Windows 10 is losing support in a few months, and if you want to continue receiving security updates, you'll have to pay separately for the privilege. Although it's clear that Microsoft wants customers to upgrade to Windows 11, it is still offering some flexibility when it comes to support for certain software beyond the end of support date too, such as in the case of Microsoft 365 apps. Although personal users can independently and relatively easily decide if they want to upgrade to Windows 11 or stick with their current operating system, organizations have a lot of factors to consider when making the same choice. Microsoft is now making it somewhat easier to make that decision.

Windows Backup for Organizations to the rescue

In a blog post, Microsoft has announced a limited private preview of Windows Backup for Organizations, first announced back in November 2024. As the name suggests, this piece of software allows organizations to take backups of their tenants' PC settings and preferences and then restore them on a Microsoft Entra-joined device. Although this works for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft has touted it as a major benefit for the former, likely because of the looming end of support date.

Microsoft has boasted that Windows Backup for Organizations offers a seamless experience, boosts productivity, and reduces the need for troubleshooting as users can get started much quicker following an operating system reset or reimaging process. This can be particularly useful when organizations are performing large-scale upgrades.

Since Microsoft is currently offering a limited public preview, those only interested in backups will need to have Entra- or hybrid Entra-joined devices on Windows 10 or Windows 11. Meanwhile, those who also want to leverage the restore functionality will need to meet the following criteria:

• Windows 11, version 22H2 and later
• Microsoft Entra joined devices
• An active Microsoft Intune test tenant (required for this preview)
• Microsoft Intune service administrator permissions

Both sets of customers will also need to be enrolled in the Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program (CCP). Microsoft has noted that this is only the beginning of simplification of the upgrade process, and that it will make more improvements in the near future.