ChromeOS

ChromeOS is an example of a lightweight OS that is user friendly and can be easily inventoried and managed for users at UW-Madison. Departments can use G Suite to manage departmentally-owned devices, and it supports BYOD in an enterprise-friendly manner. The underlying paradigm shift is that the focus is on protecting the users' data, rather than primarily about managing the device. Since ChromeOS devices are a suitable platform for user to access their UW data, the need to tightly manage the device fades into the background.

To the user, all they need to do is sign in to any chromebook (personal or UW-owned) using their netid@wisc.edu

To the department IT, they can purchase devices with management console licenses and inventory/manage them within a G Suite organization.

Strategic goals

• Services should be "web first, mobile first". The diversity of devices (Linux, mobile OS's, etc) is likely to increase in the coming years due to the commoditization of the PC market, the overall shift to cloud services, and the expanding user base from online education will mean that we can no longer assume that everyone will have a Windows PC or Mac. Service administrators need to ensure that the "first class" experience for users is the web browser (with no OS-dependent plugins), using mobile clients as the supplemental experience when further convenience is offered.
• Premium hardware, where it counts. The notion that Chromebooks are going to be cheaper than the alternatives is only partially true. Users should get the hardware that offers a premium experience where it counts. People who type a lot should get a premium keyboard. People who need a touch screen for their workflow should get one. Laptops should be light, have a good display, and have a long battery life. These all add up. But, since the OS is much simpler, data mostly resides in the cloud, and the users' computing tasks are happening mostly in the cloud, the device doesn't need an overabundance of specs in other areas (drive storage, CPU, RAM, etc). This means that people can (and should) have premium hardware without necessarily spending as much as a top of the line Windows or Mac with all of the bells and whistles.

The point is not to say that ChromeOS is a superior option for all users. It is a means towards the end of ensuring the UW's IT services are meeting a common usability experience regardless of which OS the user prefers, offers a path towards lower cost hardware without sacrificing hardware options where it counts, simpler device management, and a path towards BYOD that doesn't compromise security.