Rachel (1)

Content marketing manager

General

Windows 10 EOL hub

In-place upgrade resources

Reimaging resources

A decision tree that displays the considerations of in-place upgrades and imaging.

Windows 10 EOL decision tree

Planning your Windows 11 migration? Learn whether an in-place upgrade or imaging is best for your environment.

Windows 11 migration: In-place upgrade vs. imaging

Windows 11 migration In-place upgrade vs. imaging

The best method depends on your environment. In-place upgrades retain user data and apps, while imaging provides a clean and standardized deployment.

What is the best way to migrate to Windows 11?

An in-place upgrade keeps user data, apps, and settings intact. Imaging wipes the device and installs a fresh, preconfigured Windows 11 image for consistency.

What’s the difference between an in-place upgrade and imaging for Windows 11?

Use imaging when deploying to new hardware, standardizing configurations, or when a clean slate is needed—especially in large environments.

When should I use imaging instead of an in-place upgrade?

Choose in-place upgrades to preserve user data and settings and for faster, automated deployments using tools like SmartDeploy or PDQ Connect.

When should I use an in-place upgrade instead of imaging?

Yes, a hybrid approach works well. Use imaging for new or repurposed devices and in-place upgrades for existing endpoints based on need.

Can I use both in-place upgrades and imaging for my Windows 11 migration?

In-place upgrades are generally faster and less disruptive. Imaging takes more time but provides greater control and uniformity.

Is imaging or an in-place upgrade faster for deploying Windows 11?

SD imaging resources callout

A screenshot showing the above instructions for finding and selecting distribution points in SmartDeploy.

SD distribution points

A screenshot showing the above instructions to deploy an image with SmartDeploy.

SD image 2

A screenshot showing the above instructions for how to deploy an image with SmartDeploy.

SD image 4

WDS deprecation

Learn about the different options you have for deploying Windows images — and how SmartDeploy simplifies and streamlines Windows imaging. 

How to deploy Windows images

Toast Frame imaging

General/TOFU - SD blog

TL;DR: WDS

MDT callout

Simplify and unify your Windows imaging and deployment processes

Windows Deployment Services (WDS) deploys computer images but not much else. Learn what it is, how it integrates with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and an easier way to build and deploy images.

What is Windows Deployment Services?

What is Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is a Microsoft server role that deploys prebuilt Windows images to multiple client computers over a network using PXE boot. It delivers existing images but does not build or customize them.

Windows Deployment Services deploys prebuilt Windows images to computers over a network. It does not create, customize, or manage images beyond the deployment process.

What does Windows Deployment Services do?

Microsoft partially deprecated Windows Deployment Services starting with Windows 11. However, it remains supported and commonly used in older Windows environments.

Is Windows Deployment Services deprecated?

Yes. Microsoft has officially retired the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). While it may still function in existing environments, it is no longer supported, updated, or recommended for new deployments.

Is the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit retired?

The difference between WDS and MDT is scope. Windows Deployment Services deploys existing Windows images, while the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit was used to build and customize images with drivers, applications, and configurations.

What is the difference between WDS and MDT?

Toast Frame laptop

MOFU - SD blog

Security cover image 1

Why do you need to manage Windows updates?

Windows update settings

Windows Updates panel

GPMC

GPO domain

Computer management in SmartDeploy

Computer management pending patches

Install Windows Updates in SmartDeploy

The patch history view in SmartDeploy

Uninstall Patch in SmartDeploy

Patch management view in SmartDeploy

Patch details in SmartDeploy

Patch Management uninstall patches in SmartDeploy

Patch management vs. computer management in SmartDeploy

Automate Windows updates in SmartDeploy

You can manage Windows updates in a few different ways. See how to do this manually, with Group Policy, and with SmartDeploy.

How to manage Windows updates

General blog image

Using a physical device as a reference computer for Windows imaging used to be the only way. Now, there’s a better way. Learn how virtual machines simplify imaging.

Reference computer options for Windows imaging

General blog image 2

Redacted resume

IT skills

Eric quote

How to avoid becoming your family's personal help desk center

Building an IT resume can often feel more daunting than starting a new job. Here’s how to build your own IT resume template to customize for each job you apply to.

How to build an IT resume: Template and best practices

How to build an IT resume

IT resume

What is a backup strategy

Peter Krogh backup

RAID array backups

Brock it depends

Cloud backups

The 3-2-1 backup rule is the grandparent of all modern backup strategies. Learn what it is and how it minimizes downtime during crisis situations.

What is the 3-2-1 backup rule? Data backup best practices

What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?

3-2-1 backup

How do Office 365 and Microsoft 365 licenses differ?

Changes to enterprise licensing options

Microsoft’s Office 365 F3 plan is no longer available

A decision tree to help you decide which Microsoft or Office 365 license is best for your business.

Choosing the right Microsoft or Office 365 License

Explore Microsoft and Office 365 license types for business and enterprise. Compare plans, pricing, and features to choose the right fit for your organization.

Microsoft and Office 365 license types for IT pros

Microsoft and Office 365 licenses for businesses fall into two categories: business plans for up to 300 users, and enterprise plans for more than 300 users.

What are the Microsoft and Office 365 license types for businesses?

Business plans include Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, Premium, and Apps for business. These plans offer Office apps, cloud storage, and varying levels of security and management features.

What are the Microsoft and Office 365 for business plans?

Enterprise plans support more than 300 users and include Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. They offer advanced security, compliance, analytics, and Windows OS options.

What are the Microsoft and Office 365 for enterprise plans?

Choosing the right license depends on your business size, work style (desk-based or mobile), and feature needs like security, device management, or desktop apps.

How do you choose the best Microsoft or Office 365 license for your business?

Pricing varies by plan and billing model. Business plans range from $6 to $26.40 per user/month. Enterprise plans range from $2.25 to $54.75 per user/month.

What is the pricing structure for Microsoft and Office 365 licenses?

Microsoft and Office 365 licenses include plans for small businesses and large enterprises, such as Business Basic, Office 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, and F3 for frontline workers.

What are the different Microsoft and Office 365 licenses?

Microsoft 365 includes Office 365 apps plus extras like Windows OS, threat protection, and device management. Office 365 plans only include the productivity apps.

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 licenses?

Only Microsoft 365 plans (such as Microsoft 365 E3, E5, and F3) include the Windows operating system. Office 365 plans do not.

Which Microsoft 365 plan includes the Windows operating system?

Yes. As of April 2024, Microsoft Teams is no longer bundled with enterprise licenses and must be purchased separately.

Can I buy Microsoft Teams separately?

TL;DR volume licensing

Microsoft Volume Licensing Definition

Ready to image your machines with Windows?

Some are wary of Microsoft Volume Licensing. But when it comes to imaging computers, volume licensing is the best way to go. Here's why and how to do it.

What is Microsoft Volume Licensing? How does it work?

What is Microsoft Volume Licensing?

General_Volume Licensing

Microsoft Volume Licensing is Microsoft’s business purchasing model for buying and managing software at scale, usually through a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) or commercial agreements like the Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) or an Enterprise Agreement. It supports products like Windows, Microsoft 365, and Windows Server, and typically uses MAK, KMS, or ADBA to simplify deployment and compliance.

Volume licensing works by purchasing licenses via CSP or an agreement, assigning entitlements in your tenant or portal, and activating devices using a method that matches your environment (MAK, KMS, or ADBA). MAK is common for smaller orgs or isolated machines, KMS is common for larger internal networks, and ADBA activates domain-joined Windows automatically.

How does Microsoft Volume Licensing work?

Choose MAK for simple direct activation with Microsoft without running an internal activation service, KMS for internal activation at scale using an internal KMS host, and ADBA for automatic activation of eligible domain-joined Windows devices through Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).

Which volume activation method should you use (MAK, KMS, or ADBA)?

Key benefits include volume discounts and centralized license management. Instead of tracking individual product keys, subscriptions are managed in the Microsoft 365 admin center or other portals depending on your agreement, and activation is handled using MAK, KMS, or Active Directory-based activation (ADBA) based on how endpoints connect.

What are the benefits of using Microsoft Volume Licensing?

Volume licensing refers to how software is purchased (typically in bulk through agreements or CSP), while subscription licensing refers to how software is paid for (recurring versus perpetual). Both operating systems and productivity software can be licensed either perpetually or via subscription, depending on the product.

Volume licensing vs. subscription licensing: what is the difference?

Pricing varies based on factors like organization size, product mix, and agreement type, so public pricing may not be listed. Most organizations get a quote from a software reseller or CSP based on their specific licensing needs.

How much does Microsoft Volume Licensing cost?

Start by deciding whether you need a perpetual license or a subscription license for the product, then match the purchasing path (CSP or an Enterprise Agreement) to your organization’s size and management needs. Many teams work with authorized Microsoft partners to confirm the best fit for compliance and cost.

How do you choose the right Microsoft licensing program?

To get started, contact a software reseller or cloud service provider, tell them you need a Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement, and share how many machines you have. They can help you select the right program and set up licensing and activation for your environment.

Rachel Bishop

Stories by Rachel Bishop

Windows 11 migration: In-place upgrade vs. imaging

GENERAL IT

How to deploy Windows images

GENERAL IT

What is Windows Deployment Services?

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How to manage Windows updates

SECURITY

Reference computer options for Windows imaging

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How to build an IT resume: Template and best practices

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What is the 3-2-1 backup rule? Data backup best practices

SECURITY

Microsoft and Office 365 license types for IT pros

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What is Microsoft Volume Licensing? How does it work?

GENERAL IT