Michael Silver Research Vice President and Distinguished Analyst IT leaders have questions and concerns about issues associated with Microsoft Windows 7 and Office 2010 migrations. This overview points to Gartner research that helps clients determine if, when and how to make the moves. Analysis Migration to Microsoft Windows 7 and Office 2010 involves moving all or part of the enterprise to new operating systems (OSs) that promise longer support time frames, greater efficiency and ease of use. Enterprises are concerned with how to best migrate their OSs, some from Windows Vista and others from the earlier release, Windows XP. They are bound to be confronted by a host of challenges, as well as some degree of risk. Issues such as software compatibility, licensing agreements and service-level agreements (SLAs) move to the fore. However, Gartner research highlights opportunities for change, ways to improve the client-computing environment and steps to minimize risk. We help enterprises build OS and office productivity road maps and calculate their return on investment (ROI). Our tools, best practices and policies can help organizations understand how to reduce Windows 7 and Office 2010 migration costs by as much as 50%. Consider these factors to determine your readiness It s important to prepare your enterprise for migration before moving to Windows 7 or Office 2010. Aim to achieve the following before starting: Learn about the new products and determine how these releases will increase your organizational efficiency. Understand the possible hurdles and challenges, and whether it makes sense to skip or delay the new release. Determine costs, finding ways to minimize expense. Is full deployment prudent, or should employees migrate on a gradual basis? Learn best practices for these types of migrations. Study other vendors offerings. Learn about options from Microsoft competitors. Would another vendor s OS or office productivity product make more sense for certain users in your enterprise? Know your current software, and determine compatibility issues. Find out how long you can run the software you have, as this will factor into your migration strategy. Conduct your migration in five phases Gartner recommends that IT leaders implement five major phases in their migration to Windows 7 or Office 2010 (these phases may vary, depending on your organization and the extent of your migration): Strategize and plan: Learn about the new releases, and determine the advantages and challenges for your enterprise. Determine total cost of ownership, including time and issues related to software. Prepare a long-term budget, estimating your ROI. Architect the solution: If you decide to move forward, determine how you will conduct the migration. You may want full deployment, or it may be best to move employees over on an incremental basis. Work with Microsoft to obtain road maps and the appropriate level of service. Select the solution: Use Gartner research to help you select systems and implement your migration. Our tools, best practices and policies can help you budget for the migration and address licensing, software compatibility and other issues. Deploy: Examine how the new systems will affect your IT infrastructure. Plan to spend 12 to 18 months preparing your enterprise for Windows 7 migration and running pilots. Train end users properly on Office 2010 to avoid overwhelming the help desk. Operate and evolve: Begin your migration according to the needs of your enterprise. Continue to work with Microsoft to achieve the best possible ROI and optimum SLA. Obtain working road maps, and test new tools, software, upgrades and service packs.
Read More From Gartner About Microsoft Windows 7 and Office The following is just a sampling of the research and tools Gartner clients have access to every day. Strategize and plan With Windows 7 s Arrival, Plan Migrations Now ID: G00172134 Although Microsoft will continue supporting Windows XP through 2014, enterprises should begin migrating to Windows 7 soon to avoid losing support for their environments from independent software vendors. Changes in Microsoft Office 2010 Require Careful Evaluation ID: G00169905 Office 2010 offers collaboration tools and a free Web version aimed at recouping mindshare from competitors. The Web version will suffice for some, but users should consider privacy issues and the limited feature set. What CIOs Need to Know About Windows 7 ID: G00172016 Windows 7 will be the biggest infrastructure project most IT departments have done in about 10 years. Organizations need to build their business plans, deployment plans and budgets now in order to get Windows 7 in and Windows XP out, and to support the needs of their business applications. Architect the solution Planning for the Security Features of Windows 7 ID: G00171975 We analyze the major security improvements with Windows 7, their pros and cons, as well as specific recommendations for planning their deployment. Reasons to Care About Windows 7, and Reasons Not To ID: G00171872 Windows 7 has been characterized as everything from a major step for Windows to a minor service pack for the disappointing Windows Vista. The truth is in the middle; either way, Windows 7 is unskippable. Select the solution Enterprises Should Demand Windows Upgrade Option ID: G00169424 Microsoft has limited the number of free Windows 7 upgrades that can be claimed via its Windows Upgrade Option. Organizations need to understand their Windows 7 requirements and obtain rights for the best value. Understanding Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite Pricing ID: G00171341 Pricing around Microsoft s online collaboration offerings, including the Business Productivity Online Suite, can be complex. We shed some light on the topic. Microsoft Cuts Cloud Collaboration Prices to Rival Google, Others ID: G00172508 Microsoft slashed prices on its cloud collaboration services to spur demand and fend off aggressive competition from Google, IBM and Cisco.
Deploy Toolkit: The Cost to Migrate to Windows 7 ID: G00171501 Many organizations are planning their migrations to Windows 7, and this is often made more urgent because they skipped Windows Vista. This toolkit helps organizations to understand the tasks involved and how much to budget for this project. Prepare for Windows 7 in Three Phases ID: G00170151 Organizations should plan to spend between 12 and 18 months learning about Windows 7, developing new environments and testing their applications. Such preparation will significantly lessen the time and effort required for migration and support. Cost Model: Migration to Windows Vista and Windows 7 ID: G00167193 We expect no difference in cost to migrate from Windows XP directly to either Windows Vista or Windows 7. Organizations that deploy Windows Vista will spend 66% to 75% less to get to Windows 7 as they spent migrating from XP to Vista, but will spend more overall because they did two migrations. Operate and evolve How to Reduce Your PC TCO 30% in 2011 ID: G00166195 A combination of factors allows users to reduce the average total cost of ownership of new PCs 30% by 2011. The key will be harnessing current technology developments that improve PC manageability. Top SharePoint Questions in Early 2009 ID: G00167520 Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 has been widely implemented, but some users are stumbling on the path to success. Informal surveys at our conferences show 75% of users are satisfied with their implementation; others say it has not met their expectations. We discuss ways to help you succeed. Find and Fix the Issues That Are Slowing Your Boot Process ID: G00169743 Slow PC boot processes frustrate users, undercut productivity and may signal future problems. IT organizations should investigate the underlying causes and encourage smarter work habits among end users.
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