Why you should block the Windows 10 upgrade notification

By Scott Gosling, National Practice Manager – Microsoft Solutions

As a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 user, you may have already received a pop-up notification to upgrade to the new Windows 10 operating system due for consumer release on July 29.

Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade to users using versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 other than the Enterprise version. The notification is Microsoft’s way of alerting users to the free offer and to get as many consumers as possible to upgrade to Windows 10.

However, as tempting as it may be for users to click on this pop-up and lock in the upgrade, there are some compelling reasons why businesses should block this notification.

Avoiding capacity and productivity issues

Firstly, you may have a disparate mix of devices across your organisation as a result of the BYOD landscape. This means some users may be getting the notification, while others are oblivious to the impending upgrade. That’s why before upgrading users to Windows 10, you need to have a clear picture of your device environment.

Secondly, your business may experience bandwidth capacity issues if every user is set to download the Windows 10 upgrade on July 29. This situation would no doubt affect your ability to conduct business operations as per normal, leading to unwanted productivity and service delivery issues for a period of time.

And lastly, if every user in your organisation downloads Windows 10 on the same day, it’s likely that your support desk will be swamped with questions and troubleshooting requests. This not only impacts the way support desk is able to deliver its usual service, but also has a flow-on effect to users in terms of overall business productivity and performance.

So what should you do?

Importantly, you should speak to a Data^#3 representative before taking any action on the Windows 10 upgrade. They can ascertain whether Windows 10 can be deployed through your Systems Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM), as well as whether the deployment can be packaged and delivered via a coordinated approach across your organisation.

We have lots more information about Windows 10, including special offers. Visit data3.com.au/windows-10 now.