Bridging the Windows 10 to 11 gap: cloud-first strategies with AppsAnywhere

If, like many IT professionals, you’ve planned to tackle your institution’s Windows 11 migration this summer, this article is for you.

The transition to Windows 11 presents significant challenges for higher education institutions like yours, due to hardware limitations, application compatibility issues, and new security and licensing requirements. We hear these concerns from many universities looking to adopt AppsAnywhere, and especially around the impact this has on budgets, staff workloads and the potential implications for disruptions for students and staff.

AppsAnywhere provides a flexible, cost-effective solution that directly addresses each of these concerns. It also presents an exciting opportunity to use this opportunity to further modernize the existing software delivery infrastructure, adopt a cloud-first strategy and improve the student experience by further leveraging BYOD.

Here are some ways AppsAnywhere can help bridge the gap to Windows 11 for your institution:

Mitigating hardware compatibility and performance issues

• Support for older devices: Many university-owned PCs don’t meet Windows 11's hardware requirements (e.g., lack TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot). AppsAnywhere enables application delivery to these machines without needing full OS upgrades.
• Remote delivery advantage: With AppsAnywhere, applications are streamed directly from the cloud, reducing device workload. This means even low-spec or student-owned devices can run high-demand software without local installation.
• Avoid costly VDI upgrades: Instead of upgrading VDI infrastructure to meet Windows 11's increased resource requirements, AppsAnywhere allows for on-demand, scalable application access without the heavy back-end investment.

Solving application compatibility concerns

• Run legacy applications: Many academic applications are not yet optimized for Windows 11. AppsAnywhere virtualizes or streams these applications, allowing them to run smoothly in a controlled environment. You can run multiple versions of the same applications, to satisfy different teaching needs.
• Cross-platform access: With AppsAnywhere, students and staff can access Windows apps from macOS, Linux, or Chromebooks, ensuring no user is left out during the transition.
• Reduce SCCM/Intune complexity: Traditional deployment tools can be time-consuming and rigid. AppsAnywhere simplifies this by centralizing app management and delivering them dynamically.

Streamlining imaging and software deployment

• Eliminate heavy imaging processes: With on-demand application access through AppsAnywhere, there's less need to pre-load machines with software images.
• Centralized updates: IT can patch or upgrade applications centrally in the cloud, reducing workload and minimizing user disruption.
• Flexible access models: AppsAnywhere supports hybrid deployments – local, cloud, VDI – allowing institutions to adapt as their IT strategy evolves.

Simplifying licensing and compliance

• Flexible application licensing: AppsAnywhere supports BYOD environments, ensuring applications are only used by licensed users, helping institutions stay compliant.
• Avoid complex VDI licensing: Instead of navigating Microsoft’s complex VDI licensing rules under Windows 11, AppsAnywhere offers a lighter, more cost-effective alternative.
• Scalable access: Universities can scale up access without needing to overbuy licenses or hardware.

Enhancing Multifactor Authentication and Identity Management

• SSO & MFA Integration: AppsAnywhere integrates with identity providers (Azure AD, Okta, etc.) to support MFA and secure logins, helping institutions comply with Windows 11’s security model.
• Improved user experience: Students and faculty face fewer hurdles when accessing secure, cloud-delivered apps, resulting in fewer support requests and higher satisfaction.

Easing the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11

• Support mixed environments: AppsAnywhere allows institutions to run both Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines simultaneously while delivering consistent application access to both.
• Delay hardware refresh cycles: By streaming apps from the cloud, universities can keep using Windows 10 on unsupported devices while slowly rolling out Windows 11.
• Future-proof IT: Moving toward a cloud-first app delivery model sets institutions up to handle future Windows versions and other tech shifts more easily.

If Windows 11 and hardware estate upgrades are on your “to do” list for this summer, why not give AppsAnywhere a go? You could be up and running within weeks (depending on your setup), save a lot of hassle and workload for your team, and you’ll be set for a better experience for you and your students in the new academic year.

But don’t just take our word for it: learn how Kingston University made their Windows 11 transition “literally an overnight experience” by watching this on-demand webinar.

So, whether you are mid-migration, in planning stages, or facing support deadlines for Windows 10, AppsAnywhere provides the agility and scalability to make the transition seamless.