Windows 11 Migration: Challenges, Strategies & Solutions

While every company has equipments that don’t meet Microsoft’s minimal equipment demands for Windows 11, several makers that fulfill that minimum will not necessarily carry out ideally with Windows 11. “Will Windows 11 run in 8GB of RAM? Sure. However your individuals won’t such as that experience,” Mayer says.

Windows 11 Hardware Requirements and User Experience

By October, just about 500 of the staying office PCs will have been upgraded or replaced. The rest will stay on Windows 10 and take place Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program because they don’t satisfy the Windows 11 minimal hardware demands, they run applications not yet licensed for Windows 11, or they run mission-critical applications linked to industrial gadgets on the shop floor, he says.

And admins can utilize Windows Autopilot to promptly obtain misbehaving devices in order, claims Mayer from Endpoint Innovation Allies: “If a device is not doing what it’s meant to do, you can simply blow it away and refill it, and in two or 3 hours all of the scrap is gone. That’s a pretty large customer upgrade experience.”

Windows Autopilot for Device Management

For devices still running Windows 10 on October 15, IT supervisors will certainly have to choose whether to pony up $61 per machine for ESUs– an expense that doubles to $122 in 2026 and $244 in 2027 before finishing entirely– or assume the risk connected with not having safety and security updates. (ESUs for educational institutions start at simply $1 per certificate for the initial year.).

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Costs

“On the protection side, many modern-day safety tools will certainly detect the flaws that are targeted at Windows 10 systems even if you do not have actually prolonged assistance,” Harrington says, yet many companies won’t want to take that danger– specifically companies that should satisfy regulatory compliance needs.

“There’s a huge variety of one-off application vendors that aren’t fully suitable, and they are sometimes challenging to work with,” says Mayer. “A lot of these custom-written applications just don’t work well with Windows 11. Fifty percent of these custom-written or inadequately composed applications just do not function” and stand for “a substantial lengthy tail of technical debt” that will likely take years to survive. For those apps, he claims, organizations may need to locate workarounds or change the applications completely.

Application Compatibility Challenges with Windows 11

“Lots of companies are balancing numerous efforts and waiting for the ideal minute in their gadget lifecycle or broader IT strategy,” claims Stefan Kinnestrand, VP Item Advertising And Marketing at Microsoft, that looks after Windows business marketing.

Microsoft’s ESU program uses a momentary bridge, he adds. “We have actually already started to obtain ESU orders, and as we get closer to October 14, we anticipate a wave of last-minute demands from groups still catching up.”

“I have actually remained in IT for more than 20 years, and this was just one of the simplest migrations I have actually seen,” states BSH’s Mamus. Some devices required more time to finish the upgrade, but problems from the business have actually been marginal, he says.

Windows 11 does have some appealing features, specifically for IT admins. “Microsoft pressed some configuration controls, introduced better app control features, and included its own version of the Linux sudo command so you do not have to be a manager to do application sets up anymore,” Harrington states.

Rose city Internetworks has a similar recommendation. “Our advised specification for basic administrative use is 16GB of RAM, an Intel i7 or higher CPU, and 256GB SSD for laptops– or an Intel i5 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD for desktops,” Ebron says. “However because of a mix of factors– budget plans, user availability, and supply chain or stock problems– some customers simply aren’t in a placement to finish a full system refresh prior to the October deadline.”

As opposed to replacing noncompliant hardware, this could additionally be a great time to consider relocating individuals to thin clients and VDI, presuming the prices of doing so are much less than for replacing or upgrading and moving noncompliant machines to Windows 11. While prices have actually risen with some providers, others with reduced expense offerings, such as Omnissa, might assist to make the math job, Harrington states.

Thin Clients and VDI as Alternatives to Hardware Upgrades

In such instances, IT may have the ability to give users a slim client OS– such as the ChromeOS Flex or IGEL Protected OS– or move them to Linux, which has a similar look and feel to Windows, and forgo Windows totally at the endpoint.

Mamus assumes up-front testing is crucial. “Although the large majority of our applications serviced Windows 11, it’s still vital to hang around, sources and cash to run examinations to prevent issues,” he claims.

Importance of Testing Before Windows 11 Migration

Supportability and safety were vital variables driving the upgrade, he says, yet it’s taken time to update or change equipments that do not have the handling power, memory, or Relied on System Component version 2.0 chip required by Windows 11.

Computer systems with spinning disks are likely to experience below average efficiency with Windows 11. “The user experience is not wonderful if you do not have SSDs,” he claims. In addition to an SSD, Endpoint Innovation Partners suggests a minimum of 16GB of RAM, a TPM2 chip, and an eighth generation or higher Intel chipset.

When Microsoft’s normal assistance for Windows 10 upright October 14, BSH Home Devices will certainly still have 6,000 Windows 10 computers that haven’t moved to Windows 11– yet that’s all component of the strategy, states Serhiy Mamus, international head of office solutions at the European device producer.

“When you have 10,000 Computers, a Windows 11 migration is an enormous task that happens over a year or even more,” Harrington claims. That’s one reason that lots of companies have actually put off migrating for as lengthy as they could, and currently they’re scrambling to beat the end of support due date.

For Portland Internetworks’ clients, nevertheless, moving to Windows 11 is the most likely result. “There are short-term workarounds like VMs or VDI, but we guide customers toward finest methods: upgrading equipment and applications to ensure a protected, sustained Windows 11 environment,” Ebron states.

From completion user’s perspective, the only thing they seem to see when relocating to Windows 11 is that the Begin switch has moved from the left edge to the middle of the screen, he adds. “But Windows 11 is much better at managing sources, it really feels a little faster if you have a device that’s properly configured, and it’s a favorable progression in regards to monitoring and protection,” he states.

Benefits of Windows 11 for IT Admins

Before starting a migration, companies need to examine how much hardware ought to be changed or upgraded for the very best individual experience, not just what meets the minimum demands. “You might find that you’re encountering a significant hardware purchase,” Mayer says.

The TPM 2.0 component, which ended up being common in many devices around 2018, “anchors the OS’s safety and security pose in equipment, not simply software program,” says Lucas Ebron, remedies expert at IT solutions strong Portland Internetworks. “Equipments developed before after that often do not have it, and then, it’s time to take into consideration a more comprehensive refresh anyway.”

The delay comes down to “a real lack of monetary ROI connected with the upgrade,” Mayer claims. “The boost in performance, security, management, and more does not produce a big sufficient influence to justify the cost of getting new or updated equipment and the disturbance of doing the movement. Windows 11 movement hasn’t been a mindful thought for them.”

Robert L. Mitchell is a freelance writer and editor. Previously, he was a national correspondent for Computerworld. He additionally acted as an editor at Network World and BYTE publication, and was part of the editorial team that introduced TechBeacon.com, where he was primary editor.

Endpoint’s Mayer claims most Windows 11 changes his company has managed have been a success. “As a basic regulation, rollouts have actually been fairly smooth, with the normal exceptions for software and hardware compatibility,” he states.

That doesn’t amaze Forrester’s Harrington. “There aren’t that many differences with Windows 11 from Windows 10 at its core, so apps shouldn’t be that much of an issue.

Businesses have a number of alternatives when choosing where and how to move to Windows 11. “The majority of VDI vendors will certainly continue to support the Windows 10 agent for a duration of time,” Harrington states.

“Unlike with the migration from Windows 7 to Windows 10, there was no compelling service factor to update,” says Paddy Harrington, elderly expert, security and threat at Forrester. While every company has devices that do not meet Microsoft’s minimal equipment demands for Windows 11, many makers that satisfy that minimum will not necessarily execute ideally with Windows 11. “Many of these custom-written applications simply don’t function well with Windows 11. “There aren’t that many differences with Windows 11 from Windows 10 at its core, so applications should not be that much of a concern. “Many VDI vendors will proceed to sustain the Windows 10 representative for a duration of time,” Harrington says.

Seamless Windows 11 Transition With Careful Planning

At Endpoint Technology Partners it’s more like 50/50. “Across our client base, 50% are done and the other 50% go to numerous stages. There are also folks that are going to take this as much as the last minute,” Mayer states.

Eventually, Harrington states, “companies that are protection aware will get extended support. Yet lots of business will take the threat,” he predicts– especially if they anticipate to complete Windows 11 movements by early following year.

“With the appropriate planning and support, the move to Windows 11 can be seamless,” Microsoft’s Kennestrand states– and based on reports from some organizations that have actually migrated, that seems the instance. When equipment and application compatibility concerns have been determined and settled, IT leaders say, the real transition has gone well.

Firms additionally encountered the possibility expense of distracting the IT, safety, application, and networking groups with a Windows 11 movement rather than having them focus on tasks with higher benefit to the business.

Jeff Martinson, second VP, infrastructure and procedures at Ameritas, started migrating 3,100 Windows 10 instances mounted on laptop computers, Online Desktop Facilities (VDI), and Azure Virtual Desktop computer circumstances back in 2023. The project is now 93% complete, and he expects to have every little thing moved before October.

Companies have likewise been sluggish to upgrade to Windows 11, which was launched almost four years ago. “Unlike with the migration from Windows 7 to Windows 10, there was no compelling organization factor to update,” says Paddy Harrington, senior analyst, security and danger at Forrester. “Anecdotally, adoption hasn’t been excellent up until since late.”

If Windows makers are primarily accessing cloud-based web and SaaS applications with a browser, it might additionally be feasible to move Windows apps over to VDI. “Thirty percent of venture customers make use of a browser for everything, and 50% are doing most of their work in the browser,” Harrington claims.

BSH was privileged in that it had couple of problems with application compatibility. Mamus’ group started the migration procedure simply over 2 years ago with a “examination factory” where it inspected all of its system photos to ensure they would deal with Windows 11. “Out of 1,000 applications, we discovered a few that needed to be readjusted, however it was just a matter of altering a couple of settings,” Mamus claims.