Microsoft is ending its Desktop Analytics solution in November 2022, and is incorporating those features into the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.
In a recent Tech Community blog, Microsoft says the move is designed to make Windows update readiness insights more accessible and easier. Although the Desktop Analytics solution will be retired on Nov. 30, 2022, the company will be incorporating the capabilities of that solution directly into the Endpoint manager admin center.
That makes insights found in Desktop Analytics available for PCs that are managed via Intune-only, co-managed and Configuration Manager with tenant attached, according to the blog.
The company says it will be releasing device-level upgrade and update readiness insights in the Reports node of Endpoint Manager admin center, giving IT pros insights for all devices managed by the tool.
According to Microsoft, the reports will tell if any Windows devices have application or driver compatibility risks or Safeguard holds that would prevent an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. The reports will also give IT pros information about compatibility with feature updates.
The reports will also show IT pros the top compatibility risks across the organization and help prioritize fixes.
Microsoft says the move is toward a more data-first approach and away from the workflow-based model of Desktop Analytics because IT pros have said the data from the tool I s the most valuable, but the tool itself is overly complicated.
“We’re looking forward to improving this by making compatibility insights simpler and more accessible without the need to manage another workload, while making them ready to use with modern Windows servicing tools,” the company says.
According to Microsoft, Windows 10 and 11 insights will be available in the Endpoint Manager admin center for all MEM-managed PCs, including Intune-only, co-managed and Configuration Manager with tenant attach.
The change also brings about a more simplified Configuration Manager cloud management strategy. Historically, there were separate processes for configuring Desktop Analytics and tenant attach. With these changes, IT pros can tenant attach or co-manager devices to take advantage of cloud-powered capabilities in the cloud console, the company says.
To prepare, IT pros should:
- Ensure PCS are on a supported version of Windows 10
- If you’re using Configuration Manager, enable tenant attach and integrate your site with Azure Active Directory tenant. This allows access to the cloud console and in a good position to benefit from upgrade and update readiness insights when they’re available.
- After enabling tenant attach, or if you’re using Intune to manage PCs, onboard to Endpoint analytics to take advantage of Windows 11 hardware readiness insights.
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