Today Microsoft officially released the second major update to Windows 10 to more than 350 million users around the world.
That upgrade, known as the Anniversary Update, is now considered Microsoft's recommended Current Branch build so it may not be one that you are shipping out to your users but there is a lot in it to consider as you move forward.
Last week I highlighted the key aspects of the Anniversary Update for IT Pros but now, in conjunction with the general release of Windows 10 Version 1607 (OS Build 14393.10), Microsoft's Windows for IT Pros website, has an updated list of features to look out for and the different means you can use to get this upgrade for your organization and users.
Some of those new features include:
- Windows Information Protection (WIP), which helps to protect enterprise apps and data on enterprise-owned and personal devices against potential data leakage without otherwise interfering with the user experience.
- Improvements to Windows Hello for Business, which now includes both Windows Hello and Microsoft Passport.
- Simplified provisioning with Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD), and the ability to install Windows ICD with the full Windows Assessment Deployment Kit (Windows ADK), or by itself.
- The ability to connect to a remote PC that is joined to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
- Improved taskbar management, including the ability to add and remove pinned apps from the taskbar as an administrator, while still allowing users to pin/unpin apps and change the order of pinned apps on the taskbar after the enterprise configuration is applied.
- Expanded mobile device management (MDM) capabilities.
- Shared PC mode, which optimizes Windows 10 for shared use scenarios, such as touchdown spaces in an enterprise or temporary customer use in a retail business.
- The inclusion of App-V and UE-V as Windows features (instead of inclusion in MDOP, which required a separate download and installation).
- Windows Defender enhancements, including the release of Windows Defender Offline (which allows you to run offline scans), Block at First Sight (which dramatically improves detection times for new malware), enhanced notifications, and potentially unwanted application (PUA) detection.
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update also means two new SKUs for Windows 10:
"In addition, with Windows 10, version 1607, we are introducing two editions designed for the unique needs of K-12 institutions: Windows 10 Pro Education and Windows 10 Education. These editions provide education-specific default settings for the evolving landscape in K-12 education IT environments. For step-by-step guides to help you deploy Windows 10 to devices in an education environment, see Windows deployment for education."
Microsoft also confirms that this is the last feature update that will be released in 2016 with plans to ship two of them in 2017.
Ready to grab this update and check it out? Here is where Microsoft indicates you can grab it:
- Windows 10, version 1607 is available for download today from the Volume Licensing Service Center (for Volume License customers) and from the MSDN Subscriptions Center (for Visual Studio/MSDN subscribers).
- If you have already deployed Windows 10, you can get the Windows 10, version 1607 update today from Windows Update or Windows Update for Business.
- If you have already deployed Windows 10 and use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and/or System Center Configuration Manager servicing plans, you can get the Windows 10, version 1607 update on August 16th.
- If you haven’t yet deployed Windows 10 in your organization, you can download the latest Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation to test Windows 10, version 1607 free for 90 days.
- Windows 10 Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) 2016 media will be available beginning October 1st.
The Windows Assessment and Development Kit has also been updated for the Anniversary Update.
But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.
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