Seize the opportunity: planning your Windows 11 migration

Most people are now aware that Windows 10 support will end on October 14 2025. And yet it’s estimated by Microsoft that as many as 17.1 million devices in the UK alone that are currently running Windows 10 will be affected by this change, from laptops to devices for Teams rooms. This deadline is starting to creep up on many organisations, many of whom have yet to take firm action. 

Although Windows 11 has been available since 2021, at SCC, we’ve found organisations are often at varying stages in their journey toward Windows 11. Some have their head in the sand and haven’t paid much attention to the changes needed. Others know that action is required, but are unsure how to proceed. And still others are on a migration path, but have yet to exploit the value and potential that Windows 11 can give them, such as driving productivity improvements and taking advantage of AI.

In many cases, migration can be a long and complex affair, especially for larger organisations. And with the potential for productivity gains and sustainability improvements, as well as the risk of escalating support costs for delaying, now is the time to act. In this blog, we’ll look at the key challenges to navigate along the way, and why Windows 11 can be a force for transformation.

What’s standing in the way of Windows 11 migration?

There’s no single reason why progress in migrating to Windows 11 has been relatively slow. Different organisations have been held back by different barriers, but four common challenges stand out:

• Lack of visibility: many organisations don’t have a complete view of their devices in their estate, nor an understanding of what devices will run Windows 11 but with a poor user experience. In some cases, this means not being able to gain vital knowledge around the condition and situation of their estate.

• Lack of understanding: the scale of what’s required in the migration is often overlooked, which means that typical pain points aren’t addressed at the planning stage. Without knowing whether they only need to buy new kit, or also update and upgrade applications, it’s virtually impossible to plan and budget a migration accurately.

• Cost concerns: connected to the previous point, the cost of the migration can often be off-putting to key decision-makers and Finance Directors, especially if they’re unable to access any commercial flexibility. The ability to shift the cost away from capital expenditure, or recoup value from hardware through recycling and refurbishment which can make a real difference.

• Training requirements: with a range of new functions and capabilities in Windows 11 – covered in the next blog in this series – it’s vital to train staff up on the new platform and what they can do with it. This comes with time, resource and cost implications that should be factored into migration plans from the start.

11 reasons why now is the right time to upgrade to Windows 11

So aside from the fact that the end-of-support deadline for Windows 10 is approaching fast, why else should you start your move towards Windows 11 now? 

1. 1. Increasing security: Windows 10 won’t receive any more security updates and patches from Microsoft after October 2025, which will leave systems increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches and operational disruption. As Windows 11 will receive regular updates, making the switch as early as possible is paramount.

1. 2. Maximising AI: Windows 11 is written with Microsoft’s AI tool, Copilot, in mind. Understanding how your organisation can use Copilot and the next generation of AI-enabled PCs to unlock productivity and efficiency is key. This can include finding unexpected ideas, summarising long articles, improving content writing, and automating mundane and repetitive tasks.

1. 3. Accommodating migration lead time: we’ve found that a typical Windows 11 migration project takes around 14 months from end-to-end, although a standard cloud-based model with standard applications can be completed faster than this. Nonetheless, our research has found that only around 30% of devices have been moved to Windows 11. This means that at the time of writing (August 2024), a project that starts now will only be completed just before the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline. If organisations want to migrate smart and realise all the benefits of Windows 11, migration needs to be a top priority.

1. 4. Keeping hardware and software compatible: for organisations that refreshed their hardware in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, their current ageing kit is highly likely not to meet Windows 11 operating requirements. This means that refreshing hardware may be necessary to support a successful migration. On top of this, organisations still running Windows 10 will face compatibility issues after end-of-support with incompatible software updates that can dampen productivity and block access to innovative tools. However, these problems are more likely to arise closer to and after Windows 10’s end-of-support date in 2025, rather than immediately.

1. 5. Staying ahead of supply chain issues: customers who wait until the last minute for their migration might find themselves subject to delays from suppliers who are overwhelmed with demand for support and hardware. This may also lead to increased costs if new kit is required urgently.

1. 6. Adapting to flexible working: moving towards Windows 11 is crucial for meeting new employee expectations around flexible working, easy collaboration and modern working styles. Facilitating this will become more and more important when it comes to maximising employee experience, job satisfaction, and talent retention and acquisition.

1. 7. Dealing with compliance demands: organisations sticking with Windows 10 will quickly find themselves running unsupported software. Aside from the security risks, this can also lead to non-compliance with key regulations, which can have major legal, financial, operational and reputational consequences.

1. 8. Managing maintenance costs: the expense of maintaining an ageing operating system ramps up and up over time. The extra costs incurred can range from investing in custom security solutions and support services, to procuring hardware and software that is still compatible with the older system.

1. 9. Ensuring competitive advantage: organisations that get to grips with Windows 11 the fastest will be those that gain first-mover advantage over their competitors. They will be the ones who benefit most from streamlining workflows, improving communication, and boosting efficiency and productivity.

1. 10. Accessing technical support: once Windows 10 reaches end-of-support, the ability to get technical and troubleshooting assistance will diminish substantially. It won’t just be Microsoft prioritising Windows 11 – third-party vendors are likely to do the same, too.

1. 11. Leveraging new innovations: many of the new features and capabilities in Windows 11 will be inaccessible to those sticking with Windows 10. Missing out on those innovations will limit organisations’ ability to adapt to new business landscapes, and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Maximising the Windows 11 Migration with SCC

The scale of the potential that Windows 11 represents is such that it’s paramount to get the migration right. This doesn’t just apply to how the new system is implemented, it also needs to encompass maximum cost efficiency, minimum disruption, impactful staff training, and a strong focus on security, sustainability and compliance.

Many organisations turn to Microsoft tooling to work out which devices in their estate can or cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. However, a piecemeal approach where some devices are replaced and others are simply upgraded can lead to many inconsistencies, across security, refresh strategies, user experience, and the ability to easily apply updates in the future.

This is where the support of an expert partner like SCC can be instrumental, wherever you are on your Windows 11 journey. Our solutions and support services include: