechCenter.
For a downloadable version of this document, see Networking Enhancements for Enterprises in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Microsoft Download Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151750).