Windows Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provides the following technical capabilities.
Operating System Deployment (OSD)
Operating system deployment is supported using System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). The SCCM infrastructure provides the ability install Windows 10 and configured applications via and OSD task sequence (TS) to devices connected to on-campus wired Ethernet networks. Specific combinations of applications can be configured for installation during OSD by creating and saving a build in the Config-O-Matic application. Saved builds may be assigned to specific computers in Config-O-Matic.
Application Deployment
Available Applications
All systems built with using Windows PaaS OSD come with a standard set of software pre-installed. This set of applications is know as MiWorkspace Core software. A list of the MiWorkspace Core Software is available here - Windows Standard Software.
In addition to the MiWorkspace Core software, there are other categories of applications that may be deployed Windows PaaS systems. The available software catalogs are described in the table below:
| Catalog Name | Catalog Description |
|---|---|
| MiWorkspace Core | Applications installed on all MiWorkspace and Windows PaaS computers. |
| MiWorkspace Catalog | Applications that can be installed on any MiWorkspace or PaaS computer. |
| BYOL Catalog | BYOL stands for Bring Your Own License. After installing a BYOL title, a customer must enter their own license or account information. BYOL titles may be installed on any MiWorkspace or PaaS computer. |
| ITAM Catalog | Applications that can be installed on MiWorkspace or PaaS computers that are in a unit that participates in the UmichITAM program. |
| Unit Catalog | Software that can be installed on any computer in the unit with unit approval. |
Additional applications may also be deployed to Windows PaaS systems using SCCM.
There are two types of deployments - required deployments and self-service.
Required Deployments
Required deployments will run automatically on targeted client systems when the client system meets all installation requirements. Status of deployments may be viewed by users in the Software Center application on the client system. Applications that have been installed by SCCM are listed in the installation status area of the Software Center application.
Self-Service Deployments
Self-service deployments will can be initiated by the user of a client system when the user and the client system meet all installation requirements. Available deployments are managed in the Software Center application on the client system. Applications that have been installed by SCCM are listed in the installation status area of the Software Center application.
Update Deployment
Updates for the Windows operating system and for Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Office and Skype are installed on client systems using required deployments. Deployed updates will install automatically when the deployment deadline is reached. Pending update installations may be viewed in the Software Center application. Installed updates are not displayed in Software Center, but they may be viewed in the Programs and Features control panel. To read about the release schedule of updates, view the Windows Change Schedule topic.
Anti-Virus
Windows Defender antivirus is deployed to all Windows PaaS client systems. Antivirus definitions are updated automatically multiple times per day. Configuration policies for Windows Defender are deployed centrally using SCCM. Customized configuration policies may be deployed on a per-unit basis. To read detailed information about the Windows Defender configuration, view the Windows Defender Configuration topic.