Windows has unveiled its latest innovation aimed at streamlining business operations: a new backup tool tailored specifically for organizations. This tool is designed to facilitate the transition to Windows 11, a move that many businesses have hesitated to undertake over the past three years.
Introducing Windows Backup for Organizations
Now in limited public preview, Windows Backup for Organizations enables companies to effortlessly back up their Windows settings during the process of resetting or reimaging user devices. This functionality is compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems, ensuring a smoother migration experience.
Originally announced at Microsoft Ignite in 2024, the tool aims to alleviate the burdens associated with device migration. As Microsoft articulated, “You can back up your organization’s Windows 10 or Windows 11 settings and restore them on a Microsoft Entra joined device. This capability helps reduce migration overhead, minimize user disruption, and strengthen device resilience against incidents.”
Organizations interested in participating in the public preview must meet specific criteria: they need to be operating Microsoft Entra joined Windows 10 or Windows 11 systems, possess an active Microsoft Intune test tenant, and have Microsoft Intune service administrator permissions.
For businesses that may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 before the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This program provides additional security updates beyond the official end-of-life date, with home users also having the option to enroll for a fee of .
In addition to the backup tool, Microsoft has introduced another feature aimed at developers. This new tool allows software to seek updates via Windows Update, promising a “unified future for app updates on Windows” across various applications, system components, drivers, and more.
