IT Guide to Windows 8.1: Remote Business Data Removal

Data management for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) represents one of the larger concerns for organizations. More and more companies are looking to BYOD as a potential solution for mobile workers, but many implementations become stalled due to trying to figure out the corporate data versus personal data conundrum. Allowing users' own devices to connect to the corporate network and have access to company data represents the potential for a huge security problem and also legal issues.

Windows 8.1 with Windows Server 2012 R2 offers enhanced abilities for users to connect and disconnect to the corporate network using Work Place Join and Work Folders, but it also includes a new feature called Remote Business Data Removal (RBDR). The RBDR feature does much more than just the name suggests. 

In addition to providing security through remote data removal, RBDR also allows file flagging to classify the differences between corporate files and user files on the device. This ensures that a remote wipe will not eliminate user-owned information while securing the corporate material. Admins can also choose to just make the data inaccessible instead of a full removal and also remotely encrypt files.

This article is part of The IT Guide to Windows 8.1, a continuing series to make the case for Windows 8.1 in the organization.