Last year, one of our big projects involved preparing for the end of life for Windows 7 on Jan. 14, 2020. Due to that development, everyone needed to update to Windows 10 to avoid security risks and maintain peak performance.
As our team helped businesses transition to the new operating system (OS), many organizations shared concerns about Windows 10 eventually getting phased out, just like its predecessors. Will we find ourselves orchestrating another upgrade to yet another version of Windows a few years from now?
Thanks to a new concept called Windows as a Service (WaaS), it looks like the answer to that question is likely no. With the WaaS model, instead of releasing a new version of Windows in the future, Microsoft plans to continuously improve Windows 10 with feature and quality updates. Here's an overview of everything you should know about this novel approach and what it means for your organization.
Feature Updates: Regular OS Overhauls for Better Quality Control
Feature updates are technically newer versions of Windows 10. They typically come out twice per year and include visual improvements, user experience (UX) enhancements and security upgrades.
Because these updates constitute major overhauls of your OS, they're relatively large (in the 2 to 4GB range so far). They necessitate a complete reinstallation of Windows, so they can take a while to implement.
Microsoft has decided to leverage these updates to achieve a higher level of quality control over its products. End users have the option to delay these types of upgrades for up to 18 months, but we don't recommend doing so. You might run into issues with security and performance if you put off updating your OS.
Quality Updates: Monthly Improvements for Greater Security and Reliability
Along with feature updates, the WaaS approach involves regular quality updates – mandatory upgrades that devices running Windows 10 download and automatically install via Windows Update. Usually, Microsoft sends these out on the second Tuesday of every month.
These system improvements can show up with various names, such as “Cumulative Update,” “Security Update,” or simply “Update for Windows 10.” They serve a wide range of purposes, from patching security vulnerabilities to improving reliability. Compared to feature updates, these enhancements tend to be smaller, and, as a result, don't take as long to install.
Moving Forward With WaaS: What the New Approach Means for Your Business
Overall, the introduction of WaaS shows that Microsoft is moving toward a subscription model. This new approach means you'll be able to keep your OS current and equipped with the latest security features without purchasing new software.
However, there are some potential drawbacks. We suggest taking the following steps to keep everything running smoothly.
- Back up your data. These updates, especially feature updates, can put a lot of pressure on your system and take a significant amount of time. Because of this, we recommend a full back up.
- Anticipate regular hardware replacement. Due to the added stress these enhancements will likely place on your computers, adjust your budget to allow for the replacement of 25 percent of your hardware each year. That way, you'll never find yourself facing the formidable task of replacing everything at once. Additionally, ensuring team members have access to the most current and secure machines is vital for any organization looking to achieve peak performance.
- Keep an eye on the Windows Feature Experience Pack application. This new app in the Microsoft Store doesn't have any functionality yet, but many insiders believe it will serve as a way to deliver updates and new features individually, as opposed to sending them out as part of major and more time-consuming OS upgrades. Look out for more information on this potentially useful app as the year progresses.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Windows 10 and the WaaS model, our team of trusted advisors would be happy to provide you with all the information you need. Contact your account manager today to get in touch with our tech experts.