Transitioning Management for Windows 10

Changes to how Microsoft services and supports the Windows client OS could be rendering existing management tools and processes obsolete. Although existing management tools and processes, such as client OS and application deployment via imaging, may continue to work, they likely cost more time and money than the newer management tools that are intended for the rapid release cadence of Windows 10 updates. Organizations might need to have one foot in the existing on-premises management environment and one foot in the new hosted management environment until the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is complete.

(For a look at which management tools will get new features and move forward, see the chart “Windows 10 Management Tool Investment Forecasts“.)

Managing the Windows Client OS

Managing the Windows client OS involves several complementary tasks and processes. The overall management process can be broken into three key phases: deploying the OS to devices, configuring the OS, and keeping it up to date and properly configured for the useful life of each device. (Securing devices, including identity management and data loss protection, is also a key management task but not the focus of this report.)