Hitachi Energy has successfully navigated the transition to Windows 11 across a substantial network of over 40,000 desktops spanning 12 countries. The migration, which commenced with a pilot involving 500 devices in November 2023, saw its full-scale rollout begin in March 2024 and was slated for completion by October 2024.
Utilizing ManagementStudio, the company meticulously assessed its assets, identifying a total of 45,335 devices, of which 43,568 were deemed suitable for the upgrade. Among the 3,034 applications in use, 2,330 were confirmed to be compatible with Windows 11, representing a compatibility rate of 76%. Ultimately, around 40,600 devices, or nearly 90%, successfully transitioned to the new operating system, while the remaining devices were upgraded to the latest version of Windows 10.
ManagementStudio has proven to be an invaluable tool for Hitachi Energy, having previously facilitated the company’s divestment from ABB in June 2020. This platform enabled IT staff to manage the exit from Transition Service Agreements (TSA) within three years, concluding in June 2023. The timely exit helped the company avoid incurring additional costs associated with a delayed transition.
Streamlined Migration Process
Marco Rena, Global Head of End User Computing at Hitachi Energy, articulated the primary objective of the Windows 11 migration: to enhance the company’s technological landscape with minimal manual intervention and to eliminate the need for exhaustive individual application testing. The migration strategy focused on readiness verification for both application and hardware compatibility, achieved through the integration of ManagementStudio with Intune, Active Directory, Flexera Service, and ServiceNow. Furthermore, ManagementStudio was integrated with PowerBI to facilitate comprehensive reporting.
The migration timeline was notably efficient, with nearly 10,000 devices upgraded in May 2024 alone. This rapid advancement was made possible by leveraging the automation capabilities of ManagementStudio, which followed predefined criteria to streamline the process.
Reasons to and Method of Upgrade to Windows 11
Rena elaborated on the ‘by exception’ approach employed during the Windows 11 upgrade. By selecting pilot users from various business sectors, Hitachi Energy was able to test the new operating system for several weeks, identifying and resolving any application-related issues before a broader rollout. Once the pilot device received approval, its application portfolio was recognized as compatible, serving as a reliable foundation for the subsequent selection of additional desktops across the organization.
This pilot initiative played a crucial role in ensuring a seamless migration, addressing potential challenges early in the process, thereby paving the way for a more extensive deployment.
As Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support this autumn, transitioning to supported and secure operating systems is essential for minimizing cybersecurity risks. The March ‘Patch Tuesday’ update from Microsoft addressed 57 known vulnerabilities, including six actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities and six critical remote code execution vulnerabilities. With Microsoft operating systems being prevalent in enterprise environments, organizations are encouraged to evaluate their upgrade options ahead of the impending cut-off. For those requiring additional time, Microsoft offers the option to extend support on a per-seat basis for an additional 12 months.
(Image source: “Old banger” by 70023venus2009 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.)
