Visual Automation Secure Desktop

Windows 10 Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB)

Windows 10. Windows as a Service (WaaS)

Windows 10 is very different from previous versions of Windows. Windows 10 will make regular incremental improvements to the operating system. Some of these changes might not be desirable in a mission critical system. Because of this, the Windows 10 Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) Edition is worth consideration.

UPDATE:

The Long-Term Servicing Channel replaces the Long-Term Servicing Branch [LTSB].

“Long-Term Servicing Channel. These are less frequent releases, expected every 2-3 years (with the next one expected in 2019), designed for special-purpose PCs such as those used in point-of-sale systems or controlling factory or medical equipment. Each of these releases will be serviced for 10 years from the date of release. (The Long-Term Servicing Channel replaces the Long-Term Servicing Branch [LTSB].)”Michael Niehaus, Microsoft Windows as a service: Simplified and Aligned

As the Microsoft TechNet article explains, the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (now LTSC) Edition is recommended for a mission critical system using Windows 10 in Retail, Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical. Secure Desktop is designed for these same industries.

 

Classic Windows application and the Universal Windows app

 

Secure Desktop has always been designed for what is now called a Classic Windows application (CWA). These applications run on what is now called the Classic Windows Platform (CWP) (e.g., COM, Win32, WPF, WinForms, etc.).

A Universal Windows app (UWA) is a new kind of app for Windows 10 and is built to run on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP).

The Classic Windows Platform exists as a series of services, usually exe and dll files, that run independently of the Windows Explorer shell. The Windows Explorer shell and the Secure Desktop shell both provide the ability to run Classic Windows applications.

In Windows 10, the Universal Windows Platform is an integral part of the Windows Explorer shell. The Windows Explorer shell has to be running to launch and run a Universal Windows app. This is an unfortunate architectural choice.

Secure Desktop provides security by replacing the Windows Explorer shell. When Secure Desktop is set as the Windows shell, the Explorer shell is not running. Because the Explorer shell is not running, Secure Desktop can not run Universal Windows apps in any Edition of Windows 10.

Browsers

Secure Desktop has always been able to launch browsers that are designed as Classic Windows applications (CWA) such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Opera. We have specific features for Internet Explorer 11. Other CWA browsers will simply run "as is" or may be controlled slightly using the Windows Wizard.

Secure Desktop can not launch browsers that are designed as Universal Windows applications (UWA) such as Microsoft Edge.

Our Windows 10 Recommendation

Although Secure Desktop 10 may be used on any Edition of Windows 10 other than Windows 10 S, we strongly recommend consideration of the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (now LTSC) Edition before making a final decision. Regardless of what Edition of Windows 10 you choose, Secure Desktop can not run Universal Windows apps. Based on our research we believe that Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (now LTSC) Edition may be the most secure and stable in a mission critical system.

 

UPDATE: Windows 10 S

 

Windows 10 S is a specific configuration of Windows 10 Pro that exclusively runs apps from the Microsoft (Windows) Store. Secure Desktop is not available on the Microsoft (Windows) Store and therefore is not compatible with Windows 10 S.

Windows 10 S can easily be switched to Windows 10 Pro. Secure Desktop is fully compatible with Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Enterprise.