An Engineer’s Perspective – Migrating to Windows 10

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Migrating to Windows 10 is the first step in introducing a new world of end-user computing. The plans you put in place today will have implications for years to come.  Windows 10 is indeed a major change.

Things to consider

  • Decidewhento migrate to Windows 10 and develop a windows 10 image.
  • Test Applications against your image to ensure no compatibility issues are found) in addition to features you would like to include in your image.
  • Define a pilot groups for deployment of Windows 10
  • Develop a deployment plan to deploy Windows 10 over time.
  • Deploy Windows 10 and define your Servicing plan to manage Windows 10 features and updates.
  • If there are applications that do not run on Windows 10 consider virtualizing the application as an alternative.

Summary of constraints to Migrate to Windows 10

Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, and Windows 7 and 8 is quickly nearing end of life.

  • There has been little adoption of Windows 8.1 in the enterprise setting
  • Consumers have quickly adopted Windows 10 and are looking for it at work.
  • Windows-as-a-Service means that updates and ongoing management have become more complicated. This complication refers to the CB, CBB and LTSB options when managing updates and features within Windows 10. Decide which servicing plan is right for you.
  • Organizations are chained to previous versions of Windows due to legacy applications and web applications that only work in older versions of Internet Explorer.
  • The costs of migrating operating systems are daunting, and there is confusion about new features, making a business case difficult.

Reasons why to avoid moving to Windows 10

  • Loss of control of how to manage Windows updates, the automation of updates to the OS. Some editions of Windows 10 can delay updates. Microsoft is moving toward controlling update as a service.
  • There are security downsides, features like Cortana need to be disabled due to sensitive data potential being shared and for most hospitals would be a HIPPA violation.
  • Legacy Application is not going away, adding another OS to manage can be a support nightmare.
  • New features like Cortana and Microsoft Edge are different than Internet Explorer 9,10 in enterprise setting and reliance on Internet Explorer will continue.

Some things to consider when planning a Windows 10 Migration

  1. Windows 10 is not just another upgrade. Big changes for Microsoft means big changes for you.
  2. Plan the migration into stages: BYOD, and new hardware features that require Windows 10, determine which features will be migrated into the environment.
  3. Take it one step at a time. Define rings of users and let these categories guide migration methods and timing.

Solution

  • Prepare your IT department for the impact of the new Windows Update lifecycle and take advantage of Long-Term Service Branch (LTSB) where appropriate.
  • Learn about features such as Internet Explorer 11 Document Mode, Windows-To-Go, and in-place migrations.
  • Structure your migration to Windows 10 so that you can get your pilot going and plan to spend the next several months moving to Windows 10.

The migration needs may need to happen sooner. It may be necessary to migrate to Windows 10 well before end of life. Business interest and adoption for Windows 10 is unprecedented. Apps, services, and expectations will quickly focus on Windows 10 to meet demand.

It is the “last” version of Windows. Previous versions of Windows – such as Windows 8 –could be skipped in hopes of a better version in the future. Microsoft has positioned Windows 10 as the last release, with frequent updates replacing major named revisions.

Windows 10 opens the door to broad end-user computing needs. Useit to completely reconsider end-user computing. Compatibility with enterprise mobility management tools makes unified management of all endpoints – mobile or not – a possibility. A new world of unified endpoint managementis on the way.

Set a target migration date, and then plan your migration around the applications that will support Windows 10.  Windows XP is no longer supported information security sees this as a security threat forces company to move quickly to Windows 10. And many Organizations stay on windows XP or move to  Virtualize the application.

Reasons to move to Windows 10

  1. There are more ways to manage Windows 10, SCCM and Enterprise mobility suite and Microsoft Azure, since this is a Windows-as-a -service, you can now add your windows 10 in Microsoft Azure. Windows 10 introduces EMM Management and other mobile style features like Windows Store for Business.
  2. Windows security features such as Enterprise Data Protection, Passport, windows Defender, Virtual Secure Mode, Device Guard, windows hello, Azure Rights Management and trusted apps. With this many security features within Windows 10 why wait to migrate to Windows 10.
  3. New hardware requires new OS that will support newer drivers that supports the security features and more.
  4. Windows 10 has a new look and feel and the Windows Start menu is back and the OS has a new improved action items, as wells as how updates are managed.

Management of Windows 10 OS has become more complex in today’s market and with so many tools such as SCCM, Altiris, EMM and Azure. We can help define the best way to manage your Windows 10 devices.

The best practice to deploy Windows 10 is to follow the main 5 steps

  1. Assessment – Determine which hardware and Software is compatible with windows 10, you can setup Windows Assessment kit which will scan your system and provide with a report which will help you plan your Window 10 Migration. The assessment will fail into three categories
    1. Hardware – which Hardware meets the requirement of Windows 10, most cases more Memory and Hard drive space are common.
    2. Software that will need to be upgraded prior to Windows 10 deployment
    3. Internet base Applications which Web-application needs updating.
  2. Once those items are identified it will be easy to group these machines into categories for Windows 10 Migration. (Hardware, then Applications)
  3. Determine which application can be virtualized and determine which Virtualization is right for your environment.  There are so many choices today to virtualized your application, see list below
    1. Microsoft AppV
    2. Citrix – ZenApp
    3. RDSH – Can be setup in VMware Horizon and Citrix farms (Microsoft release Windows 2016 and RDS which is Microsoft version of VDI
    4. What machine can be virtualized (VMware View or Citrix Zen Desktop) to name a few most organization use.

Let me know your thoughts below, ask any questions or comments about the articles or guides. you can send me an email with your questions at nextech@yahoo.com