Windows 7 is Here and the Benefits Can’t Be Ignored!

Did You Know Windows 7 Can Provide:

   • Enhanced user productivity with an improved UI
   • Better security for data
   • Better power management capabilities
   • Painless remote user access to corporate computer systems
   • Easier support and management

If your organization has made the decision, or is considering a move to Windows 7, what are your next steps?

A migration to a new desktop operating system is no trivial undertaking. It requires proper planning, testing, training, communication, and project management to ensure a smooth transition.  You still have your day to day responsibilities and limited resources to make this happen.

How can Statera help?

Statera has developed several service offerings to ensure a successful move to Windows 7. These include:

Windows 7 Readiness Assessment – Using discovery tools combined with years of deployment experience, Statera will assess your current environment for hardware, software, and application compatibility with Windows 7.  Statera will provide a comprehensive report on what components are may have compatibility issues with the new OS.  Optionally, Statera can provide a complete migration cost analysis for budgeting purposes.

Proof of Concepts – Windows 7 provides opportunities for making fundamental changes to how computers are used and managed.  To determine if new technologies such as application/desktop virtualization, disk volume encryption, automated deployment,  etc. will be appropriate for your unique requirements, Statera will tailor Proof of Concept demonstrations to allow you to “kick the tires” on new features and functions.  Many of these are eligible for funding assistance from Microsoft.

Deployment – Microsoft has provided many tools to facilitate seamless migrations from Windows XP and Vista to Windows 7. These include tools for Image creation and servicing, user files and settings migration, and automated lite touch or zero touch OS deployment tools.  Statera has experience in optimizing these tools to make Windows 7 the most efficient and painless OS deployment ever.

Migration planning – A successful OS deployment is always the result of thorough and comprehensive planning. End user and support training, communication plans, deployment schedules and dependencies, and other considerations need to be part of holistic plan based on the organizational and cultural needs of each organization. Statera has managed large deployment projects

Project Management – Statera has seasoned project managers who can keep the deployment project on track, on schedule, and on budget.

Desktop Management Infrastructure - Studies by Gartner, IDC and Forester show that real cost savings from Windows 7 deployment s come after the deployment by efficiently managing the desktop. .  Now is the time for organizations to take a step back and not only think about deployment, but how they can improve the ongoing management and support of the new Windows 7 environment.  Image management, Group Policies, Security Updates and management systems like System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), are technologies that can enhance the efficiencies of Windows 7.

Statera offers multiple Proof of Concept (POC) engagements, to help our clients get started with the move to Windows 7. 

For more information on POCs or to schedule a meeting please contact Kira Savage or call 303.323.0227

Offerings

Windows 7 Readiness Assessments

Whether your organization is planning an upgrade in the near future, currently evaluating Windows 7, or taking a “wait and see” approach, every organization that is even considering a move to Windows 7 should be starting to plan and evaluate their infrastructure for Windows 7 readiness.

Statera can help “jump start” this process with a Windows 7 Readiness Assessment that brings a well defined process and approach to provide you with an understanding of what it will realistically take for your organization to deploy Microsoft’s new operating environment.

Offering Description

Statera’s Windows 7 Readiness Assessment consists of the following tasks that will be performed with the appropriate internal IT resources to obtain all relevant information required for a complete and accurate estimation of costs and effort for a Vista deployment.

Hardware compatibility inventory and assessment: Statera will use automated tools to perform a comprehensive PC and Laptop discovery and inventory.  This report will identify what machines are Windows 7 capable, and what machines will require upgrade or replacement.

Software/application inventory and compatibility assessment: Using Microsoft’s Application Compatibility Toolkit and application inventory collected in the previous step, Statera will identify applications that either are not compatible with Windows 7 or will require further testing.

Current Deployment and Operational Practices: Statera will examine and assess current end user computer deployment techniques currently in place and operational facets such as GPOs, disk level encryption, wireless security, license activation, and other considerations that could be enhanced to provide the most efficient deployment practices.

Windows 7 Deployment architectural design session: Statera will conduct a Windows 7 deployment design session with appropriate IT technical resources to familiarize them with new deployment technologies and techniques that exist in Windows 7 and in with the Business Desktop Deployment toolkit that not only eases initial deployment, but reduces IT efforts required to maintain and manage desktop images.

Deliverables

Statera will provide a report that will contain the following:

•   Hardware, Software and Applications Inventory compatibility spreadsheet
•   Current Deployment Practices Assessment
•   High level Deployment Plan
•   High level Cost and Level of Effort Estimations

Duration/Cost

Duration and cost will be determined by the size and complexity of the environment to be assessed. For pricing, contact Statera for a price quote.

Windows 7 Related PoCs

There are many Windows 7 related technologies that could enhance the way your end users benefit from Windows 7 or how your organization might leverage associated technologies and tools to maximize efficiencies. A Proof of Concept (PoC) enables you to evaluate if the technology is suitable for your environment. Statera’s consultants, already experienced with the products and technologies, can quickly deploy a demonstration environment that will allow you to appraise the value and applicability of the selected technology to your needs.  Statera offers the following PoCs related to Windows 7.

MDOP – Microsoft provides desktop optimization tools for those customers who are appropriately licensed. These tools can reduce overall management overhead and lower the cost of end user computer support.

DirectAccess – Windows 7 combined with new features in Windows Server 2008 R2 allows secure, seamless access to corporate IT resources over the Internet without the need for VPN client and additional login.

Windows 7 Deployment – Windows 7 comes with a robust collection of deployment tools that can reduce the manual effort that have been traditionally used for new Operating System deployments. Statera can build a demonstration environment that will show how these tools can be employed to minimize the “hands on” aspects of creating and managing images, migrating users’ documents and settings, and create a highly automated deployment process.