What is Windows Autopilot and How Can it Speed Up Deployment?

0
2212

Windows Autopilot is a collection of technologies used to set up and pre-configure new devices, getting them ready for productive use. You can also use Windows Autopilot to reset, repurpose and recover devices. This solution enables an IT department to achieve the above with little to no infrastructure to manage, with a process that’s easy and simple.

Windows Autopilot simplifies the Windows device lifecycle, for both IT and end users, from initial deployment to end of life. Using cloud-based services, Windows Autopilot:

  • reduces the time IT spends on deploying, managing and retiring devices
  • reduces the infrastructure required to maintain the devices
  • maximizes ease of use for all types of end users

Transforming your device into a business-ready state

When initially deploying new Windows devices, Windows Autopilot uses the OEM-optimized version of Windows 10. This version is preinstalled on the device, so you don’t have to maintain custom images and drivers for every device model. Instead of reimaging the device, your existing Windows 10 installation can be transformed into a “business-ready” state that can:

  • apply settings and policies
  • install apps
  • change the edition of Windows 10 being used (for example, from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise) to support advanced features

Once deployed, you can manage Windows 10 devices with:

  • Microsoft Intune
  • Windows Update for Business
  • Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager
  • or other similar tools

With Windows Autopilot, you can quickly prepare a device for a new user with Windows Autopilot Reset. You can also use Reset in break/fix scenarios to quickly bring a device back to a business-ready state.

5 ways Windows Autopilot makes it easy to set up new devices

Windows Autopilot enables you to:

  • Automatically join devices to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) or Active Directory (via Hybrid Azure AD Join)
  • Auto-enroll devices into MDM services, such as Microsoft Intune (Requires an Azure AD Premium subscription for configuration)
  • Restrict the Administrator account creation
  • Create and auto-assign devices to configuration groups based on a device’s profile
  • Customize OOBE content specific to the organization

Benefits of Windows Autopilot

Traditionally, IT pros spent significant time building and customizing images that will later be deployed to devices. Windows Autopilot introduces a new approach.

From the user’s perspective, it only takes a few simple operations to make their device ready to use.

From the IT pro’s perspective, the only interaction required from the end user is to connect to a network and to verify their credentials. Everything beyond that is automated.

CDW can help you get started with Windows Autopilot to successfully deploy a tailored solution that meets your unique business needs. To learn more, visit CDW.ca/WindowsAutopilot