Since the acquisition of Quest Software, the leader in application compatibility and platform migration automation, Dell has been establishing itself as the premier player in migration automation tools.  Beyond the tools, however, Dell and Quest also recognizes that people are an important part of the process.  People benefit from rules established to help assure that they perform the migration correctly and efficiently the first time.

According to Ann Maya, senior product manager, User Workspace Management business unit, Quest Software:

“There is no denying the opportunity for cost savings and improved user productivity afforded by Windows migrations; but, Windows 7 and 8 migrations can be prolonged and difficult if they aren’t handled correctly. The need for simplicity and speed in these projects is felt by companies worldwide. Quest has taken everything we’ve learned from years of experience assisting with hundreds of migration projects, plus our expertise in application compatibility, to create this set of rules for making Windows 7 and 8 migrations faster and easier. The newest version of our ChangeBASE application compatibility tool further facilitates ease and speed in Windows migration projects with the injection of unique automation and platform support.”

Drawing upon the companies' extensive experience in performing complex migrations globally, here are the Top Ten Rules for a Streamlined Windows Migration to either Windows 7 or Windows 8:

1. Plan the migration &\#9472; Scope and assess the project to get a clear understanding of cost, resources and time required.
2. Rationalize the application list &\#9472; Retiring older, incompatible versions and consolidating where possible means IT doesn’t spend valuable resources migrating what isn’t needed.
3. Don’t forget the “unmanaged applications” &\#9472; they can be the silent killers of any migration.
4. Conduct application compatibility assessment as early as possible; accurate results help ensure that rationalization decisions are sound.
5. Automate where ever possible &\#9472; Don’t assume all steps in the migration will be performed in one clean swoop; automation is the only way to ensure that any step that is repeated is consistent, which can save up to 50 percent in time and costs needed for migrations.
6. Don’t neglect Web applications &\#9472; More and more mission-critical apps depend on Web applications. Since Windows includes Internet Explorer, successful migrations require the resolution of any issues around Web-based applications early.
7. Build automated application assessment into the existing packaging service so new apps will stream in throughout the migration, improving user experience significantly while saving weeks to months on the migration project, as well as needed budget.
8. Virtualize applications &\#9472; Usable apps are portable apps, so, in today’s mobile and remote work environment, applications should be virtualized to ensure they are available when and where users need them.
9. Be prepared for multiple build changes &\#9472; Know that as the migration project progresses, the Windows build will undergo change. This understanding will enable greater agility and responsiveness to change, which leads to faster, smoother migrations.
10. Have a plan for how to complete User Acceptance Testing (UAT) &\#9472; Leveraging desktop virtualization speeds and streamlines user acceptance testing, which results in more satisfied users and IT organizations, alike.