Centrify, a provider of security and compliance offerings to cross-platform data centres using Active Directory, has enhanced features in its DirectControl for Mac OS X v4.4, designed to help IT and helpdesk staff streamline the deployment, security and management of the Mac in Windows-managed, IT environments.

The company said that it has earned the Department of Defense JITC certification for support of Common Access Cards (CAC) and authentication, and integration with Group Logic Extreme Z-IP for support of home directories on Windows DFS shares.

According to Centrify, the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) provides test, evaluation, and certification services for acquiring and deploying global net-centric military capabilities.

The company claims DirectControl for Mac OS X version 4.4 comes with added functions that make it easier for organisations to manage Macs in the workplace. It also supports FileVault on Mac OS X 10.5. In addition, it enables mobile users whose home directory is on an NFS-mounted share to authenticate to that share using Active Directory. The newly released version 4.4’s new Group Policy for login settings allows administrators predetermine which items should be opened, when a user logs in.

Reid Lewis, CEO of Group Logic, said: We see organisations benefiting from interoperability between our solutions. By simplifying authentication in a DFS environment, Centrify makes it easier for our customers to get the value of DFS without having to increase their administrative overhead.