Platform Roadmap Update

Contributing Analysts: Michael Cherry, Wes Miller, Rob Sanfilippo

Updates to several Microsoft platform products could arrive in the second half of 2013 and the first half of 2014, including Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2, SQL Server 2014, and updated services in Windows Intune. Major performance improvements will appear with SQL Server 2014, and Visual Studio 2013 and Windows Azure will have added features to make Azure a more attractive development platform. Announced at TechEd North America in June 2013, previews of each updated product (except Windows Intune) became available in June 2013.

Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2

Improvements to Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Server 2012 are coming as part of the new faster cadence of Windows OS releases previously code-named Blue. The changes will improve management of Windows- and Windows RT-based devices, particularly when an organization neither owns nor controls the user’s device. (See “Windows 8.1 to Address Management, Mobility, and Security“.)