Management

5 Tips for K–12 Schools Switching to Windows 10

For district IT teams feeling the burden of changing operating systems, here are some answers to common migration questions.

Russell Smith

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Russell Smith is a technology consultant and trainer specializing in management and security of Microsoft server and client technologies. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with more than 15 years of experience.

K–12 IT teams will need to plan carefully and choose the proper tools when switching their schools to Windows 10. Here are answers to common questions about migrating to the new operating system.

1. What Should Be Included in a Windows 10 Migration Plan?

Decide whether to upgrade or perform a fresh installation. Fresh installs require more work, but can be more reliable in the long term. Schedule migration and hardware replacement simultaneously to save time and money. Most devices should use the Semi-Annual Channel software branch.

2. What Should Be on a Migration Checklist?

Test all apps for compatibility. Decide how to deal with future feature and quality updates and which user and OS settings to migrate. Run test migrations for targeted groups and phase the migration across devices.

3. What Tools and Assistants Help with Windows 10 Migration?

Upgrade Readiness in the Azure Operations Management Suite determines if hardware will work. The User State Migration Tool (USMT) saves and reinstates user settings after a fresh install; the Application Compatibility Toolkit tests app compatibility.

4. What Updated Security Measures Are in Place in Windows 10?

Application and Credential Guard use virtualization-based security to protect against malware and attacks. Microsoft Edge is a new standards-based browser with better security than Internet Explorer.

5. What Can Be Done to Avoid Data Loss During Migration?

Use the USMT data store to temporarily hold user data and settings. Group Policy folder redirection and OneDrive for Business Known Folder Migration can guarantee safety. Store data only in approved locations.