I am surprised by the number of organizations still managing their many devices without a system management tool. It may not be the most efficient way, but over the years they have developed processes and procedures to manually (or semi-manually) keep up the environment running. With the introduction of Windows 10 these manual processes have…
With less than 35 working days to the end of support for Windows 7, which means that no more updates or fixes, including security fixes after that date. Many organizations are realizing they will not be able to fully migrate to Windows 10 before January 14, 2020. Perhaps you are one of them, so now…
To be fair it never left! It was just available as a Universal Window Platform (UWP) App. This was a BIG deal back in 2018 when Microsoft announced OneNote will no longer be a part of Office 365 and will instead be only available as in the Windows Store as a UWP app. Many of…
Modern EUC Infobits: November 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…
Some interesting data bits from Microsoft Source: Collected listening to different sessions From Microsoft Ignite (November 2019) 600 billion authentications serviced each month by Azure Active Directory (AAD) 900+million deployed Windows 10 PCs, 200 million commercial PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices managed by ConfigMgr and Intune, 200 million Office 365 users, 13+ 20 million…
Windows 10 v1909 was released November 12, 2019. This released carries an 18 month lifecycle for Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions and a 30 month support lifecycle for for Enterprise and Education editions. Accordingly, Microsoft has update their Windows lifecycle fact sheet page to show the new version end-of service dates…
Microsoft Endpoint Manager was announced last week at Microsoft Ignite 2019. Microsoft is working on bringing together System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and the Microsoft Intune mobile management service into a new brand called “Microsoft Endpoint Manager,” Microsoft is consolidating most (all) of their client management tools (SCCM, Intune, Desktop Analytics, etc. ) into one now…
As of this writing, there has been 9 versions of Windows 10 since its release in 2015 and many of them are no longer supported and therefore not receiving patches and updates. It is extremely important to keep Windows 10 up to date. It is a matter of security, risk management and compliance. Background &…
Two posters that clearly describe the Windows Autopilot process based on New Device and Existing Device scenarios. Full versions can be found at: Window Autopilot Process (New Devices) Windows Autopilot Process ( Exsiting devices with SCCM) I am very happy to see these published by Microsoft! .,]]Thank you Autopilot team! They were much needed.
As of today, there are 87 calendar days to the end of extended support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. Having said this, effectively, customers have about 55 working days (not counting holidays) left to migrate their Windows 7 devices. Early this week, Microsoft updated their March 12, 2019 Blog post Making the transition…
Modern EUC Infobits: October 2019 – News You Can Use! About this Newsletter 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…
The 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Endpoint Management has been published. Leaders listed included VMware, Microsoft, IBM, BlackBerry, Citrix and MobileIron. According to the report, unified endpoint management tool is defined as a “set of offerings that comprise mobile device management (MDM) and modern management of traditional endpoints (PCs and Mac).” including the integration…
VMworld 2019 happened in August 25- 29 (about a month ago) and there was a number of End User Computing (EUC) related sessions covering Horizon Cloud, Horizon v7, Workspace One Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) The following list is the subset of sessions that relates to Workspace One ( the full list can be found at…
Previously available to larger companies with volume licensing agreements only, Microsoft announced that they are going to make Extended Security Updates available to businesses of any size. This is a very significant milestone to recognizing the fact that not all organizations will be able to move to Windows 10 by January 14, 2020. This is…
How to grant users temporary Local Admin Rights to their devices in an environment where they do not have it.
Finding Domain Name Login to your Azure Click on Portal from the upper right menu 3. Click on Azure Active Directory > Overview The domain name is at the top-left of the screen Finding AAD Tenant ID Your Microsoft 365 tenant ID is a globally unique identifier (GUID) that is different than your organization name…
Transitioning from traditional Group Policy Objects (GPO) to Modern Device Management (MDM) Policies can be challenging. Some organizations have Group Policies that have been in place for over a decade and which may not be fully inventoried, or often understood. MDM do not have a 1-1 mapping for all legacy Group Policies. Microsoft created the…
Most versions of Windows 10 v1803 will end-of-life on November 12, 2019. Microsoft plans to update automatically those computers to v1903.
I have written a series of articles under the title: Work Beyond Tomorrow which talk about the social implications and related changes just around the corner as new technologies come online. A couple of recent Sci-Fi shows I have enjoyed watching, convey the about the social implications associated with the introduction of intelligent robots into…
A common question I get is if it is possible to publish Win32 Win64 applications with Microsoft Intune. My answer: Yes! It is possible to deploy all kinds of applications including: Windows 10 Store Apps, MSI files and .EXE files. EXE files cannot be published directly, and need to be “wrap” into an .INTUNEWIN file….
Modern EUC Infobits: August 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…
Three new papers from Principled Technologies on Workspace One and Dell Provisioning benefits follows: Reports were commission by Dell Technologies.
Microsoft Skype for Business Online to be retired on July 31, 2021 As per Microsoft’s James Skay blog post on 7/30/2019: Today we’re announcing that Skype for Business Online will be retired on July 31, 2021. This post provides details on the retirement plan, a brief explanation of why we’re making this announcement now, and…
As organizations deploy Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise with Modern Device Management the processes for activating Windows 10 are changing, and new options are available. Most of us are familiar with the traditional product key registration for Windows devices. For businesses (large and small) the common activation scenarios for activation have included: OEM…
As far as I can remember, I’ve had four network attached storage (NAS) devices over the years. They have stored all of my digital memories (movies, music, photos) for a long time. A few years ago, when SMB 1 protocol was deemed insecure, my 3 year old NAS did not have an update option but…
Update 8/1/2020: Microsoft has updated their official blog post a number of times since this post to include automated ways from Intune and ConfigManager. We have published a number of posts about what Windows Autopilot is and how to setup and test. Now that so many organizations have taken note of Modern Device Management advantages…
Refreshing a device between users is much easier with Windows 10 but which is the best way?
This is a Microsoft slide which goes back to November 2015 I think it should be revived, as it really speaks about all elements of Modern Device Management and Modern PC Lifecycle Management
Microsoft has an massive platform where it collect information, analyzes it and learns from it resulting in the bases for improvement of security and management which is one of the core benefits from modern device management.
This morning, a new blog post of mine was published on DellEMC Infocus. Drive productivity by ensuring your organization leverages modern tools to achieve results.. Read the full article here This is a follow-up to the previously posted blog Empower Your Organization by Moving to Modern Device Management While you are at it, check out…
Windows 10 was released (general availability) on June 29, 2015, four years ago!
5G is fast coming to market with roll outs expected across the world in 2019 and 2020. This technology is not only an core enabler for IoT, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, but also has significant implications as an enabled for Workforce Transformation and Modern Device Management. As many of you know there is an immense amount of work going on behind the scenes to enable 5G,…
As opposed to previous versions of the Microsoft Operating System, where each edition came as a separate ISO, there is only one package for the latest Windows 10 OS that can be “unlocked” when activated to have the edition you need. (there are some restrictions/requirements based on licensing) One of the most common…
Modern EUC Infobits: June 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…
Microsoft released Active Directory in Windows 2000 server, and it became a standard for enterprise identity management. Active Directory lives on-premises in servers called Domain Controllers (DC). Active Directory lives on-premise in servers called Domain Controllers (DC). Windows Active Directory or commonly referenced as Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft’s predecessor to Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory…
What is Windows Autopilot white glove? The new Windows Autopilot white glove process, which lets IT technicians, partners, and even OEMs pre-provision devices before they are delivered to the user. Using this process, all device configuration tasks, including apps (machine-targeted or user-targeted), certificates, and policies, can be completed in advance, making it so that when…
Today, many companies are moving or seriously considering the move to Modern Device Management (or Modern Management) as their next step of their Digital Transformation Journey. Most considering the move, have already completed their Windows 10 migrations and are looking for efficiencies to their deployment workflows. Having said this, I get asked on a daily…
Modern EUC Infobits: April 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…
Today is April 8, 2019, and with 280 calendar days ( less than 195 working days) away from the Windows 7 End of Support deadline, many organizations are realizing that they need a strategy in place for those devices that, for whatever the reason is, are not going to make the cut to Windows 10.
Microsoft OneNote was released to the public in 2003 so it has been around for a very long time… As of late a very common questions which there is a lot of confusion Why does Microsoft have multiple versions of OneNote and what are the differences? Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking program for free-form information gathering and multi-user collaboration. It gathers…
Modern EUC Infobits: March 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…
Microsoft Office is a widely used product suite which includes tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Publisher, Access, and OneNote. It has been around since 1988 and has gone through many versions, each of which has a specific support cycle with defined dates. All versions of Microsoft Office products before Microsoft Office 2019…
A short 26 minute video overview of why modern device management with Microsoft Platform including Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopilot and Dell Technologies Services offering.
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…
This week I did my annual corporate security training and I really liked this story to illustrate how important is not to use different and strong passwords Don’t Let This Happen to You An online writer and journalist, suffered an identity theft that reads like a real-life horror story. As he describes it: “In the…
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…
