Resource: How Microsoft Implements Windows as a Service (WaaS)

Windows as a Service (WaaS) has now been the methodology Microsoft is using to update Windows 10 since its release in July of 2015. How does one of the largest IT organizations in the world use this process in keeping its Windows 10 ecosystem up and running smoothly?

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

December 27, 2016

2 Min Read
Resource: How Microsoft Implements Windows as a Service (WaaS)

Since the initial release of Windows 10 back in July of 2015, everyone has slowly been evolving their own processes for managing updates for Microsoft's latest operating system using the methodology called Windows as a Service (WaaS).

This process means a much faster pace of updates than we have ever experience with Windows in the past and it takes a good understanding of what WaaS is and how organizations can implement it within their own companies.

Recently one of IT Pro's trusted voices, John Savill, wrote about WaaS and the various branches of Windows 10 that help System and IT admins to manage the distribution of updates to their users without disrupting workflows or introducing new features too quickly.

Of course, Microsoft is well known for dog fooding their own software and services and they have been testing this WaaS process well before Windows 10 was released 17 months ago. That means they have more than two years of experience in this process.

In a new white paper released last week, Microsoft shares those experiences of working with WaaS inside the company. The five page Word document takes you through the background of WaaS and its origins all the way to optimizing content delivery.

The paper is broken down into these areas:

Evolving the enterprise adoption approach

  • Setting up the environment for upgrade success

  • Leveraging our early adoption community

  • Creating agile adoption processes

  • Creating visual prooject work boards

  • Application readiness and compatibility testing

  • Using Windows Upgrade Analytics

  • Lowering support costs through self-service support

  • Driving user behaviors through creative communication

Choosing a deployment mechanism for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

  • Optimizing Content distribution

  • Conclusion

  • For more information

Download the Adopting Windows as a Service at Microsoft White Paper

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About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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