6 Elements to Consider When Deploying Windows 10

With any migration or upgrade, challenges will arise. Windows 10 migration is no different – so be prepared. Here are six key elements to consider when upgrading to Windows 10. 

1. Be Prepared

• Windows-as-a-Service model means preparing for future releases and update cycles.
• Patching enterprise-wide can lead to significant network bottlenecks that can severely impact business operations for on-premise updates.

Don’t forget your infrastructure. Is your new software compatible?  Legacy infrastructure can cause critical compatibility issues due to its age and resulting complexity. Moving legacy applications can also be troublesome for many businesses.

2. Inventory and Rationalize Applications

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), can help enterprises collect raw inventory data, normalize and categorize applications, and then identify which apps should be consolidated, retired, upgraded and migrated.

3. Select the Right Migration Option

• Wipe and Load – where you capture data and settings, deploy (custom) OS Image, install drivers and applications, and then restore the data and settings.
• In-Place Upgrades – for devices that are already running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, that lets Windows do the work.
• New devices must be configured and provisioned to be enterprise ready.

4. Automation is Your Friend

Automate wherever possible. Reducing the number of manual processes is the best way to keep up with Microsoft’s faster update schedule. To help offload some of the burdens on IT, you can take advantage of technologies that automatically detect Windows 10 anomalies to keep your environment in sync.

Using a tool that automatically pushes content changes a single time when the content is updated, increases deployment rates by ensuring that the latest versions are always available as soon as possible.

5. Security First

While security is a primary factor for enterprises choosing to move to Windows 10, you can’t forget about following security best practices. Create a strategy to centrally manage security settings on devices. Encrypt content everywhere to protect all software assets. Manage role-based security to limit the control different administrators have over the enterprise.

Don’t forget to maintain visibility and control. Know where content is being deployed in real-time and control the priorities of distribution which will ensure that critical IT items, like security updates, never get negatively impacted during Windows 10 deployments.

6. Budget Impact

A new subscription model means businesses will need to adjust from a CapEx approach to an OpEx one. This can be a potential strain on an organization at first.

Larger enterprises will be challenged to move to a budgeting process that can reconcile IT support and license costs that spreads out over a period of time, in contrast to the predictability of budgeting upfront.