Migration to Windows 10 enterprise predicted to be the fastest ever

Analysts expect that Windows 10 will become the most rapidly deployed Microsoft operating system, proving even more widely installed than previous popular versions Windows XP and 7.
Research from Gartner suggests that 50% of enterprises will have started Windows 10 deployments by 2017. They claimed that many will begin pilot schemes in the first half of the year, expanding their deployments in the latter half. This will be commenced with an objective to complete the migration in 2019. These predictions are also corroborated by data collected by 1E last month. In a survey encompassing almost 200 people, 89% of respondents claimed that Windows 7 is currently installed on the PCs in their organisation. When asked about their plans for migrations, 15% said that they had already started the process, 52% expect to roll out Windows 10 during 2016, and 19% plan to wait until the year after, with 14% anticipating a start date after 2017.
There are various factors motivating this decision within organizations. One aspect applying pressure on timescales for migration is the imminent end of support for Windows 7 in 2020. Organisations will be keen to avoid the frantic dash to migrate which was experienced by many when XP approached end of support in 2014. Another factor that Gartner references is the strong compatibility Windows 10 has with existing applications and devices running Windows 7, which enables a smoother transition within enterprises.
On top of this, the free upgrade for consumer devices means that many IT departments are also experiencing pressure from within their organisations, as users report positive experiences of Windows 10, and express a preference for the operating system. As Steve Kleynhans, research vice president at Gartner explained, “In the consumer market, a free upgrade coupled with broad legacy device support and automatic over-the-air upgrades ensures that there will be tens of millions of users familiar with the operating system before the end of 2015.” He suggests that this familiarity will contribute to the rate of adoption, continuing, “For enterprises, we expect that implementation will be significantly more rapid than that seen with Windows 7 six years ago.”
Despite the factors that are propelling businesses towards Windows 10 migration, there is no denying that updates or migrations can be a lengthy, painful project if they are not handled effectively. It is crucial to ensure that implementing a fast, efficient migration does not compromise the flow of business data or halt user productivity. 1E has been delivering Windows migration projects over two decades, and our deployment solution can ease the pain points of implementing a large scale update or migration. Nomad is efficient, automated, and prioritises IT and business traffic to minimise disruption, allowing you to approach the project with a cost-effective solution that is low touch, agile and painless.