Easier and faster deployment of Windows 10 devices with Autopilot

Buying lots of company computers and getting them ready for business has always been a headache for IT departments. They've often used SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) or similar tools to put a disk image on the computers, but it's a time and bandwidth consuming process. But in 2017, Windows Autopilot was launched, a nifty tool that basically allows the employee to have their device pre-configured directly from the vendor. In other words, the device can be sent directly to the end user, who only needs to open their computer, connect and enter their login details. In the next step, apps and settings are downloaded from Microsoft's cloud at the same time as it is configured. The IT department manages it via Intune and does not have to go through any intermediaries.

More secure IT environment with centralized device management

The most obvious benefit of using Autopilot is the time saved by not having to manually configure the devices. Another part is about security and how a service like Autopilot is more or less necessary in the new world of work where the company's network extends far beyond the physical office.

As each new device is automatically linked to the organization, IT has control over it from the start. Through Intune, security updates and new policies can be pushed out automatically and if the device is stolen or lost, it can be wiped remotely. Similarly, if something goes wrong, the device can be restored to the company's default configuration, no matter where the user is in the world.

In the past, this kind of advanced security was associated with expensive third-party licenses and large enterprises, but with Microsoft 365 for Business, Autopilot and Intune, much more people have been able to increase their level of security. This type of centralized device management also became an important piece of the puzzle in many companies' GDPR compliance when the General Data Protection Regulation came into effect in May 2018.

For users, Autopilot and Intune give them the peace of mind of always having access to the tools and functions they need to work and be productive.

The service continues to evolve

So, how has it worked in practice? From our customers who have started using Autopilot, we've really only heard positive things. Larger customers in particular feel that Autopilot has saved them valuable time that they would otherwise have spent setting up and configuring their devices. At the same time, the platform has continued to evolve over these two years, resulting in smoother interfaces and better integration with Windows 10. There have also been developments on the hardware side. The TPM chip required to store the encryption key used to be found mainly in business computers, but is now becoming standard on the consumer side as well.

Hybrid solution opens new doors

The combination of Autopilot and Intune works whether you have 10 or 10,000 computers. However, the solution has not suited companies that have a traditional IT environment with devices connected in a local AD. An interesting innovation for these businesses is Azure AD Connect, which allows you to connect your on-premises AD to Microsoft's cloud technology. This means that you can get into Intune via Autopilot and still have access to everything that is local. There is no doubt that more and more people are embracing cloud solutions and for many companies, Azure AD Connect can be an appropriate first step.

Having seen with our own eyes what Autopilot has meant in terms of simplicity, safety and productivity, we are very curious to see how the service will continue to evolve. Something tells us this is a topic we'll be coming back to.

Want to know more about how Windows Autopilot can facilitate maintenance and device management in your business. Get in touch with us.