AccessIT on Access IT Automation

See You at AppManagEvent 2026 – It’s Going to Be a Good One

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:55:40 +0100

AppManagEvent is always a highlight on the endpoint management calendar. Access IT Automation is a Gold Partner of the event, and it’s always fantastic to catch up with old friends, hear from leading thinkers in the industry, and meet new people. While every year is great, we think this one is going to be better than ever as we have some new products to unveil.

Access IT Automation Partners with Microsoft to Validate Access Symphony on ARM64

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:50:29 +0100

As of July 2026, Access Symphony is now natively supported on ARM64-powered Windows 11 devices with no emulation required.

Enterprise applications written for X64 can run on ARM devices, but they do so via the built-in emulation in Windows. While they technically work, running through this transition layer means they are typically slower and can sometimes be buggy.

What Does a Successful SCCM to Intune Migration Actually Look Like?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:12:54 +0100

Every organisation wants to modernise its endpoint management.

Few, however, want the disruption that large-scale migration projects are often associated with.

The good news is that successful migrations don’t happen by chance, they happen through careful planning, automation, and expertise.

Why More Organisations Are Moving from SCCM to Intune

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:11:08 +0100

There’s no question that SCCM has been one of Microsoft’s most successful enterprise management platforms.

It remains an incredibly capable solution for organisations with complex Windows environments, offering deep control over software deployment, operating system imaging, patch management, compliance, and reporting. For many enterprises, it continues to perform exactly as intended.

Is Your Endpoint Management Strategy Ready for What’s Next?

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 10:07:41 +0100

For many years, endpoint management was considered an operational function, something that simply kept desktops patched, applications deployed, and devices compliant. Today, that mindset has changed dramatically.

Modern organisations rely on a growing ecosystem of endpoints that extends far beyond desktop PCs. Laptops, smartphones, tablets, virtual desktops, cloud PCs, and remote devices have all become part of the corporate environment. As organisations embrace hybrid working and cloud technologies, managing these endpoints efficiently has become a strategic priority rather than simply an IT housekeeping task.

How We Use AI to Develop Customer-Focused Solutions Without Sacrificing Governance

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:51:22 +0100

Using AI to build faster is no longer a differentiator. So, let’s start with taking that as a given. This blog isn’t a framework for AI-powered development either. Instead, we’re going to outline what we do as a company that develops software products for enterprise customers.

AI-Supercharged In-House Devs vs. Enterprise Operational Maturity

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:38:36 +0100

AI-generated whatever is everywhere these days. So what?

The real story isn’t happening on Instagram and TikTok. Where AI is having the biggest impact is inside enterprises.

With corporate licenses for platforms like Claude and ChatGPT, highly skilled, sophisticated, and well-resourced internal development teams are now supercharged.

What is Mythos? And Why You Need to Be Aware of Software Vulnerabilities

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:14:29 +0100

“That which destroys the old mythos becomes the new mythos.”

That’s a quote from the 1974 philosophical novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig. It argues that it is essential to integrate human judgement and craftsmanship into technical systems to achieve sustainable, high-quality innovation.

Going Beyond the “Wireframe on Steroids” to Get from AI Promise to Production Proof

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:51:28 +0100

It’s quite the buzz. Even if you are not a programmer, all you need is a Claude or ChatGPT license, and you can spin up a functional dashboard or a working script over the weekend. It’s all based on data and logic, of course, but the speed and relative simplicity feel like magic.

Access Capture Joins the Omnissa Solution Exchange, Elevating Enterprise Application Management

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:21:11 +0100

Access Capture is now officially listed on the Omnissa Solution Exchange.

Omnissa is a global leader in modern digital workspaces with best-in-class solutions that include Workspace ONE and Horizon. The Omnissa Solution Exchange connects IT leaders with third-party solution integrations that are validated by Omnissa as being optimised for the digital workspace. As such, it is a highly curated marketplace that Access IT Automation is proud to be a part of.

Introducing Access Capture Shift: SCCM to Intune Migrations Made Simple

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:16:33 +0100

We are delighted to announce a new Access Capture module: Capture Shift. Capture Shift is a single, graphics-based command centre to assess, plan, and execute application migrations from SCCM to Intune. With Capture Shift, transitioning to modern, cloud-first application management and delivery has never been as easy, controlled, and cost-effective.

Case Study: Government Agency Uses Symphony for GDPR-Compliant Internal Messaging at Scale

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:40:33 +0100

Introduction

The average worker receives 117 emails and 153 Teams messages each day. Statistics like that open up a whole range of issues (including productivity!), but for this case study, we are going to focus on one – internal communication.

How you send internal communications matters, as you don’t want company messages relaying important information to be buried under the almost 300 emails/messages that the average employee receives each day. This is especially true in critical situations where information needs to be distributed quickly, and you need to be sure messages are read and acted upon.

Access IT Automation CEO Looking Ahead to 2026 – Building the Next Chapter of Innovation

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:12:48 +0100

As another year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on what matters most. Health and family remain at the forefront of my mind, but business has also been a defining part of my life for more than 50 years. To still be contributing, especially at a time when automation and AI are reshaping how organisations operate, is something I feel genuinely grateful for.

ReadyWorks Plus Access IT Automation: Taking Application Management to a Whole New Level

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:54:33 +0100

Most large organisations and enterprises have complex IT environments that have evolved over time. Different bits do different things. Some elements are cutting-edge while others are firmly in the legacy category. And there are many, many vendors, systems, endpoints, and applications involved.

Evergreen AI has Arrived – Your Apps, Your Rules from Access Capture

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:26:32 +0100

What do you get when you combine about 200 technology leaders, the latest application management technologies, and a fantastic location in the Netherlands? AppManagEvent 2025 is the answer, and this year it was bigger and better than ever.

The Access IT Automation team was in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for 2025’s edition of the widely respected industry event focused on application management. It was great making new connections as well as catching up with friends and colleagues.

Live from Microsoft Ignite: Let’s Redefine Endpoint Automation Together

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 16:14:58 +0100

Microsoft Ignite 2025 is here, and we want to focus on one of the most important topics facing enterprises today – endpoint automation. The role of endpoint management in efficient business operations is increasing, and automation is the only way to achieve optimisation at scale in enterprise organisations.

Access IT Automation Looking Forward to the EUC Forum Winter Meeting in London

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:10:44 +0100

It’s only a few weeks to go until the EUC Forum Winter Meeting in London. It is one of the most anticipated events in the end-user computing field, and the Access IT Automation team is looking forward to attending.

This will be the third EUC Forum meeting of 2025. Both the spring and summer meetings were excellent events for knowledge sharing and networking, and we expect the winter meeting in November to be no different.

RIP Windows 10… Or Is It!

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:21:12 +0100

October 14, 2025, the official Windows 10 end-of-life (EOL) date, is finally here.

But it’s not dead as millions of devices are still running on Windows 10. What does today’s EOL date mean, does it matter, and how does it impact this long-running Microsoft operating system saga?

See You at AppManagEvent 2025

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:41:05 +0100

With only a couple of days to go, the Access IT Automation team is looking forward to AppManagEvent 2025. As Gold Partners of this essential event on the Application Management calendar, we are getting ready to head to Utrecht, The Netherlands, to meet with other professionals in the industry, discuss the latest developments, and showcase our trusted product, Access Capture.

Using Symphony’s Automation Capabilities to Rapidly Migrate Users to Windows 11

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:34:13 +0100

Modern enterprises rely on technologies for business success, and they often have complex IT infrastructures. There is also a continuing push for digital transformation in most industries. As a result, large-scale IT projects are an inevitable feature and regular occurrence.

Case Study: Global Bank Cuts IT Tickets by 65% Across 120k Devices

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:50:14 +0100

Introduction

Businesses across all industries are becoming more digitalised, with organisations seeking to take advantage of the performance gains that can be achieved with deeper levels of integration, enhanced automation, and better use of data. The problem is that traditional challenges can hold back digital transformation initiatives. IT ticketing is one of those challenges.

Migrating from SCCM to Intune – A Step-By-Step Guide

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:37:28 +0100

Intune is the future of endpoint management, not just from a Microsoft perspective, but also from the perspective of enterprise organisations. SCCM might still be prevalent, but that is within a technology landscape where 81 percent of global enterprises have adopted Microsoft Azure.

Vendor Driver Updates – Automated Security Vulnerability Patching

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:00:45 +0100

When a device vendor provides a driver update, there is often an important and pressing security reason behind it. Every day that goes by without the update being applied across all the relevant endpoints in your estate increases your security risks. The level of increase varies depending on the nature of the risk, but it is elevated, nonetheless. Despite the importance of applying vendor driver updates as quickly as possible, especially those that are patching a security vulnerability, policies and procedures in enterprise organisations can be less than robust. The manual nature of the driver update process is one of the reasons, and there can often be a disconnect between product owners and security teams who request updates and production/operations teams who are responsible for actioning them. Automation is the solution. In this blog, we’ll explore the options for automating vendor driver updates, including the benefits, risks, flaws, and challenges.

Catch-Up Summer Reading: Application Management, Endpoint Migration, EUC, and More

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:30:34 +0100

Are you ready for a break from the summer’s water activities, food indulgences, or airport waiting lounges? We’ve got just the thing – a catch-up blog covering the hottest topics of the year so far in application management, endpoint migration, EUC, and more.

Case Study: Intune Application Migration in a Large Financial Services Company

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:42:18 +0100

Introduction

This case study demonstrates how to successfully and cost-effectively migrate from SCCM to Intune. The company that is the subject of this case study is a large financial services company. The move from SCCM to Intune was a pivotal component of its strategy to migrate users from physical devices to the Microsoft virtual desktop solution, Windows 365.

Case Study: Automated Application Management Accelerates Cloud Desktop Migration By 12 Months

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 16:26:58 +0100

Introduction

Project dependencies are a significant challenge when working to achieve both corporate and technology objectives. This challenge of project dependencies was faced by our client, a large regional bank in the US. Its primary objectives, including reducing operating costs, were being held back because of the time-consuming and resource-intensive technical realities of the initiative, especially in relation to application management. Automation was the solution.

How Will the Battle of the VDI Super Giant Vendors Play Out in 2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:03:00 +0100

VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) has become one of the most fiercely competitive areas of technology. This is being driven by enterprises across all industries looking to reduce capital expenditure costs and IT infrastructure complexity while at the same time enhancing flexibility and organisational agility.

End-User Computing Trends for 2025

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:38:35 +0100

End-user computing (EUC) is one of the most exciting areas of technology to be involved in. It impacts almost every worker in every organisation, many of the world’s biggest technology companies are key players, and innovations are around every corner.

The Challenges and Benefits of the Fully Optimised Approach to Enterprise Desktop Transformation

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 09:20:30 +0100

Desktop transformation is high on the agenda of many organisations for a variety of reasons including cybersecurity, optimising DEX (digital employee experience), and improving productivity. Ultimately desktop transformation is about ensuring your organisation is not only competitive today but remains competitive in the future. This is the third blog in our series on optimising how you achieve desktop transformation success in enterprise organisations:

Enterprise Desktop Transformation – the Fully Optimised Approach

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 06:00:42 +0100

How do you implement an effective end-to-end desktop transformation strategy that achieves all your technical and business objectives? That is the subject of this blog series as we explore the challenges, strategies, and best practices in enterprise desktop transformation.

This is the second blog in the series where we are going to explore a fully optimised approach to enterprise desktop transformation.

A Desktop Transformation Storm in a Teacup? Or a Perfect Storm?

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:15:41 +0100

Desktop transformation projects are becoming increasingly critical to the success of wider digital transformation strategies. Desktop transformation is also essential for continued DEX optimisation and ensuring employees at all levels of the business have the devices, applications, and levels of performance they need.

See You at AppManagEvent in the Netherlands in October!

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:48:19 +0100

AppManagEvent is taking place on 11 October and Access IT Automation will be there. AppManagEvent is one of the only industry events in Europe where the primary focus is on application management, making it one of the most important events on the application management calendar.

The Benefits of Unlimited Application Packaging and Management

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:20:53 +0100

There are lots of different ways to bundle and charge for software applications, products, and platforms. At Access IT Automation, we are in the business of simplifying and speeding up complex, time-consuming, and mundane processes. This is what our products do, but why stop there? We also make working with us and using our products as straightforward and friction-free as possible through our unlimited model.

Access IT Automation Becomes a Leading Sponsor of the EUC Forum

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:42:10 +0100

Access IT Automation has become a Platinum Sponsor of the EUC Forum, the leading community for End User Computing in the UK. The EUC Forum brings together professionals from across the EUC space to discuss issues, explore new technologies, and build closer relationships. The EUC Forum hosts several events throughout the year across the UK, from formal meetings to more informal meet-up events. The free-to-attend events are vendor-agnostic and feature presentations from industry leaders as well as networking opportunities. The EUC Forum is also an advocate for EUC technologies and innovations, with over 2,000 members, a growing online audience, and well-attended in-person events.

Proud to Be Part of the EUC Ecosystem

The Cost of Upgrading Hardware Vs Moving to the Cloud

Fri, 03 May 2024 11:50:37 +0100

Decisions on whether to upgrade hardware or move to the cloud are accelerated by various considerations. You might need to make a decision to facilitate your organisation’s digital transformation strategy or for another strategic reason. There might also be technical issues that are forcing your hand, from reliability and performance issues to growing compatibility challenges.

Are We Witnessing the Rise of the Planet of the EUC Giants?

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:55:17 +0100

In the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes, primates benefitted from the actions of humans. Those actions had unintended consequences that saw primates rise in prominence and humans dwindle to a haggard and struggling few. Is that what we are seeing now in the world of end user computing (EUC)? Are the actions of historically major players in the EUC space creating a situation where the planet is taken over by the EUC giants?

LOB, COTS, and MOTS Application Packages – What the Heck’s the Difference?

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 09:12:07 +0100

An application is an application, right, and an application package is an application package. Not exactly, as your organisation probably has LOB apps, COTS apps, and MOTS apps. This means you will also have LOB app packages, COTS app packages, and MOTS app packages. Packaging engineers know the differences, but it is also important for technology staff and others to know their LOBs from their COTS from their MOTS.

Access IT Automation’s Partnership With TLUX

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:16:30 +0100

Establishing strong partnerships with companies who have a similar vision to ours is a core priority for us at Access IT Automation. That is why we are delighted to announce a partnership with TLUX.

Access IT Automation Announces Partnership with Liquit

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:40:25 +0100

Enhancing the user experience and driving IT efficiency and cost savings is what we are about at Access IT Automation, so we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Liquit. Liquit, which was acquired by US based Recast Software, offers an application management platform that gives technology staff greater control while improving the experience of users.

New Partnership Announcement – Liquidware FlexApp is Now Integrated with Access Capture

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 17:33:32 +0100

There is a revolution happening in the corporate IT environment that is changing the way users interact with their devices and applications. The days of a box under a desk connected to a server are all but gone, with new, innovative, and productivity-enhancing approaches to digital workspace management now becoming the norm. At the forefront of this revolution is Liquidware and its FlexApp platform. Today, we are delighted to announce that Liquidware FlexApp is now integrated with Access Capture.

The Next Step in Your Windows 11 Migration? Getting Out of the Ground

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:38:52 +0100

Planning and implementing a Windows 11 migration project is a big undertaking, with the level of complexity increasing the more users, endpoints, and applications that exist in your IT estate. Even being clear on the next steps can be complex – both what those steps are and how you should approach them.

2024 Enterprise Technology and IT Modernisation Trends

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:30:13 +0100

2024 Enterprise Technology and IT Modernisation Trends

Technology never stands still, but the pace of change is accelerating, presenting both risks and opportunities to enterprises and other organisations with large IT infrastructures. We are also seeing technology trends and their impact increasingly moving beyond traditional IT and into the fields of ethics and societal responsibility.

The Secret Sauce to DEX Optimisation and Continuous Improvement

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 09:35:45 +0100

With trends like remote working and digital transformation, our workplaces are becoming increasingly digital. This digitalisation of work is putting DEX (digital employee experience) high on the priority list for organisations to consider, not least because DEX helps attract, retain, and engage the best talent. Good DEX also improves productivity and can facilitate innovation, collaboration, and creativity.

Testing Applications with No Shortcuts? Yes, This Can Be Automated Too

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:41:40 +0100

The application estate is one of the most diverse entities that exist in corporations and large organisations. You will have everything from the world’s most commonly used software programmes to niche applications to apps that have been developed specifically for your organisation. You will also have applications that don’t have shortcuts.

Windows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop: Which DaaS Option Should You Choose?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 14:56:37 +0100

Windows 365 Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) are both popular and increasingly deployed cloud-based solutions. Both are Microsoft products, leading to many similarities but also significant differences.

So, which option should you choose – Windows 365 or AVD?

Using Access Capture for App Discovery and UAT Processes in ServiceNow

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:42:43 +0100

Investing time and money into a platform like ServiceNow is a considerable commitment for any organisation. To get the most out of your investment and achieve the best possible outcomes, your team must use the ServiceNow platform for as many tasks, processes, and workflows as possible. What happens if ServiceNow doesn’t have the native functionality that you need?

ServiceNow and Access Capture Integration – Automating Application Requests

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:31:51 +0100

ServiceNow is an essential tool in many organisations for the management and optimisation of IT services. The platform facilitates incident management, change requests, asset management, ordering, technical support, and much more. While it is a powerful tool, integrations with third-party solution providers are essential to fill automation gaps in your processes. The solution for application packaging and testing is Access Capture’s integration with ServiceNow.

Summer Holidays, Large Technology Projects, and Ancient Greek Philosophy

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:51:17 +0100

You’re on your summer holidays, so it’s as good a time as ever to talk about ancient Greek philosophy and large technology projects.

What has ancient Greek philosophy got to do with your summer holiday or the large technology projects that are ongoing (or not) while you are away? Here’s the TL:DR summary – there’s a lot we can learn from some of the best ancient Greek philosophers about how we should operate today, including getting large technology projects to successful completion.

4 Examples of Why Measuring App Performance on VDI Matters

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:39:55 +0100

While VDI can bring substantial IT and business benefits, it is also becoming more complex. Whether implementing the initial deployment, making a significant change, or managing the day-to-day, it is important to be proactive. This includes measuring app performance on VDI.

Windows 11 Planning Guide – Are You Ready?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:49:51 +0100

Many businesses are now at an inflection point when it comes to Windows, Microsoft’s widely used operating system. Microsoft’s product lifecycle policy means only the latest versions of Windows 10 are still supported, and even those versions are coming to their end-of-support deadlines. There are also functionality and business considerations that are bringing Windows 11 migration projects into sharper focus.

SCCM to Intune Migration – Why It’s Important to Normalise Your Operational Controls

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:22:58 +0100

If you currently use SCCM (System Centre Configuration Manager), you will be familiar with the decision of if and when you should migrate to Intune. In this blog, we are going to make the case for migrating to Intune now.

4 Ways to Boost Digital Employee Experience (DEX) in Your Organisation

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 10:49:56 +0100

If there is one thing the technology industry likes it is buzzwords. Hey, we’re guilty of it ourselves as you’ll not get too far in a conversation with an Access IT Automation employee before EUC is brought up (EUC is end-user computing). One of the buzzwords of the moment in the industry is DEX – digital employee experience.

Integrating ChatGPT to Enhance User Experience

Wed, 10 May 2023 09:23:51 +0100

Full disclosure – this is yet another blog about ChatGPT. There has been a lot written about and talked about this ground-breaking technology, much of it agonising over whether the good elements outweigh the bad.

Automating and Semi-Automating Tasks with a Centralised Technology Portal

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:12:08 +0100

When you hear the word portal in connection with technology, the perception that comes to mind is often a repository of information, i.e., a place people can go to read the latest updates or download a document. That functionality alone delivers substantial business benefits, but it only scratches the surface of what modern technology portals can do. It is the automation and semi-automation capabilities that deliver the biggest returns on investment.

Why Has App-V’s End of Life Been Extended to 2026 and What Should You Do to Prepare?

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 10:35:37 +0100

App-V has been the app packaging format of choice for many IT professionals for many years. It has also been in the twilight stages of its lifecycle for many years and originally had an end-of-life date set for earlier this year, 10 January 2023. That was extended by Microsoft, so you can still use the App-V format for the time being.

Shakespeare, Failed New Year’s Resolutions, and Getting Technology Projects Back on Track

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 12:33:57 +0100

The end of February / beginning of March is a time when the meteorological winter ends, and spring begins. For most of us, it is also a time when our New Year’s Resolutions are firmly on the rubbish heap, with the hope and energy of a new-year-new-you now a distant memory.

Access Symphony – 6 Key Metrics We Monitor for User TX Score

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 12:15:08 +0100

Access Symphony offers the IT function in your business, as well as users, a range of tools and features. One of them is performance monitoring. The aim of performance monitoring is to improve the user experience by maximising user TX scores. The user TX score is a benchmark to determine the optimisation level of each user in your organisation.

7 Reasons Why It’s Important to Collect Hardware and Application Performance Data

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 13:57:38 +0100

Hardware and application monitoring is one thing – collecting, processing, analysing, and using hardware and application performance data is on a whole other level.

Understanding The Performance Conundrum in VDI Migration Projects

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 15:32:22 +0100

Performance issues are among the main challenges that occur during VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) migration projects. The challenge arises when users experience a drop in performance with their new virtual desktop compared to the performance they had when using a desktop PC.

3-Step strategy to Win a World Cup or deliver VDI Migration Success

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:53:32 +0100

A bit of context first for readers who are not from football (aka soccer) loving countries – the subject of winning a World Cup is one of perpetual pain and anguish for the long-suffering English fan. What does that have to do with VDI migrations in large enterprises? The steps required to set your football team up for World Cup success have parallels with successfully delivering a VDI migration project.

Cloud PC or AVD? Managed or Unmanaged? These Are the Questions

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:35:52 +0100

The debate about whether to migrate to a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) took on a new dimension when Microsoft introduced Windows 365 Cloud PC. What is the difference between Windows 365 Cloud PC and the traditional VDI offering from Microsoft, AVD – Azure Virtual Desktop (previously known as Windows Virtual Desktop)?

Enterprise IT in 2023 – Trends, Challenges, and Building on Success

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 12:37:28 +0100

As we move into a new year, we asked members of the Access IT Automation senior leadership team for their reflections on 2022 and where they see the IT automation industry going in 2023. Here are their thoughts on the current trends in enterprise IT, the challenges that exist, and how we can build on success.

Dos and Don’ts When Planning a VDI Migration

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:03:07 +0100

What are the best practices you should follow when planning a VDI migration? How can you avoid the pitfalls before you begin, during the implementation, and post-migration? The following dos and don’ts of a VDI migration project will help.

Do Properly Plan the Project

Planning is essential in all VDI migration projects. This is true in organisations of any size, but it is even more important when there are thousands, or tens of thousands, of users potentially involved. You need to plan everything from the technical resources that will be required to your application strategy to how you will provide end-user support.

8 Reasons to Move 20% of Your Users to DaaS

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:05:09 +0100

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is an IT strategy where your desktop infrastructure is virtualised and delivered via a third-party provider. It is an alternative to the traditional IT management strategy where servers, desktops, and storage are all on-premises.

Moving your users to DaaS can deliver a range of benefits. What about starting with 20 percent of your users? Why is this an effective DaaS migration approach?

Here are eight reasons for moving 20 percent of your users to DaaS.

Reason 1

Reduces and Simplifies IT Management and Infrastructure Costs

Managing on-premises IT infrastructure is costly and resource-intensive. Moving to DaaS significantly reduces the amount of IT equipment and infrastructure that you need on-site, reducing capital expenditure.

Your DaaS provider will also take over a lot of the IT management tasks that are currently looked after by your in-house team. This also reduces costs while simplifying IT management.

Reason 2

Reduces Pressures on IT Staff

If DaaS reduces costs, simplifies IT management, and delivers other benefits, why are we only focusing on 20 percent of users? Why not all users or a higher percentage?

The figure of 20 percent is a guide. The concept behind it is to focus only on those users in your organisation that have the lowest app and performance needs. These users will be the easiest to migrate, reducing the pressures and workload of your IT staff and support teams during the DaaS project.

In fact, using tools like Access Capture, you will be able to automate large parts of the migration process, as you will only be focusing on apps and users that are easier to migrate.

Reason 3

Optimises DaaS Migration Processes and Workflows

The initial batch of users that you migrate to DaaS will also provide a foundation for adding more in the future. This includes giving you an opportunity to streamline the process before you start migrating a larger and/or more difficult batch of users, as well as ensuring your app delivery strategy is aligned with your DaaS goals.

In other words, you can use the experience of migrating easier users to make sure you are ready for a more widescale DaaS deployment.

Reason 4

Facilitates Secure Remote Working

On-premises IT infrastructure makes it more difficult for your teams to work remotely. DaaS, on the other hand, makes anywhere, anytime working seamless. So long as your users have an internet connection and a device, they will be able to access their work desktop and everything they need to remain productive, including apps and data. This could be in the office, on-site with a customer on the other side of the world, at home, or anywhere else.

Reason 5

Simplifies IT Infrastructure Management and Enhances Flexibility

We’ve already touched on the point that DaaS simplifies IT management. One of the ways it does this is that DaaS also simplifies your IT infrastructure. Rather than having different equipment from different vendors at varying stages of maturity, you will have a single service level agreement with a DaaS provider.

This simplified IT infrastructure also enhances flexibility, as you can scale as you need to by simply updating the service you have with your DaaS provider. This is much simpler than, for example, facilitating the addition of users by adding new hardware to increase VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) capacity.

Reason 6

Frees Up IT Resources

There are two main areas to highlight with this point:

• As already mentioned, by focusing first on the easiest 20 percent of users, your IT team won’t be stretched to capacity with the DaaS migration project. Instead, they will have the time they need to focus on other tasks, including planning for additional DaaS migration phases.

• Over the longer term, simplified IT infrastructure and management processes will also free up your IT team, as they won’t need to focus on day-to-day management tasks such as updating Windows. Your DaaS provider will look after those jobs while your IT team gets on with tasks that are more value-adding to the business.

Reason 7

Improves Data Management and Storage

With a traditional IT infrastructure where there are physical desktops on-prem, data management and storage can be a headache. For example, users might save important files locally on their desktop rather than on the network, making it difficult to retrieve the data in the future. It’s also much harder to secure and back up data when it is being stored in multiple locations.

Switching to DaaS eliminates these headaches for the 20 percent of users that you migrate. For those users, all the data they create, update, and use will be stored in one location – a location that is easier to secure.

Reason 8

Improves Backup and Disaster Recovery Processes

Following on from the point above, backup and disaster recovery processes are more streamlined with a DaaS strategy. Backups will be stored offsite, while users can continue to log into their desktops on any device, even in disaster situations.

Starting the Process

You may have looked at DaaS in the past and can see the benefits. The challenge is to complete a DaaS migration project smoothly and with as little impact on business operations as possible. Starting with the easiest 20 percent of users is the answer.

There will be minimal friction or challenges with those 20 percent of users, and you can use the experience to inform future decisions and planning.

In other words, starting with a small group of the easiest users means you can launch a DaaS migration project almost immediately, putting your organisation on a path to lower-cost IT that is easier to manage.

User-To-Device Affinity Explained

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 09:29:58 +0100

For an organization to understand and properly apply user-to-device affinity — since this affinity is crucial to many aspects of the company, from budgets to IT planning — it is imperative to know who the owner of a machine is. However, ownership is defined differently by every organization, and multiple factors come into play, such as the quantity and quality of data gathered.

Finally, An Employee-Facing Modern Workplace Experience Portal That Brings It All Together

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 15:12:53 +0100

Employee portals are nothing new. They have been around for the past two decades, but they are always somewhat cobbled-together, custom-coded mammoths that take months to develop and are incredibly rigid. Most of the time, they still don’t include the level of technical detail and self-service capacities required by today’s Modern Workplace employees who are looking to manage their devices and applications much more independently.

10 Modern App Management Terms You Need To Know

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 14:25:07 +0100

When it comes to modern app management, a lot has changed in the last few years with the release of Windows 10 and the proliferation of cloud services. With the rapid pace of updates from Microsoft, app testing and deployment has never been more important to keep an enterprise running smoothly. Without keeping your apps up to date, you risk running an insecure IT environment, leaving the door wide open to cyber attacks. On the flip side, if you rush updates to mitigate security issues, you risk having line of business apps suddenly stop working properly, causing major delays and inefficiencies in your organization.

Upgrading to Windows 11 and Its Impact on Application Testing

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 17:49:07 +0100

Remember that time Microsoft told us Windows 10 was going to be the last Windows ever? It was a claim that was more than a bit over-hyped, but the reality today is that you probably have thousands of machines in your organization running a version of Windows 10 that isn’t going to be supported in a few years’ time. That puts upgrading to Windows 11 very much in the frame.

Better Connected – Access IT Automation Launches Technical Partnership with ReadyWorks

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Access IT Automation has partnered with industry leader ReadyWorks to automatically reduce IT cost and risks associated with Windows servicing.

Access IT Automation, an industry leader in automated application packaging and testing, endpoint management, and IT visualization is thrilled to announce its latest technological partnership with, ReadyWorks, a digital platform conductor (DPC) that leverages AI and intelligent automation to reduce the risk and cost of IT infrastructure transformation.

Get To Know … Craig Franklin | Sr. Vice President

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:46:48 +0100

In our latest series, we will be meeting some of the influential figures that contribute to Access IT Automation’s growth and development and find out what the company, industry, and IT automation means to them. #WeEnableModernDesktop.

With 35 years of experience providing technology consulting, systems integration and advisory services to large and medium-sized enterprises, Craig Franklin, Access IT Automation’s (AITA) SVP of Business Development for the USA has been helping our clients respond to the challenges of a changing business environment, harnessing it for the benefit of their business and customers. Craig has a focus on individual client needs as well as partnerships.

What You Should Know About Windows 11 & Microsoft 365 App Compatibility

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:48:07 +0100

Application compatibility has always been a huge obstacle when it comes to larger IT Transformation projects, such as an enterprise desktop migration. However, if you go by Microsoft’s communication, application compatibility is a core tenet of Windows 10 and the software giant is continuing to invest in it. In fact, in a recent article, Microsoft claimed that it is simply a perceived problem as their App Assure team has tested hundreds of thousands of applications and 99.6% are compatible.

The Great Resignation: What You Need To Know & How To Minimize Its Impact

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

I heard about “The Great Resignation”, a term coined by Anthony Klotz, a business professor at Texas A&M University, only a few weeks ago. Here in the United Kingdom, we also have other issues we have to deal with right now, like the fallout of Brexit, the lorry driver visa debacle, and now the resulting fuel shortage. So I wasn’t paying close attention to the US job market. At first, I couldn’t make sense of the two happening simultaneously. But the more I read about it, the more I worry about how enterprises and large organizations will manage their IT in the coming two to three years.

COVID, BREXIT, And IR35 Create UK’s IT Skill Shortage Superstorm

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:28:08 +0100

According to a recent McKinsey study, 94% of the UK workforce lack the skills that will be required in 2030: “Without concerted action by employers, two-thirds of the UK workforce could lack basic digital skills by 2030, while more than 10 million people could be under-skilled in leadership, communication, and decision-making,” the report said.

5 Secrets To Pulling Off A 95,000 Seat Migration Modern Desktop / Office 365 Project Successfully

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In my 30+ years of experience in technology, I have migrated Windows 95 to XP, Windows NT to Windows 7, and now Windows 7 to Windows 10. And they all had one thing in common: I had to come in and rescue the migration projects many times because, initially, in peoples’ heads — even if they are technologists — OS migrations are simply thought of as clicking “Next” a few times.

Case Study: Global Investment Bank Adopts Modern Desktop & Office 365

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In one of the largest IT Transformation projects ever awarded to a single vendor, Accessplc, the IT consulting and IT talent recruitment sister company of Access IT Automation, enabled a large Swiss investment bank and financial institution to drive Digital Transformation by adopting Modern Desktop, Office 365, and Microsoft Cloud services.

How A Great Employee Technology Experience Can Help You Hire & Retain Top IT Talent

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100

For years, enterprises have struggled to hire and retain outstanding talent. According to the Wall Street Journal, there were 918,000 open IT jobs to fill in the last three months in the United States. In the United Kingdom, things are just as dire and are expected to increase in intensity as the new UK’s IR35 legislation takes effect. This is expected to result in a furious scramble to scoop up the best IT talent before any competitors can sign them up.

5 IT Management Budget Tips You Probably Don’t Want To Hear

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Most enterprise IT teams are currently breathing a sigh of relief as budget rounds are completed or at least about to be. According to a Spiceworks survey, on average, 44% of enterprises (5000+ seats) say they will increase their IT budgets while 47% remain the same as last year. The better-than-last-year outlook on budgets is primarily due to an increased priority on IT projects (62%), the need to upgrade outdated infrastructure (57%), and increased security concerns (47%).

State of the Union: Microsoft’s Windows 10 Upgrade Strategy

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Since Windows 10 was released with much fanfare as the ‘last Windows’, Microsoft has made many changes to its servicing model, terminology, and support schedule — causing much confusion among its customers, IT admins, and C-level executives.

One could say that change is a constant with Windows-as-a-Service, and not only with its much smaller, continuous updates. In just over 4 years and 7 feature update releases, Microsoft has repeatedly changed the naming conventions for updates as well as how long they will be in service for, and has extended the EOL dates and support windows — which, initially, they said they wouldn’t do.

How To Get Your Business Units On Board With IT Automation

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0100

The possibilities of automation are endless — and that scares many employees. And while enterprises today need to have a short- and long-term plan in place to retrain and reassign their resources whose jobs are now done through automation, IT Automation is aiming to make IT processes faster, more efficient, and ultimately more agile to provide the organizations with higher productivity, healthier and more stable IT environments, and faster turnaround times.

Access IT Automation and Microsoft Partner To Drive Early MSIX Adoption

Fri, 24 May 2019 08:28:08 +0100

Over the past couple of months, we have been talking a lot about how mature MSIX really is and laid out an enterprise roadmap to a smooth MSIX adoption over the next three years. And with good reason! We are thrilled to announce that we have just formally partnered with Microsoft to help drive early adoption for MSIX, Microsoft’s new application packaging format.

5 Reasons Why Service Integrators Should Embrace IT Automation, Rather Than Fear It

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

A few years ago before Access IT Automation was founded, I had a very insightful conversation with a Head of Client Services of one of the big service integrators in my role as the CEO of Access, our IT Managed Service Provider.

IT Executives: 5 Ways To Boost Your IT Team’s Productivity Today

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Productivity is often overlooked as a metric when measuring the performance of your IT team. While it may not be as measurable as other key performance indicators (KPIs), the productivity of your IT team is a significant factor in your bottom line.

IT Automation Business Case Template

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 08:28:11 +0100

4 Steps To Creating A Waterproof IT Automation Business Case (incl. PPT Template)

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Everyone knows IT automation provides lots of perks for IT as well as the entire business. But when hard pressed for tangible benefits and real numbers — or writing a business case — most of us would be caught off guard. It doesn’t come naturally to most IT professionals.

Culture: The Single Biggest Roadblock on Your Way to Digital Transformation

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Last week, we talked about how the role of the CIO is changing in pursuit of Digital Transformation and with it the key performance indicators to measure their effectiveness and contributions to the company’s bottom line. But this tectonic shift isn’t happening in a vacuum — it requires an organizational change, or culture shift, to be successful.

CIOs Must Follow A New Set Of Rules To Achieve Digital Transformation

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100

As more organizations look to their CIO to lead the company’s Digital Transformation efforts, the traditional role continues to evolve to fill this growing responsibility.

To get a clearer picture of what this shift will look like, Gartner recently surveyed over 3,160 CIOs from 98 countries representing approximately $13 trillion in revenue/public sector budgets and $277 billion in IT spending.

4 Things You Should Know Before Investing Your Leftover IT Budget

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 08:28:08 +0100

Things are finally looking up on the IT budget horizon. According to the 2019 State of IT by Spiceworks, 56% of enterprises are planning to increase their IT budget in 2019 while 43% of organizations anticipate no change in their IT team’s monetary plan! The majority of enterprises increased their IT dollars to invest in technology that counters ever-growing security concerns (about time!), to increase priority on their IT projects (Windows 7 losing support soon), and to upgrade outdated IT infrastructure.

5 IT Budget Trends & Stats Every IT Manager Must Know

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Whether you are gathering trends and statistics for a presentation or business case to convince your executive management, board of directors, or other key stakeholders to increase your IT budget, up your internal IT staff numbers, or invest in emerging technologies to power your Digital Transformation, pulling together reliable data to back up your arguments can be a pain in the neck.

Access Capture 2020 Roadmap (Part 2: Azure Cloud Hosting & Multi-Tenant Coming In H2)

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0100

Editing capabilities of those output formats of MSI, App-V, and MSIX.

Currently we just add in the products, package the apps, clean them up a bit, and we can provide a console then that people can do their own cleaning up in the advanced console that we’ve got to edit the MSI. We can’t necessarily edit the App-V or the MSIX yet. We have got some editing capability of MSI already, but we want to be able to prove in Q3 absolute editing capabilities.

Automation Is Now The Cornerstone Of IT Transformation

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0100

IT organizations have transformed significantly over the past 20 years. To stay relevant, enterprises have found themselves needing to make investments in an online presence, offshore resourcing, smart mobile devices, SAS models, and cloud infrastructure, just to name a few.