Yep – you heard correctly! No more Semi-Annual Channel Targeted (aka CB) or Semi-Annual Channel Broad (aka CBB) releases! Although this is not a new topic (John Wilcox gave us a heads up back in May 2018) the Semi-Annual Channel(SAC) Targeted release (formerly known as CB or Current Branch) will be fully retired after…
Modern EUC Infobits: February 2019 – News you can Use! There is so much change in the End User Computing space at the moment that many of us need help and guidance navigate the Workforce Transformation Journey. The change is not only about Windows 10 or Modern Provisioning but about the entire End User…
One of the most common questions I am asked during Small-Medium Business (SMB) customer calls is why should I move from Windows 10 Pro to Enterprise. The simple (but not complete) answer is: The primary reason is because of the security features included in Enterprise. Baseline functionality for both versions include:
UPDATE February 2021: Microsoft announced that the next version of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC will be released in the second half of this calendar year (2H21) and will carry a 5-year support lifecycle, instead of the 10-year lifecycle supported with previous version. Full Microsoft announcement post here. Now that Windows 7 is less than a year…
As I go around customers talking about Modern Provisioning, a common questions during the session is: What do I need to give Windows Autopilot a try? How do I test it? What are the requirements? How do I get started? You can take Windows Autopilot for a test drive with little effort and no need…
Modern EUC Infobits: December 2018 – News you can Use! There is so much change in the End User Computing space at the moment that many of us need help and guidance navigate the Workforce Transformation Journey. The change is not only about Windows 10 or Modern Provisioning but about the entire End User…
This post was inspired by a tweet from VMware’s COO Sanjay Poonen (part of Dell Technologies) It is simply amazing how much the End User Computing space has changed in the last four year… For many of us in the industry the way we were managing PC devices needed a radical change. We…
Microsoft published a guidance document (and associated video series) to help customers migrate to the Modern Desktop. The Modern Desktop refers to Microsoft’s bundled product suite called Microsoft 365 which includes: Windows 10, Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility & Security (See my Microsoft 365 Explained blog post ) Microsoft’s guidance includes 8 steps:
Recently I sold one of my old domains (see blog post here). A couple of days later, I realized that I also had the corresponding twitter handle as well, so I offered to transfer ( not a sale, just a transfer ). The buyer wanted it and he was stoked about it… Sidenote: Not a…
A couple of days ago, Microsoft announced that new Office icons will be rolling out to across all platforms over the “next few months” starting with mobile and the web…
Title: Understanding Modern Provisioning Date Presented: November 29, 2018 — 8:00a Abstract Content Today’s End User Computing environment has changed considerably in the past few years. Modern OS, cloud-based management systems, end-user expectations, security, the blurring of work/personal lines have all radically changed the way corporate data and devices need to be managed. In this…
Many businesses (especially large ones) have been using Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) with Software Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or similar system to manage Windows updates to the end-point devices for a very long time. However many do not have a formalized process to update the O/S on their devices. For the past 3 years…
In my work I have a lot of conversations and do a lot presentations om the topic of Workspace Transformation, Modern Provisioning and Modern Device management. There is so much change in this field right now, that it is challenging for most enterprises. I have written a lot of articles on the impact…
After a long wait, Microsoft has started once again to roll out Windows 10 v1809 (October 2018 Update) starting November 13. Originally released on Oct 2, 2018, Microsoft paused the roll out after issues were reported and confirmed a week later (October 9) Software is available via the Software Download Center (via Update Assistant or the…
Great article by my colleague at Dell EMC, Colin Sainsbury on Application Testing and Management in a Windows 10 world. Preparing applications for migration is a multi-faceted challenge and with the introduction of Windows as a Service, it needs to be revisited for each Windows 10 version upgrade. The stages required to complete one…
Great graphic on The Evolution of the Employee
A common question I receive often has to do with Office ProPlus: What is Office ProPlus? Does this include Office 365? How is Office ProPlus different than Office 365? What are the benefits? Short answer:
PowerShell script that uses WMI to retrieve properties needed by the Microsoft Store for Business to support Windows AutoPilot deployment. https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Get-WindowsAutoPilotInfo/ Thank you Michael Niehaus! For more information see: Technet Blog Post Gathering Windows Autopilot hardware details from existing Devices Overview of Windows Autopilot | Microsoft Docs Deploy Windows 10 Enterprise for new devices with…
From an end-user computing point of view, Microsoft Ignite 2018 did not disappoint this year. Although Windows 10 was not the primary focus , deploying, managing and maintaining Windows devices using the entire Microsoft platform was definitely top of the billboard, and in particular Microsoft 365. Many announcements were made around the Modern Workspace. …
Microsoft Ignite 2018 has come to a close. 5 days of total immersion for the 25,000 IT Pros who attended the Orlando conference. Attendees and speakers are heading home tired, energized, and every emotion in between. By all I hear from friends – this year was a fantastic one! Thank you Microsoft – Exciting…
Today Microsoft officially announced a new service: Microsoft Managed Desktop or MMD. Although it was known Microsoft was working on this, no official word or announcement has been published until now. We believe that MMD will be an option that allows organizations to fundamentally shift how they think about and manage their IT. Through MMD,…
Just a few of days ago (Sep 6, 2018) Microsoft announced Windows 7 Extended Support Upgrade (ESU) where businesses can now pay to extend Windows 7 Security Updates Beyond January 14, 2020. (See summary of announcement here ) Although pricing was not revealed, the blog post announcement, authored by Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for…
There was a very significant announcement that was made public today. Summary of announcement: Longer Windows 10 servicing for enterprises and educational institutions moving from 18 month cycle to a 30 month cycle. (per version) Windows 7 Extended Security Updates: Microsoft will offer paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) through January 2023. Not sure…
Update: Windows 7 Extended Support Update Packages Pricing There was a very significant announcement that was made public today. Summary of announcement:
What is the pricing and the differences between the different versions of Microsoft 365.
I wanted to write something about a question I get often asked: What is the pricing and the differences between the different versions of Microsoft 365. Microsoft has a variety of productivity and security management offerings that small to medium-sized and large enterprise customers may consider when upgrading their desktop and device infrastructure, each bringing…
onth – or so, I try to find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of interest to you and specially your customers. Please feel free to share below items with your peers and customers! Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however…
Workspace transformation is gaining lot of momentum at the moment. At its core, it is about letting users access data and applications securely anywhere anytime. Enabling users to quickly provision their devices is only part of the story. Request applications so they can quickly securely access the data without the large bureaucracy associated with IT…
Workspace transformation is gaining lot of momentum at the moment. At its core, it is about letting users access data and applications securely anywhere anytime. Enabling users to quickly provision their devices is only part of the story. Request applications so they can quickly securely access the data without the large bureaucracy associated with IT…
Microsoft announced with a new service bundle called Microsoft 365 a few months back . Until recently there was some confusion as to what actual products and features was included in it.. I found this great explanation by Aaron Dinnage which explains many details in his blog post: Unpacking Microsoft 365 Here is my…
Lots of change in the EUC space these days! — The reason for this blog is a specific question I received : Customer is looking for application modernization services. They would like their .exe apps converted to be able to work in the Windows Store for Business as a part of their AutoPilot/Intune project. Short…
Lots of change in the EUC space these days! — The reason for this blog is a specific question I received : Customer is looking for application modernization services. They would like their .exe apps converted to be able to work in the Windows Store for Business as a part of their AutoPilot/Intune project. Short…
As of today, we sit at less than 18 calendar months from the end of Windows 7 Extended Support. A couple of weeks ago in the Microsoft Partner Conference in Vegas, Microsoft provided some context to the opportunity ahead for partners by giving the numbers of installed Windows 7 devices around the world… A summary of…
I always start my Windows 10 conversations with the statement: There are two parts to any Windows 10 project: Getting to Windows 10. Maintaining Windows 10 This article is all about “Getting to Windows 10”. All of us have been to customers that have not yet officially started their Windows 10 projects or they are…
Windows 7 End of Extended Support date: January 14, 2020 : Days Remaining to migrate your PC fleet: Total Calendar Days: 569 / Business Days: <395 Call to Action: Ask your customers: How are you doing with your Windows 10 adoption ? Will you be fully migrated by the end of 2019? Effectively it is less than 18…
h – or so, I try to find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of interest to you and specially your customers. Please feel free to share below items with your peers and customers! Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however…
With the popularity of Modern Device Provisioning using Windows Autopilot or AirWatch, using a “Generic Image” (Microsoft OS without OEM added-value software added) as the baseline OS is a very common practice. I have been asked multiple times if a generic image (ISO from Microsoft) contains any bloatware. – The short answer is NO. It…
I was working with videos and our family photo library over the weekend (another post coming) and was having some challenges with storage and disk drives I had a bit of time time tonight, and my hotel had terrible Internet access speed so I decided to take some time and do a quick comparison of…
Many people ping me on a weekly basis wanting to know what Microsoft’s Windows Autopilot is and understand what it means or if they can use it right away.. Microsoft and other vendors are marketing as the new zero-touch deployment experience. This is what I tell them: Windows Autopilot is a process not a technology….
Every month, I try to find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of interest to you and specially your customers. Please feel free to share below items with your peers and customers! Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however it also…
Late last night (Novermber 14), Michael Niehaus posted a blog titled: Progressing Windows as a Service in which informed the Windows 10 community that Microsoft will be extending the End of Support for Windows 10 v1511 until April 2018 (previously announced for Oct 1, 2017): To help some early enterprise adopters that are still finishing their transition…
Below you will find a short summary list on Windows 10 related topics which I have found interesting. I do share these with my peers and customers.. Enjoy! Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however it also represents a big challenge for many customer. As…
Every month, I try to to find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of interest to you and specially your customers. Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however it also represents a big challenge for many customer. We continue to visit…
Below you will find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of interest to your customers. Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices. It also represents a big challenge for many customer. We can help them in this journey to Modern Device Management! …
Below you will find a short summary list on Windows 10 related topics which I have found interesting. I do share these with my peers and customers.. Enjoy! As we visit customers, there are still a lot of them deploying Windows 10 without understanding of its capabilities or new Windows as a Service (WaaS)…
A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft announced with a new service bundle called Microsoft 365. Until recently there was some confusion as to what actual products and features was included in it.. I found this great explanation by Aaron Dinnage which explains many details in his blog post: Unpacking Microsoft 365 Here is my…
Windows 10 version 1511 will no longer receive security or quality updates after October 10, 2017. What this means? After October 10, 2017 Windows 10 version 1511 will no longer receive security or quality updates! Why is this important? Because many customer began to deploy Windows 10 and may have no plan to update these…
Walter Mossberg , THE GO-TO technology columnist for many years, is retiring. He announced his retirement in early June 2017 and Charlie Rose interviewed him not only on his life as a journalist but they got to talk about the future. Excellent conversation. A truly accomplished and down-to-earth person. Impeccable journey,…
In today’s digital age, managing data has become an essential aspect of daily life. From storing personal files to backing up business-critical information, having a reliable and secure storage solution is paramount. Two popular options for data management are Network Attached Storage (NAS) and cloud storage. What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)? A NAS device…
Windows 10 is about just about 2 years old ( 1507 Threadstone 1 was released on July 29, 2015) , and even though it was short of the 1 billion devices originally targeted by this time, the ~500 million or so is a tremendous achievement. It has been the fastest Microsoft OS adoption in history. …
Windows 10 is about just about 2 years old ( 1507 Threadstone 1 was released on July 29, 2015) , and even though it was short of the 1 billion devices originally targeted by this time, the ~500 million or so is a tremendous achievement. It has been the fastest Microsoft OS adoption in history….
Windows 10 is about just about 2 years old ( 1507 Threadstone 1 was released on July 29, 2015) , and even though it was short of the 1 billion devices originally targeted by this time, the ~500 million or so is a tremendous achievement. It has been the fastest Microsoft OS adoption in history….
When we discuss the continuous update model of Windows as a Service, one of the first questions that pops out is what would be the impact of not keeping up with Windows-as-a-Services updates. Although it has been stated by Microsoft a number of time, we now have a clear written statement from them on the impact. …
Now it becomes real! When Discussing the continuous update model of Windows as a Service, one of the first questions that comes out is: What would be the impact of not keeping up with Windows-as-a-Services updates? Although it has been stated by Microsoft a number of time, we now have a clear written statement from…
Now it becomes real! When Discussing the continuous update model of Windows as a Service, one of the first questions that comes out is: What would be the impact of not keeping up with Windows-as-a-Services updates? Although it has been stated by Microsoft a number of time, we now have a clear written statement from…
What a great presentation by Josh Evans I just found on YouTube. He talks about the chaotic and vibrant world of microservices at Netflix. Although it was recorded in June 2016 it has a lot of excellent insights very current today. Great insight into the future (today) Microservice architecture is the future of development. No…
Disclaimer: I work for Dell EMC – #Iwork4Dell This presentation by Kevin Kelly on Dell EMC World is excellent – Glad they brought him in. Lots of great food for thinking. He covered 4 of the 12 questions he asks in his book: “The Inevitable, Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future.”…
For a while now I have been following the major accomplishments and progress in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and general computing power. From a pure technology point of view, we live in absolutely amazing times, but on the other side, the social implications and changes just around the corner are truly mind-blowing….
This past week I ran across an article in the news that made my mind melt (I thought it was a April fool’s joke – but it was not!!) — my tweet follows: I have always been in the business of implementing technology to help automate / improve processes within businesses, and have written a number…
I’ve been using these for a while, but posting here for as I am constantly updating them. Hope these help! The Windows 10 from video sessions I mentioned would be useful are (all from Microsoft Ignite 2016): – Key Note by Brad Anderson: The session name was: “Protect & Manage Your Digital Transformation” (It is…
Summary: Microsoft’s Windows 10 new delivery and update cycles will drive significant change in the current enterprise application compatibility testing and verification operational processes. These processes will need to be done on an ongoing basis as opposed to being done prior to large OS migration projects. Enterprises will need to quickly adjust to this new…
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If you have not seen the latest (January 27, 2017) Microsoft Tech Summit video from Michael Niehaus you are missing a lot ! Enhance Windows 10 deployment: What’s new with Windows 10 deployment? It is a wealth of information on current releases but also lots of insights on best practices as well! One particular item…
If you have not seen the latest Microsoft Tech Summit video from Michael Niehaus you are missing a lot ! Enhance Windows 10 deployment: What’s new with Windows 10 deployment? It is a wealth of information on current releases but also lots of insights as well! Aside from answering audience calls, he talked about a…
Many people ping me on a weekly basis wanting to know what Microsoft’s Windows AutoPilot is and understand what it means or if they can use it right away.. Microsoft and other vendors are marketing as the new zero-touch deployment experience. This is what I tell them:
Socrates and more recently Einstein were very right… “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” It is incredible how true this little 13 word phrase has shaped my life.
Summary: Microsoft’s Windows 10 new delivery and update cycles will drive significant change in the current enterprise application compatibility testing and verification operational processes. These processes will need to be done on an ongoing basis as opposed to being done prior to large OS migration projects. Enterprises will need to quickly adjust to this new…
I am constantly asked by customers about the Microsoft Telemetry and what it collects – Privacy is a big topic everywhere, and data-driven design (think Tesla!) can be difficult to explain… This short segment video interview with Ed Bott explains the 4 types / layers of Telemetry: Video: Telemetry explained: Interview with Ed Bott Additional…
Looks like the next version of Windows 10, dubbed Creator Update – will include a Legacy BIOS to UEIF in-place migration tool. This is very good news for enterprises out there, as it is a difficult hurdle to overcome when doing in-place updates. The Creators Update will also include a feature to help organizations that…
Looks like the next version of Windows 10, dubbed Creator Update – will include a Legacy BIOS to UEIF in-place migration tool. This is very good news for enterprises out there, as it was a difficult hurdle to overcome. The Creators Update will also include a feature to help organizations that are replacing Windows…
In my work I have a lot of conversations on the topic of Workspace Transformation, Modern Provisioning. Modern Device Management Unified Endpoint Management, Modern Application Delivery and Modern Desktop. There is so much change in this field right now [ with many more to come ] that it is challenging for most enterprises to keep…
I have extracted a list of the Windows 10 / EMS and related sessions with links to the respective videos online. Once again – THANK YOU Microsoft for publishing these to the folks that could not make t it the Microsoft Ignite 2016 (Atlanta) conference. If you have one that I may have missed, please…
[ Update 20161004: I encourage you to watch Brad Anderson’s keynote session at Microsoft Ignite 2016 – Simply IMPRESSIVE! ] As I have written before, technology management has made an incredible shift over the past few years (maybe the last 3-5 years). Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service are now the common conversations in most…
From time to time I come across technologies and products that impress me… Last week at BriForum 2016 ( the last one – see: The End of an Era by Jo Harder ) I saw a couple of of vendors that I want to check further… One of them, and the one this post is about…
Great news for the App-V community… This week, Microsoft finally announced that they will be releasing App-V into the core of the Windows 10 operating system, and will be available to Windows 10 enterprise license holders. The announcement was made by Microsoft’s Steve Thomas, speaking in a webinar with Flexera, As one of the early…
This is really good news… Microsoft Live Writer is a tool I use daily, and for several years no one knew what the future of it was going to be.. So many of us went on to find alternatives, but nothing simple and good is available on the marketplace (remember FrontPage – Anything comparable?) It…
This is a shout-out to Karthik Rangarajan Daniel Tobin for bringing the topic of InfraOps in their Derbycon 2015 presentation: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned To Love InfraOps Excellent job – loved the presentation! Their position: In the last two years, the ideal organization of security amongst other teams has been hotly debated….
I just ran into a great summary of the History of DevOps by Damon Edwards. Very nice explanation he published back in Sep 17, 2012 (Very glad it is still available) It is cool he mentions Andrew Shaffer, and his 2008 presentation called “Agile Infrastructure” — His talk can be seen in YouTube here With all of…
It is the middle of 2015 and by now I always thought I would have my photo library on the cloud. I have tried most, if not all, of the sites out there: Flickr, Shutterfly, SmugMug, Google Photos, Amazon Photos, and many of the cloud file-sync services (DropBox, OneDrive). But they just do not cut…
Interesting article on how Microsoft's $15 billion cloud bet ended up at the center of the company http:/ /bit.ly/1Nq7bIZ
Good quick summary chart from Microsoft on the Windows 10 features by version.. Windows 10 Enterprise will come with key features for enterprises, including Direct Access, AppLocker, BranchCache, and Start Screen Control with Group Policy. However, Windows 10 Pro also comes business-ready features, like Domain Join, Bitlocker, Enterprise Mode Intenret Explorer, Assigned Access 8.1, and…
Much has been said about hybrid-cloud infrastructures in the past few months. Hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment which uses a mix of on-premises, private cloud and public cloud services with orchestration between the two platforms. Hybrid Cloud is a hot topic where the discussion focuses on data security, costs and flexibility to market. …
AS a follow-up to my Windows 7 End of Mainstream Support posting, several questions came in regarding the Windows 10 availability dates… ( This is based on multiple publicly available news stories and sources.. ) Regarding Windows 10 availability: September 2014 — Windows Technical Preview (WTP) for laptops and desktops Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program opened…
I have been asked a couple of times about end of Mainstream support for Windows 7 Regarding Windows 7: January 12, 2015 – Microsoft will stop mainstream support for Windows 7 January 14, 2020 – Windows 7 extended support ends http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=windows+7 What does end of mainstream support mean? You still get the monthly updates and…
I am not surprised: Google+ officially splits into Photos and Streams. Hangouts separates as well. http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/2/8131639/google-officially-splits-into-photos-and-streams 2015-03-03T10:25:49-06:00
Have you noticed everything in called a Service these days? To mentioned a few, there is: Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, Desktop as Service, Security as Service, Hardware as a Service and the one I just heard last week: Game as a Service! “Everything as a Service” is…
A quick reference guide to show the differences between the two editions of Windows 8 follows. Hope it helps! Windows 8 Professional Windows 8 Enterprise Bitlocker and Bitlocker to Go Yes Yes Boot to VHD Yes Yes Client Hyper-V Yes Yes Domain Join Yes Yes Group Policy Yes Yes Encrypted File System…
This is good news! Having used Google Fiber, it is a game changer… We continue to be hopefull that other carrie Current Cities: Kansas City, Austin, Texas and Provo, Utah. Cities: to be announced, according to the report: Atlanta,GA Charlotte, N.C. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Nashville, Tenn. Other cities under consideration: Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Phoenix,…
My professional live has revolved, in great percentage, around Microsoft and Microsoft technologies. It has been a good life, but over the few years it has felt it like swiming against the current because of the major trends out there.. With so much of the market going cloud-services, device independent application delivery, bring-your-own-device,…
I have been involved in Technology Management for much of my professional life. I have helped people in many type of organizations (small, medium, large and global) manage their technology improvements, migrations and transformations including PCs, Internet, virtualization, and as of late, cloud-based infrastructures… I have seen what it takes organizations adopt, transform and shift…
For several years now, I have been a customer of Amazon Web Services (AWS) using S3 (Storage) and a couple development / test servers. Because of this, I thought I knew what it was all about. A few weeks back I attended a training session on the AWS platform, and I must say: The more I saw, the…
This is what started it all — A rant on my own experience… What a pain! – I manage 3 different WordPress blogs, 5 different twitter accounts, 3 Tumblr blogs and 3 Facebook pages. Each of those channels had a different topic and audience. Every time I need to do something, I have to log…
This weekend I upgraded several of my Windows 8 machines to Windows 8.1 which I got from my MSDN subscription… Here are a few notes on the experience… First, you will need new Keys for the Windows 8.1 installation. The old ones will not work, and the installation ask for it early in the process,…
Directly from The Next Web (TNW) the latest market share data based on — July 2013 Net Applications data (which uses data captured from 160 million unique visitors each month by monitoring some 40,000 websites for its clients). A couple of highlights: Microsoft Windows and Microsoft IE are clearly “in control” Windows 8 now up…
Wow! – It has been about a year since I’ve written about this… It was in my article back in April 2012, Google Drive: Have Cloud Drives Lost Their Way? I stated what I thought was needed and the challenges with the existing services (back then) were… Well – a lot of the issues have…
The trend for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has been the cause of a range of issues for companies and employees alike. A recent survey uncovered some startling facts about BYOD and the approaches people are using with regards to managing, or not managing, personal devices in the workplace. Although more than 70% of people…
Thought this might be of interest… An Microsoft Surface review was published by http://anandtech.com in early February… Anand was interviewed in a recent Tekzilla Episode (forward to timestamp 15:40) to talk about the pros and cons of the device… Check it out… Comparison of versions against the iPad follow: See also their: Microsoft Surface Pro…
Back in December Microsoft released System Center 2012 SP1 (Service Pack 1) to manufacturing. Much has been written about it since… The good news is that it was officially released (general availability) yesterday. With System Center 2012 SP1, you get the most cost effective and flexible platform for managing your traditional datacenters, private and…
I was skeptical at first, but I must say – I am very impressed. My house is 40+ years old and has not been retrofitted to allow for the modern Internet wiring. Like most folks out there, I have ran wires thru the ceiling, drilled new holes in the walls and still have one or…
