Migrating to New Technologies
New York City Technology Forum
October 15, 2009
James Wedeking – Solutions Director
jameswedeking@spherion.com
Agenda
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Introductions
Overview of Windows 7 features
Migration Steps
Available Tools and Resources
Questions
Who are these people?
INTRODUCTIONS
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Introduction to Spherion
 $2.2B Company, NYSE: SFN
 IT value-added staffing, direct-hire and temporary
recruitment and IT Solutions
 Work with over 25 City of NY Agencies
 NYC Technology Forum - Anchor Sponsor for 7 years
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In addition to staffing and recruiting, Spherion
provides a wide variety of IT Solutions
 Technology Project and Solution Services
— Technology Support Services (Support IT)
— Deployment Services – (Deploy IT)
— Embedded Technology Engineering (Engineer IT)
 IT Consulting and Outsourcing
— Infrastructure Management Services (Design & Manage IT)
— IT Strategy (Navigate IT)
— Application Management (Program IT)
— Outsourcing (Let someone else do IT)
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Why would you move to Windows 7?
WINDOWS 7 FEATURES
Windows 7 Professional offers enhancements over
previous versions
Works The Way You
Want
Get More Done
Safeguard Your
Work
Fundamentals
Ease of Use and Productivity
Security
Faster and more reliable
Compatibility
Windows XP Mode*
Networking
HomeGroup
Domain Join and Group
Policy Control
Troubleshooting
Action Center
Problem Steps Recorder
Windows Desktop Search
Enhanced Taskbar
Snap, Peek, Shake
Libraries
IE8 Accelerators
Mobility
Location-Aware Printing
Mobility Center with
Presentation Settings
Remote Desktop Host
Offline Files
Streamlined UAC
IE8 Malware and
Phishing Protection,
SmartScreen Filter
Windows Defender
Backup
Advanced Backup
Restore Previous File
Versions
Encrypting File System
Windows 7 Enterprise builds on Professional
Make End Users
Productive
Anywhere
Improve
Security and
Control
Performance | Reliability | Compatibility
Streamline PC
Management
BranchCache can help organizations better
manage network bandwidth
 Working in concert with Windows Server 2008 R2,
BranchCache will save network bandwidth and allow
users to be more productive
 One user will download a network delivered file
(e.g. PowerPoint presentation)
 Subsequent user access to these same files will be
pulled from the local cache (local server or client
machines), eliminating download times
 Access rights to the file are controlled by Active
Directory and referenced throughout the process
 Transparent to user
DirectAccess provides users transparent access to internal network
resources whenever they are connected to the Internet
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Provides users transparent access to internal network
resources whenever they are connected to the Internet
Enables IT professionals to manage remote computers
outside of the office
Establishes a bi-directional connection that enables
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the client computer to remain current with company
policies and to receive software updates
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Does not require a VPN connection
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Supports multifactor authentication methods
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Configurable to restrict which servers, users, and
individual applications are accessible
BitLocker offers some very compelling
functionality
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BitLocker drive encryption functionality in Windows 7 delivers an
improved experience for IT professionals and end users, including
— The ability to right-click on a drive to enable BitLocker protection
— Automatic creation of the required hidden boot partition
— Improved key management
Windows 7 also introduces BitLocker To Go
— Provides data protection for removable storage devices such as
USB flash drives
— BitLocker To Go gives IT professionals better control over how
removable storage devices can be used
— For example, IT Professionals can require data protection for
writing to any removable storage device while allowing
unprotected storage devices to be used in a read-only mode.
AppLocker provides organizations with a way to
better manage applications
 AppLocker enforces application controls
 A flexible, easy to administer mechanism that allows
IT professionals to specify what is allowed to run in
the desktop infrastructure
 Gives users the ability to run applications,
installation programs and scripts that they require to
be productive
 IT professionals can enforce application
standardization within their organization while
providing improved security, as well as operational
and compliance benefits
Problem Steps Recorder allows end users and help desk
resources to graphically display problems and resolutions
into an HTML file
 Enables users to record their interactions with an application
and provide a detailed screen-by-screen view with
accompanying information
 This same functionality can be used by the Help Desk to show a
user how to resolve a problem
 This technology provides many benefits:
— Reduces Help Desk time troubleshooting
— Increases end user satisfaction
— User productivity can be restored faster
Trigger Start services improves performance
instead of wasting resources
 The service should be
running only if it has
something to do
— Network-related service
without connectivity
— USB-related service without
USB devices
— File transfer service with
firewall port closed
 Trigger-start services are
started when needed
— Responsible for stopping
when idle or done
Security messages are more customizable to
reduce annoying permission requests
 User Account Control (UAC) was introduced in
Windows Vista
 In Windows 7, the number of operating system
applications and tasks that require elevation is
reduced
 Standard users can do more than before and will see
fewer elevation prompts
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User Access Control notification is now
customizable
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Where to begin?
MIGRATION STEPS
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Migration should follow standard project
management practices
 Phase 1 – Discovery
— Review where you are and where you’re going
 Phase 2 – Design
— Build your image, application, and deployment processes
 Phase 3 – Test
— Ensure application and hardware compatibility and validate
deployment procedures
 Phase 4 – Deploy
— Look for automation options to keep costs down
— Train your users and your support resources
 Phase 5 – Project closure
— Optimize environment and document standard operating
procedures
The first step in planning is finding out where you
are and where you’re going
 Phase 1 – Discovery
— Inventory your hardware environment
— Inventory your applications
— Research where users keep their data
— Review your images and image processes to
understand variables
— Review Windows 7 features and decide on version
— Research additional tools (SCCM, AIT, etc.)
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When you design your migration, look beyond the
project to optimize steady state efficiency
 Phase 2 – Design
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Define what hardware you’ll need to run Windows 7
Standardize business applications and versions
Define how data will be handled
Create Windows Images
Develop deployment processes to automate as much as
possible
— Develop initial deployment schedule
— Design any management tools you’ll be using
— Decide on the level of training and most appropriate
medium
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Finding a problem during testing vs. finding a
problem in production is infinitely less expensive
 Phase 3 – Test
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Application compatibility
Hardware sufficiency
Deployment processes
Validate help desk knowledge
Network bandwidth
Develop alternate solutions as necessary
Training curriculum/medium effectiveness
Application Compatibility is greatly enhanced in
Windows 7
 Windows makes every effort!
 Thousands of applications have “compatibility shims” applied
by the system
 Even more applications are thoroughly tested
 Windows 7 (32-bit) can still run 16-bit MS-DOS programs
— Almost 25 years later!
 Most applications work just fine on new Windows versions
— Some don’t, so you’ll need to find these and come up with
solutions
 “Windows XP Mode” eases migration significantly
— Virtual instance of Microsoft Windows XP to allow XPdependent applications a ‘safe’ place to run within
Windows 7
Automating deployment keeps costs down and reduces
human error factor
 Phase 4 – Deploy
— Look to use automated tools
— Build a SINGLE image with Operating System only
and layer applications on top
— Standardize deployment processes and tools for
use beyond the project
— Meaningful and timely communications to your
end users will improve project success
— Dedicate your staff or outsource
To do the job right, you need the right tool
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Many tools are available to automate
deployment-related tasks
 Inventory & Assessment
— Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (free)
— Application Compatibility Toolkit (free)
— System Center Configuration Manager and System Center
Essentials
— Asset Inventory Service
 Automated Installation Toolkit (AIK)
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Windows System Image Manager
Deployment Image Servicing and Management
Windows Pre-installation Environment
User State Migration Tool
Additional resources are available to
help you with your migration
 Microsoft Gold Certified Partners like Spherion
 For Software Assurance holders, you may be eligible for
the Desktop Deployment Planning Service (“DDPS”)
 Visit www.clicktoattend.com to find an event near you
 Attend the Microsoft Windows 7 launch on October 22
right here in NYC
 Microsoft TechNet is invaluable (www.technet.com)
 Get your IT staff trained
 Upgrade Advisor http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
A quick recap on things we discussed
FINAL THOUGHTS
Final thoughts as you start on your path to
Windows 7
 Windows 7 has many benefits – review which ones make
sense for your organization and what it really takes
implement them
 Do careful inventory and testing before jumping in
 Build a deployment methodology that is reusable in steady
state
 Use the tools and resources that make sense
 Communicate to your end users and give them the right
level of training
 Dedicate your staff to either the project or day-to-day
support – not both
Questions
 howardcohen@spherion.com
 (212) 590-5966