Desktop Authority

Seamless and Centralized Desktop Management with true Windows Environment Management Provides the Business the Security Users Need

Customization is the toughest part of maintaining an environment that keeps users productive. You have to make every desktop, whether physical or virtual, exactly right for each user without crushing IT administration resources that are already stretched to the limit. Quest® Workspace™ Desktop Authority—part of Quest's User Workspace Management solution—gives you a single console to configure, manage, secure and support each user's unique workspace—including the most targeted mix possible of resources, security requirements, applications, peripherals and even Outlook settings—wherever that user logs in. Desktop Authority complements traditional desktop management—focused on software deployment and asset tracking—with true user environment management for companies of all sizes and all infrastructures. It allows you to manage the user environment across:

  • Devices: Desktop Authority minimizes the hassles of deploying and securing devices by customizing devices at the first log-in; it configures the firewall and controls browser security for physical, virtual and published Windows environments.
  • Applications: Desktop Authority ensures applications are always available by helping you keep them running, configure shortcuts, customize settings and maintain access to network resources.
  • Identities: Desktop Authority shapes the user environment to the user identity, instantly configuring drives, printers, folders, shortcuts, Outlook profiles and more all tailored to the user’s unique needs.

Three Editions to Suit Your Organization’s Infrastructure: Desktop Authority is available in three editions: Essentials, Standard and Professional. The edition you choose depends on your needs, your budget, and your existing desktop management solutions. Click ‘Try’ to discover which edition is right for you and download a trial version.

Features

Desktop Authority - Standard Edition

Desktop Authority Standard Edition is the right choice if you need user environment management  functionality to complement your existing client management solution.

  • Real-time Targeting Engine: Desktop Authority tailors settings and configurations by user, computer, network address or dozens of other criteria using its patented Validation Logic targeting engine. This simplifies initial provisioning and environment setup, enforces user access policies, automatically updates configurations and settings, and more. Learn more »
  • User Environment Configuration: Desktop Authority configures access to company resources, manages security settings, configures Outlook profiles and Office settings, customizes registry settings and more. Learn more »
  • Windows Environment Management: Desktop Authority takes control of the Windows environment by deploying software and service packs, controlling power schemes and inactivity settings, and tracking hardware and software. Learn more »
  • Device Security: Desktop Authority prevents security problems where they’re most likely to occur: at the desktop. Set security policies, manage the firewall, lock inactive computers and manage browser security and privacy settings for machines, applications and data. Learn more »
  • Remote User Support: Desktop Authority’s ExpertAssist remote management system allows you to manage more than 40 computer tasks without interrupting the user, including accessing system information, controlling processes, running remote command-line commands, copying files and more. Learn more »

Benefits:

  • Customize the User Environment: Let Desktop Authority -- through its patented Validation Logic  -- target, configure and manage a unique user environment, no matter where users are or whether they use a physical or virtual desktop.
  • Simplify Administration: Desktop Authority provides centralized, web-based management that makes it easy to deliver a secure and consistent user environment.
  • Eliminate Log-in Scripting: Eliminate the need to write, test and maintain login scripts to ensure each user's environment presents the correct mix of hardware, applications and permissions. Eliminating script execution makes the log-in process as fast as possible for your users.
  • Maintain Control: Let Desktop Authority track and report on usage to ensure that all computers, applications and user sessions are secure and authorized.

Desktop Authority - Essentials

Desktop Authority Essentials is ideal if you need user environment management but already have an IT infrastructure that includes Microsoft SCCM or other inventory and deployment software. It provides all core capabilities for targeting, configuring and managing the user environment. Desktop Authority Essentials does not include application deployment, patching, inventory, remote user support, auditing, and the optional components offered below. See detailed comparison of editions »

Desktop Authority - Professional

Desktop Authority Professional is the right choice for companies with limited IT infrastructure It includes not only all the functionality of Desktop Authority Standard, but full software deployment, hardware and software inventory, and remote support functionality as well. See detailed comparison of editions »

Optional Components

Both Desktop Authority Standard and Desktop Authority Professional can be enhanced through these advanced management and security options:

Sys Reqs

Supported Operating SystemsThe Desktop Authority Web Console (Manager) can be installed on any of the following servers:
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 & R2 Standard/Enterprise Edition with SP2 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard/Enterprise (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise

The Desktop Authority client side components can be installed on any of the following clients:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or greater (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) or greater (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows 7 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 & R2 Standard/Enterprise Edition with SP2 (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard/Enterprise (including 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise
Desktop Authority server components can be installed on a domain controller; however the best practice recommendation is to install Desktop Authority on a member server.

For the best web console performance it is recommended that the web components be installed on a dedicated IIS server to help reduce the potential for side effects from other Web based applications or system performance degradation  (Desktop Authority 9.0 and later requires IIS for its Web based console).

The dedicated server hosting Desktop Authority should have a minimum of a 2.0 GHz, dual core equivalent and a minimum of 4 GB of memory.
Supported Domains
  • Microsoft Windows 2003 domain
  • Microsoft Windows 2008 domain
  • Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 domain
Required Software Applications

Web Console (Manager)
The following applications are required and will be installed as part of the Desktop Authority installation. Installation of these applications may require a system reboot.

  • Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.5 SP1
  • Microsoft .NET Framework, Hotfix KB981119
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Backward Compatibility
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express – Installed if an existing SQL Server instance is not selected. Desktop Authority will prompt to start the Computer Browser Service (if disabled)
    • Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5
      Installed for Microsoft Windows XP SP2/SP3, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1/SP2 (x86/x64), Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (x86/x64),
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6, 7 or 7.5 based on the Operating System of the server
    • IIS 6 will be installed to 2003 servers
    • IIS 7 will be installed to 2008 servers
    • IIS 7.5 will be installed to 2008 R2 servers
  • Once installed, the Desktop Authority web console (Manager) has the following Web browser requirements:
    • Minimum Browser Versions
      Internet Explorer 7
      Firefox 3.6
    • Recommended Browser Versions
      Internet Explorer 9 or later
      Firefox 4 or later

The minimum screen resolution for the Desktop Authority web console is 1024 x 768.


Desktop Authority supports Microsoft SQL Server version 2005 and later.


Client side applications

  • Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1
    • Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP SP1/SP2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003
  • Microsoft .NET 2.0 SP1

User Account Permission Requirements
For use with Desktop Authority services:

  • One admin level account is required by the Desktop Authority services. This account is required to have read/write access to all NETLOGON share(s) and to be a member of the local Administrators group on all applicable workstations (if installed on a domain controller, user account must be a domain admin)
  • One domain user level account

Carefully consider all requirements, specifically the additional server software prerequisites, when deciding where to install Desktop Authority. If you choose to install on a domain controller, make sure these prerequisites are acceptable before starting the installation.

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