What is Windows Backup for Organizations?

Microsoft wants organizations to migrate to Windows 11 before October 2025. And to help things along, they have released a new backup tool, called Windows Backup for Organizations, that aims to smoothly migrate user settings for devices not connected to a corporate intranet.

What is Windows Backup for Organizations (WBfO)?

Microsoft announced this week that they’re launching the Windows Backup for Organizations tool in private preview. Windows Backup for Organizations is designed to do a specific job, i.e. backing up user settings on Windows 10 and migrating them to Windows 11. Both the source and target devices need to be Microsoft Entra joined.

There are lots of tools available for backing up and restoring user settings. Microsoft even has its own tool, the User State Migration Tool (USMT). But a lot of tools are designed for on-premises devices that are connected to Active Directory, or at least accessible directly. And since many of those backup tools were created, the world has moved to remote working or to hybrid work situations where the devices are not always connected directly to the corporate intranet.

Windows Backup for Organizations and Windows 10 end of life

Windows Backup for Organizations (WBfO) was created to help organizations migrate from Windows 10 to Windows 11. And to preferably make sure that happens before Windows 10 reaches end of life in October 2025.

WBfO moves user settings to the cloud and when the new device, or existing device is upgraded to Windows 11, is ready to use, users sign in with their Microsoft Entra ID account and their Windows settings are automatically applied back to the device.

Other tools, like User State Migration, require a lot of work to set up. But WBfO is more automated, providing smooth migration for user settings.

WBfO now in private preview

WBfO is now in private preview. There are some minimum requirements that organizations need to meet to be able to assess the tool.

• So you need to be running a supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11.
• Users need to be log in with a Microsoft Entra ID account.
• And you need to have a Microsoft Intune test tenant.

Microsoft isn’t saying whether an Intune tenant will be a requirement for the final product. But I think it’s safe to assume that could well be the case.

What if your organization isn’t ready to migrate to Windows 11?

If your organization isn’t ready to migrate to Windows 11 by October this year, there are some alternatives. Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows 10. They will cost US$61 per device for the first year, but the price will increase in year two.

Or you could move to Windows 365 and get ESUs included as part of your license. Microsoft is offering a time limited 20 percent discount on Windows 365.