What does that mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It means that we\u2019re testing and shaping new Windows 11 features before they ship to customers. And as such, we\u2019re helping the company reimagine what the OS can do for enterprise users in an AI-first world. We\u2019re also helping the company transform the tools and processes we and our customers use to manage the Windows devices that our employees use to do their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWindows 11 is our foundation for the future of work. We\u2019re helping to build an OS that\u2019s not just reactive\u2014it\u2019s predictive. It understands context, adapts to users, and helps IT teams stay ahead of the curve.\u201d<\/p>\nSean MacDonald, partner director of product management, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n When we rolled out Windows 11 across Microsoft in 2021, we wanted to modernize the Windows experience for our global workforce. That meant moving beyond the legacy of Windows 10 and building a platform that\u2019s smarter, more secure, and easier to manage. It also meant working closely with engineering teams to ensure that what we deploy internally reflects what customers need externally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWindows 11 is our foundation for the future of work,\u201d says Sean MacDonald, partner director of product management at Microsoft Digital. \u201cWe\u2019re helping to build an OS that\u2019s not just reactive\u2014it\u2019s predictive. It understands context, adapts to users, and helps IT teams stay ahead of the curve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This transformation isn\u2019t happening in isolation. It\u2019s part of a broader organizational commitment to AI across Microsoft. From the integration of Copilot into dozens of Microsoft products to intelligent device management, we\u2019re aligning every layer of the stack to deliver smarter experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we\u2019re doing it because the time is right. The end of Windows 10 support is here, and Windows 11 is the essential solution for organizations seeking the enhanced productivity, security, and personalized experiences that AI makes possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping Windows 11 secure and up-to-date has evolved into a streamlined, intelligent process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Windows Autopatch<\/a>, we\u2019ve automated the deployment of updates across our enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But automation doesn\u2019t mean losing control. The management tools available across Microsoft Intune and Windows allow us to exercise complete control over updates. We can leave Autopatch to make patching decisions, or we can dictate how any part of the process works\u2014evaluate and select which updates to perform, define the rollout structure and schedule, and monitor the updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAutopatch update readiness takes us to a new level with Windows 11 updates. It allows us to be proactive, rather than reactive in ensuring our Windows devices are in a ready state to seamlessly update, which minimizes disruptions and distractions to our employees.\u201d<\/p>\nDave Rodriguez, principal product manager, Windows team, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Autopatch lets us tailor rollouts to match our business structure. We\u2019ve created custom Autopatch groups of up to 50 rings so we can deploy updates to the right people at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This flexibility is critical. It means we can schedule around sensitive periods like year-end close, define grace periods, and even choose which updates to deploy\u2014feature, driver, or quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the real magic happens behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Windows 11 and Autopatch, we\u2019re not just reacting to issues\u2014we\u2019re anticipating them. That\u2019s where the Autopatch update readiness (AUR) comes in. It adds a new layer of resilience to our update management strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Update readiness continuously monitors device health and update compliance across the enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By analyzing real-time telemetry, update readiness flags irregularities early and recommends targeted fixes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAutopatch update readiness takes us to a new level with Windows 11 updates,\u201d says Dave Rodriguez, a principal product manager on the Windows team in Microsoft Digital. \u201cIt allows us to be proactive, rather than reactive in ensuring our Windows devices are in a ready state to seamlessly update, which minimizes disruptions and distractions to our employees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \u201cHotpatching has been a game-changer for keeping our devices secure without disrupting work. Security updates take effect immediately\u2014no reboot required. That\u2019s a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\nHarshitha Digumarthi, senior product manager, Windows team, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest wins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hotpatch, which allows us to apply most of our monthly security updates without our employees needing to restart their devices, which has been huge for our productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHotpatching has been a game-changer for keeping our devices secure without disrupting work,\u201d says Harshitha Digumarthi, a senior product manager on the Windows team in Microsoft Digital. \u201cSecurity updates take effect immediately\u2014no reboot required. That\u2019s a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hotpatch works by modifying in-memory code to silently apply updates in the background. It\u2019s especially valuable for operations that require high availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a shift from device-centric recovery to user-centric personalization. It\u2019s not just about getting the machine back\u2014it\u2019s about getting the person back to work.\u201d<\/p>\nMarkus Gonis, senior service engineer, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Together, hotpatch, update readiness, and Autopatch are helping us transform how we manage updates. We\u2019re not just deploying tools\u2014we\u2019re reshaping business critical processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Windows 11, we\u2019ve redefined what backup and restore means for enterprise users with Windows Backup and Restore for Organizations. It\u2019s not just about getting a device back online\u2014it\u2019s about restoring the user\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a user signs into a new device with their Entra ID, they can select a backup to automatically restore their Microsoft Store app configurations, settings, and preferences. It’s seamless. It’s secure. And it’s fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a shift from device-centric recovery to user-centric personalization,\u201d says Markus Gonis, a senior service engineer on the Windows team in Microsoft Digital. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about getting the machine back\u2014it\u2019s about getting the person back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This matters. Especially in large organizations where device turnover is constant and downtime is costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Entra ID, we can automatically enroll devices into Microsoft Intune for management. That means IT policies, security configurations, and compliance settings are applied instantly. No manual setup. No waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And because the restore process is tied to the user\u2019s identity, it works across devices. Whether it\u2019s a laptop refresh, a lost device, or a hardware upgrade, users get their familiar environment back\u2014apps, layout, even their desktop background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWindows 11 is designed for fast deployment and compatibility,\u201d Gonis says. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen up to 25 percent faster deployment times compared to Windows 10. That\u2019s a huge win for IT teams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t just about convenience. It\u2019s about resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By combining Entra ID with modern device management, we\u2019ve built a recovery system that\u2019s secure by default. Data is encrypted. Access is conditional. And IT retains full control over who can restore what, when, and where.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Windows 11 is bringing intelligent experiences to the forefront, and we\u2019re seeing it firsthand at Microsoft Digital. From productivity to security, AI is transforming how our people work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Windows Recall is an opt-in AI-powered feature<\/a> built directly into Copilot+ PCs with Windows 11. It\u2019s designed to solve a problem every person knows too well: Finding something you\u2019ve already seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recall allows you to search across time to find the content you need. Just describe how you remember it, and Recall retrieves the moment you saw it. Once opted-in snapshots are taken periodically while content on the screen is different from the previous snapshot. The snapshots of your screen are organized into a timeline. Snapshots are locally stored and locally analyzed on your PC. Recall’s analysis allows you to search for content, including both images and text, using natural language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are its core capabilities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recall doesn\u2019t just remember\u2014it protects. IT admins can control snapshot storage, retention policies, and even filter which apps and websites are recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where enterprise-scale controls come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe helped define these controls. We tested them to validate they worked as expected.\u201d<\/p>\nJohn Philpott, principal product manager at Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Microsoft Digital partnered with the Purview and Intune product teams to help build a rich set of controls that give IT full visibility and governance over Recall\u2019s data store. That includes sensitivity labels, data loss prevention (DLP) policies, and tenant trust reviews\u2014all designed to keep enterprise data safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purview and Intune provide the level of control that IT admins need to ensure that Recall respects the security and privacy concerns of the enterprise and the end user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a document is labeled \u201cHighly Confidential,\u201d Recall won\u2019t index it. If a meeting is tagged \u201cRecipients Only,\u201d it won\u2019t be captured. Purview admins can decide exactly which sensitivity levels are allowed in Recall and which are excluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recall\u2019s content redaction feature automatically detects and removes highly confidential information from screen snapshots based on Purview sensitivity labels. Users can work with both sensitive and non-sensitive documents on the same screen without risk of accidental exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe helped define these controls,\u201d says John Philpott, a principal product manager within Microsoft Digital. \u201cWe tested them to validate they worked as expected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Windows 10 support officially ended on October 14, 2025. Still, many companies have not yet made the needed move, something that Microsoft would like them to do as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Microsoft Digital, we\u2019ve already made the leap. We\u2019ve deployed Windows 11 across our internal fleet, and we\u2019ve learned what works and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing? Have a plan and a phased approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t try to do everything at once,\u201d Digumarthi says. \u201cWe went slow, monitored help desk calls, and paused when needed. It wasn\u2019t about speed\u2014it was about getting it right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That phased approach helped us avoid surprises. We used security groups to segment users, deployed in waves, and ran parallel communication campaigns to keep everyone informed. \u201cWe built tech web pages, sent individual emails, and used Viva Engage for direct outreach,\u201d Gonis says. \u201cWe wanted users to know what was coming and why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizations have options. They can upgrade to Windows Pro to Windows Enterprise. They can subscribe to Windows 365, which provides access to Windows 11 in the cloud. And they can extend the life of Windows 10 devices with Extended Security Updates (ESU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Windows 365 lets you keep older hardware while giving users a modern experience. You get ESUs at no extra cost, and you don\u2019t have to manage license keys or deploy images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With tools like Autopatch and Intune, deployment is faster and easier. Compatibility is strong. And support is built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Microsoft Ignite, we\u2019re unveiling new capabilities that push the boundaries of what\u2019s possible with AI and automation. Expect deeper integration between Windows and Microsoft Defender, new agentic workflows, and expanded support for AI-driven security operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re expanding the update readiness initiative, introducing carbon-aware updates in Autopatch, and expanding privacy capabilities in Recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baseline Security Mode is growing, too, with more features, better reporting, and stronger baselines coming soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we\u2019ll keep telling the story. Start with the tools. Lean on the community. And let us help you make the leap to a more intelligent and secure enterprise powered by AI and Windows 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key takeaways<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Here are several practical steps you can take right now to maximize your transition to Windows 11 and harness the full potential of its AI-powered capabilities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try it out<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Related links<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n AI is no longer a buzzword\u2014it\u2019s the engine driving a new era of productivity, security, and personalization. And Windows 11 and AI PCs are at the center of it. At Microsoft Digital, the company\u2019s IT organization, we\u2019re embracing this as Customer Zero for the company. What does that mean? It means that we\u2019re testing and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":20796,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_hide_featured_on_single":false,"_show_featured_caption_on_single":true,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[199,822,820,850,852,827,851,300],"coauthors":[550],"class_list":["post-20794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-microsoft-digital","tag-ai","tag-corporate-functions","tag-device-management","tag-end-user-services-and-support","tag-it-and-business-operations","tag-microsoft-365-copilot","tag-tenant-management","tag-windows","m-blog-post"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"MacDonald](\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/uploads\/prod\/2025\/11\/Sean-MacDonald.png\")
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Embracing a secure and efficient update environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Protecting data using Windows Backup and Restore for Organizations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Capturing the power of AI-enabled apps and experiences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Implementing Windows 11 for the enterprise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Looking ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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