Windows 7 Blog

Transitioning your environment to Windows 7? This blog is your stop for the latest tips, tricks, and advice for making the move.

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  Updated: CEwing 24 Mar 2010

  Sin #7: Wrath - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  WRATH: Not taking the right steps to avoid the wrath of your CIO if the migration doesn’t go well Every company has had its share of network or endpoint computer problems during a typical work day. These issues result in anger and frustration from the end users affected and an increased number of trouble tickets routed through the helpdesk. If communication about a migration is mishandled, these roadblocks will multiply as more end users are unable to access the applications they need to do their jobs. Unchecked, these problems can also affect the choices of key decision makers, causing negative repercussions for IT in the long run. The human element is easy to overlook when talking technology, but communication before and during migration can go a long way in avoiding wrath throughout the process. IT managers should identify key decision makers and work closely with them throughout the process. The company’s migration should be...
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  Updated: CEwing 24 Mar 2010

  Sin #6: Greed - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  GREED: Failing to run a test or pilot to test the migration For any organization, upgrading operating systems can be exciting. But if the anticipation leads to an attempt at immediate adoption without first testing the deployment process, that greedy haste will cause headaches. If the process has any complications or glitches, going straight to implementation isn’t a shortcut, it’s a shortfall. All it takes to overcome greed is a simple pilot test of the new operating system, applications and custom settings before a full deployment. The IT administrator should implement a pilot program to run the new system, see how it goes and make any necessary adjustments. The end result is a smoother migration, happier end users and less calls to the service desk. The first aspect to consider is whether any necessary network changes are required to support the migration. You will need to implement the network changes identified...
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  Updated: CEwing 24 Mar 2010

  Sin #5: Sloth - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  SLOTH: Being lazy with your migration, not preparing your applications or capturing the right setting and personalities of your endpoints During a migration you should never forget that corporate computer users don’t like change. End users want to start up their computers and see exactly what they expect—the same printer and network settings, background pictures, Internet favorites, and everything they’ve personalized in their most-used enterprise applications. Every Windows 7 migration needs to ensure that the user experiences less disruption and less negative impact during the process. Successful migration to Windows 7 is possible, but it doesn’t happen by chance. Laziness in preparing applications or capturing settings for each client will leave IT lacking at the time of migration. And no one wants end users complaining to management and damaging the overall perception of the process (just wait for our blog on Wrath...
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  Updated: CEwing 13 Dec 2009

  Sin #3: Gluttony - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  Gluttony: Migrating more than you need to by not cleaning things up first Organizations often use an OS migration as a time to evaluate the applications, software and other data files they have on the organization’s existing endpoints. They can also use this time to plan their go-forward imaging standards. Those organizations that don’t go through this evaluation and planning process may be migrating more than is necessary (gluttony) once they begin the migration process. One of the first critical decisions will be determining the specific deployment standards and processes to be used during the migration and, optimally, on a go-forward basis. This could be a considerable undertaking depending on the organization and their existing processes. For example, some IT departments may manage 30+ images that quickly become a logistical nightmare, draining time and resources away from other, more critical issues. However that same...
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  Updated: CEwing 13 Dec 2009

  Sin #2: Lust - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  LUST:  Lusting after the latest version before figuring out what makes sense for your organization Before organizations can successfully migrate to Windows 7, they need to know what is in front of them and then formulate the right game plan. While most businesses will benefit from upgrading, lust for the latest version can be like merging into the fast lane without checking your blind spot. If a company’s focus is solely making the switch as soon as possible, it might not take necessary precautions to minimize the time and adjustment for end users. More importantly, a Windows migration project is not just driving a refresh of the operating system, it can also drive key decisions that will likely impact IT organizations for years to come. Organizations should take advantage of the planning time to re-evaluate hardware vendors, software vendors, security strategies and long term management strategies. To get started...
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  Updated: Blake M 24 Mar 2010

  Sin #1: Pride - Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Windows 7

  PRIDE: Believing that the built-in security and backup technology is all you need Many businesses operate under the assumption that built-in security and backup technology is enough to protect their information. To be truly protected against today's increasingly complex and organized cyber attacks, you need a comprehensive, integrated security solution that provides multiple layers of protection, in addition to scalable backup. In 2008 alone, Symantec detected more than 1.6 million new malicious code threats worldwide, according to the Internet Security Threat Report XIV. This explosion in the number of malicious code threats, coupled with the continued trend towards Web-based attacks, reinforces the growing need for cooperative security and backup responses. Individual point products and add-on functionality are no longer sufficient to protect against today...