Windows 8 on a USB Flash Drive: Windows To Go

A really nice enterprise feature found on Windows 8 is called Windows To Go. It's a nice option for IT administrators dealing with BYOD headaches.

Here's a brief description:

Windows To Go is your own fully manageable, corporate image installed on a bootable certified USB drive. It is a new feature of Windows 8 Enterprise to help businesses address a wide range of mobility and travel light requirements.

Windows To Go is different from other mobility solutions because people can be productive from almost any location they choose to work. Simply insert a drive into a compatible computer and boot into a personalized Windows 8 image, network connectivity not required.

All of the great technologies you use with Windows 8 Enterprise work with Windows To Go: Group Policy, BitLocker, BranchCache, AppLocker, App-V, UE-V, and DirectAccess. Windows To Go is literally Windows 8 Enterprise in your pocket.

You'll need to use a Windows To Go certified drive:

Windows To Go certified drives pass a battery of certification tests, including self-hosting and boot compatibility across a variety of PCs. The certification process ensures that drives are built for the high random read / write speeds required for running Windows smoothly. Additionally, certified drives are backed with manufacturer warranties, with a focus on continuing to operate under normal working conditions. Microsoft only supports drives certified for Windows To Go.