Windows 7: why wait?

Why is it a good time to switch to Windows 7 via T Systems’ Managed Workplace Services? And how can you tell whether your business applications will still run smoothly on the new operating system? Find out here.

According to Goldman Sachs, major enterprises are increasingly adopting Windows 7, Microsoft’s new operating system. Of the CIOs surveyed, 94 percent said they planned to implement the software, while multinationals such as BMW, Ford, Eon and Intel are already deploying it. Lower costs, improved performance, and higher worker productivity are among the expected benefits. Furthermore, Microsoft has incorporated new, useful enterprise features into the system. Last not least, Mainstream Support for Windows XP, the previous most popular operating system, was discontinued in April 2009. Extended Support will continue to be available until April 2014, but at a higher price. Unsurprisingly, Gartner consultants recommend switching to Windows 7 soon. The move provides an opportunity to consolidate and streamline existing software landscapes, reducing costs while delivering enhanced security and availability.

An ideal basis for virtualization

If virtualization is the goal, T-Systems’ Managed Workplace Services offer a way to achieve it. These packages include Windows 7 as standard. The resulting desktop environments are simpler to manager, cheaper, and at the same time more secure than conventional PC infrastructures. A high degree of automation and standardization makes for faster delivery of services and lower costs.

However, enterprises should look before they leap. Before implementing Microsoft’s latest operating system, they need to ask some important questions: will my personalized office and business applications (SAP, Siebel, Navision, archive systems, etc.) run on Windows 7? Which applications will run smoothly as they are? And which will need to be adapted first? Will our systems still be compliant with industry-specific security and safety requirements?

Against this background, T-Systems, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Alliance Partner, was among the first ICT specialists to conduct intensive testing in the early beta phase. Currently, some 200 experts are putting Windows 7 through its paces under real-world conditions in complex workplace environments. In addition, T-Systems’ testing center in Mannheim, which performs 3,500 application compatibility tests per year, has focused on Windows 7 checks since 2009. The center employs a special application readiness test to estimate the risk and effort associated with a migration. Along with the test results, national and international customers are given recommendations on the approach to adopt. To date, some 80 percent of applications were found to run normally on Windows 7. These applications worked perfectly immediately or after minor modifications. That means four out of five of an enterprise’s current applications interoperate smoothly with the new operating system. For the rest, virtualization solutions such as Microsoft MED-V (Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization) or Microsoft APP-V (Application Virtualization) offer a potential solution. They can help customers get mission-critical applications up and running on Windows 7 in very little time.

Strategic partnership with Microsoft

T-Systems has a strategic partnership with Microsoft, and currently manages more than 1.5 million desktop environments that run Microsoft products, as well as operating one of the world’s largest Exchange platforms. In addition, the ICT provider has extensive experience in managing multinational roll-outs of operating systems such as XP and Vista. Furthermore, T-Systems has comprehensive skills in the Microsoft space – from application development to systems integration and hosting. And it also provides license management services for customers. As a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner and an active participant in Technical Adopter Programs, T-Systems is always among the first to leverage the Microsoft innovations.

New toolkit on board

Windows 7 offers a multitude of clever built-in tools. Now instead of implementing expensive, unsupported external software, organizations can use the features that come as standard with Windows. Each tool eliminates an unnecessary source of faults and extra licensing costs. And it makes life easier for system integrators.