- Microsoft has launched Windows Backup for Organisations, a new enterprise backup tool.
- The tool is designed to simplify device backup and restoration, especially during transitions to Windows 11.
- Currently available in limited public preview.
- Aims to reduce migration overhead, minimise user disruption, and enhance device resilience.
- Supports Microsoft Entra joined Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.
Can you ever have enough reliable tools to back up your business data?
In November 2024, Microsoft introduced Windows Backup for Organisations during the Ignite conference, a backup solution specifically made for enterprise environments.
The tool is designed to streamline the backup and restoration of Windows settings after device resets, and it is now available in limited public preview.
This new tool is particularly relevant as organisations around the world prepare for the widespread adoption of Windows 11.
The aim of this process is to reduce the administrative burden associated with large-scale upgrades, to minimise disruptions to users, and to improve device resilience against operational incidents.
Availability and Requirements
At the moment, the Windows Backup for Organisations only supports Microsoft Entra joined devices running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Companies that are interested in testing the tool during the public preview phase will need to sign up using a dedicated form and have an active Microsoft Intune test tenant alongside Microsoft Intune service administrator permissions to use the feature.
Microsoft is encouraging its customers to trial the backup tool during this limited preview, but has said that this is an ongoing development and further enhancements are in the works to ensure that organisations remain prepared for future challenges.
Extended Security Updates and Upgrade Considerations
With Windows 10’s end of service scheduled for 14 October 2025, Microsoft is putting pressure on companies unable to complete their upgrade to Windows 11 to enrol their Windows 10 endpoints in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme.
This programme will ensure that these companies will continue to receive security updates after the official end-of-life date.
A New Update Orchestration Platform
Along with the backup tool announcement, Microsoft has also introduced a new update orchestration platform built on the Windows Update stack.
This platform is going to be used to unify the updating process across all applications, drivers, and system components on Windows devices. The hope is to simplify maintenance and improve the overall update reliability.
Other Backup Options Available to UK Businesses
UK businesses have access to a range of backup solutions aside from Microsoft’s tools.
Third-party providers such as Veeam, Acronis, and Veritas can give you a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery service that you can customise according to your needs. These solutions often provide multi-cloud support, advanced encryption, and granular recovery options.
And Microsoft’s own Azure Backup service remains a popular choice, with its scalable cloud-based backup with integration into existing Microsoft ecosystems being rather reliable.
Businesses are always advised to evaluate their backup tools based on factors such as compliance requirements, data sovereignty, and integration capabilities to ensure that they have reliable data protection strategies in place.
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You can never be too careful with your data backups, and having more than one in use is always the best way to play it safe. At 24/7 IT Services, we can assist you with services like Cloud Computing, Business Continuity and IT Security. Contact us today for more information.
