CIOs mostly worry about the scale and complexities involved in upgrading to Windows 10. Some even say that this will be one of most tiring, expensive and time-sensitive IT project for organizations. To ensure that the upgrade does not cause an enterprise-size migraine would require IT to strike a balance between speed in upgrading and least disruption to operations.
The first step lies in building a solid business case for the upgrade. This will offset the arguments that will ensue, most of them objections to up-gradation. Here are a few strong points to get the buy-in of the management as well as every single user within the enterprise.
- Windows 10 has several amazing security updates making security the number one driver for upgrading to the latest version of the operating system. According to Gartner, this is one of the biggest points favoring Windows 10 up-gradation.
- Microsoft’s Focused Inbox helps to maximize operational time by managing Outlook mailbox. Bio-metric support ensures faster sign-on.
- Windows 10’s continuous update methodology ensures that business users will receive updates regularly (two at least a month), in addition to monthly quality and security updates. By following the regular updates methodology, Microsoft ensures that users are not overwhelmed by a sudden spurt of features and instead have the time to adapt slowly and steadily to the Windows 10 environment.
- Enterprises normally use several applications many of which could be third-party applications. The vendors who are responsible for maintenance of these applications will work to support the most up-to-date versions of platforms. Thus, older versions may not receive the support that is required resulting in loss of support.
- Integrated processes will ensure that IT is not just perceived as an enabler and will instead be seen as the central hub for ensuring business goals are exceeded. Windows 10 provides IT managers with the tools for delivering the services that are needed to manage a better integrated business model.
The features mentioned above are generic to some extent and enterprises considering Windows 10 are most likely aware of its strength. These are just selling points to remove the roadblock to migration. However, once the decision to upgrade to Windows 10 has been approved, that is when CIOs have to face their internal demons. An example of the kinds of questions that send shivers down the backs are, ‘how long will the whole process be?’ This question conjures several scary scenes such as a long one to two year period of disruption, escalating expenses, crashing systems and thankless moments.
Questions such as ‘Can our infrastructure handle automated deployments? In addition, ‘Can Windows 10 security features be implemented remotely?’ are some of the trouble shooters that CIOs will have to deal with.
To ensure peace of mind and a disruption-free upgrade requires CIOs to consider some key requirements to mitigate project risks such as:
- Gathering and analysis of existing desktops system and network information
- Understand security and compliance requirements
- Post up-gradation of the operating systems to Windows 10, ensure that all desktops are back to normal operations
- Document the entire process and conduct a basics user training on Windows 10.
While this is on a broader level, there is the need to get down to intrinsic detailing, such as ‘where do users store their content, i.e. local drives, in which case it could be lost during the upgrade process, to are the current apps compatible with Windows 10.’
Service providers with Windows expertise, ask all these questions and more to ensure that the entire upgrade process is risk-free, fast and smooth. Trigent’s expertise in Windows 10 up-gradation has resulted in a well-drawn out process for implementation. This starts with week one focusing on design and discovery and ends with user training and knowledge transfer, post-migration, by week five. To know more about Trigent’s Windows expertise, visit: our technologies expertise
