6 Critical Considerations for Businesses Upgrading to Windows 11

Consider whether renewing the hardware is necessary. From a sustainability perspective, there is no rush to replace hardware that is missing some of the requirements since Windows 10 will be supported until October 2025. Trying to use hardware devices as long as their natural lifecycle allows for a reduced impact on the environment.

Maximise the utility of the upgrade by considering the functionalities that are needed, as not all of them may be needed or even desirable. Some may be restricted, for example Microsoft Store apps might be restricted in Windows Store or an internal store, or some services may be removed completely, such as Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, to prevent Microsoft from tracking app usage and web searching.

In this process, it is important to start with a review of the tools and processes already utilised in Windows 10 to discover the target state, and consider other functionalities that could be added, such as multiple Notepad tabs.

These actions aim to help users adapt to the upgrade which involve two key steps: prepping the helpdesk and framing user expectations.

The helpdesk should be prepared with scripts and manuals, including screenshots, to reflect the new user interface. The guide will ideally cover a variety of situations, including the upgrade experience and the initial experience for new devices. User expectations need to be addressed – everyone across the organisation should be aware of the rollout and where training and readiness materials can be found ahead of time so that they can be prepared for the changes to come.

For Windows 11, this upgrade should be much less difficult in comparison to moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 since there is greater app compatibility, but a great focus on testing is still needed to ensure the upgrade will be user-friendly and will not cause issues down the line. The full migration process should be tested to verify its feasibility and hence sufficient time should be allocated to fix any issues before the full roll-out.

Consideration here falls on the timing of the roll-out, as it needs to be completed before October 2025 to avoid the cost of extended support, which also has a maximum limit of 5 years after Microsoft stops free support for Windows 10. If Windows 10 is going to continue to be used after 2025, a heightened focus on security will be critical because of lack of security updates, which could lead to potential security breaches.