State and Local Governments Must Prepare for Windows 11 Now

Moreover, organization-specific apps must be tested for Windows 11 compatibility. Because Windows 11 has been tested and in use for over a year, most compatibility issues have already been solved. And, unlike in the Windows 8 situation, Microsoft has learned a lesson about smooth upgrades for platforms large, small and individual.

Windows 11 Hardware Adds a Strong Layer of Protection

Microsoft uses PC Health Check to ascertain whether a client endpoint contains suitable hardware, largely the Trusted Platform Module 2 chip and an established processor for Windows 11 use. Older hardware may be rejected. While there are workarounds for rejected hardware to be used for Windows 11, support of those workarounds may disable the hardware completely in the future when an update or fix is made with initially incompatible platforms and endpoints.

PC Health Check can be distributed to user endpoints through various automation means inside Microsoft’s Active Directory Group Policies or through other tools. End users can also directly download the software, which rapidly determines an endpoint’s suitability for a baseline upgrade.

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Peripherals, such as all items attached to a USB port (printers, custom keyboards, storage) and other devices are likely to continue working after an upgrade to Windows 11. Uncommon, custom or much older peripheral hardware often works, but planning requires gathering information about these uncommon devices to ensure they will work after the upgrade. Most will, but planning will let you know for certain.

Third-party software needed after a Windows 11 upgrade must be readied at the time of upgrade. Upgrades typically take between one and three hours. A pilot of a representative endpoint upgrade allows an estimation of the downtime of the endpoint while the Windows 11 payload and updates figure into productivity.

Windows 11 Software Opens AI Doors for Agencies

A Windows 11 upgrade plan also requires testing organization-specific software platforms, including Microsoft’s latest Edge browser, where browser access is used for applications. Microsoft persistently nudges users to the Edge browser and establishes Edge as the default browser at installation time. This default selection can be changed in preloaded Windows 11 configurations or easily changed after upgrade.

Microsoft Windows 11 also installs Copilot, an artificial intelligence tool. Copilot may be omitted through preloaded Windows 11 configuration changes or disabled by Group Policy or by other means of admins and users. News feeds, advertising, and other privacy and security components can be changed in the same way.

A Windows 11 upgrade plan can add other software, firmware and drivers that are compatible with the state of a post-upgrade network by using Microsoft and third-party tools that customize the rollout and tailor it to different endpoint client types.

DIVE DEEPER: Windows 10 end of support marks a new chapter for PC AI.

Agencies Must Understand Windows Licensing Costs

The cost of Windows 11 upgrades ranges from free to a price set according to an organization’s relationship with Microsoft, perhaps via federal, state or other contract entities. These costs must be understood prior to an upgrade plan deployment. Many individuals and organizations have already gone through upgrades successfully with little or no workflow interruption. Deliberate upgrades are approached with a rollout plan and compatibility testing.

Third-party vendors can help with rollouts. These consist of an inventory of hardware and software, often automated, that’s checked against lists of known compatibility or adjustments that must be made prior to an upgrade.

Compliance with directives may also include updating software bills of materials to include Windows 11 and changed or updated hardware, software or firmware components.

Windows 11 training time is short and unlikely to warrant training expenditures. Not much has changed between Windows 10 and 11. User and admin customization choices are in similar places and use a comparable user interface. Most customization choices are retained during an upgrade, and changes are made in a familiar way. Windows 11 plays well with macOS and other platforms.

EXPLORE: Readiness assessments can ease the transition to Windows 11.

While Windows 11 upgrades have already been performed in some instances, a random upgrade isn’t as wise as one that’s planned. Remediating an edge case problem post-upgrade can take time. A rollout plan is strongly suggested for the best success. Many organizations find that older hardware must be replaced for compatibility reasons, and hardware provisioned through standard channels now arrives with Windows 11 already installed. Windows 11 cannot be downgraded to Windows 10 unless a full restoration is made from a valid full backup.

The Oct. 25 deadline is unlikely to be changed. Constructing a plan and deploying a rollout in the next three calendar quarters should be high on the agency agenda.