Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of Microsoft 365 security and compliance capabilities

Windows-as-a-Service (WaaS) is a new way to work with the Windows desktop. In the past, new features were released every few years, and required a significant effort to deploy. With Windows-as-a-Service, new features are released twice a year. By releasing new features in bite sized chunks, rather than major new versions, the work required by IT people is reduced.

The Windows-as-a-Service model is designed to make life simpler for both users and IT professionals. There are two types of updates: features and quality fixes.

Servicing channels are a method of controlling the frequency at which organizations deploy Windows 10 features. Servicing channels allow you to control how and when updates are applies. Windows-as-a-Service offers three servicing channels, each receiving feature updates at different frequencies:

• Insider preview. This channel receives Windows features before general release, often during development. This allows organizations to test and evaluate new features and provide feedback to Microsoft.
• Semi-annual channel. Feature updates are released to the semi-annual channel twice a year.
• Long-term servicing channel. Designed for specialist devices that do not run Office apps such as medical equipment or ATMs. These receive new features every two or three years.

Deployment rings are groups of devices that are used to pilot new features, before they are deployed to the rest of the organization.

In Configuration Manager, you can view the state of Windows-as-a-Service (WaaS) in your environment. You can create servicing plans to form deployment rings and ensure that Windows 10 systems are kept up to date when new builds are released. You can also view alerts when Windows 10 clients are near end of support for their Semi-Annual Channel build.

• Windows Autopilot. Customize the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to deploy apps and settings that are pre-configured for your organization. Include just the apps your users need. Autopilot is the easiest way to deploy a new PC running Windows 10. You can also use it with Configuration Manager to upgrade Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
• In-place upgrade. Upgrade a device’s operating system without reinstalling. You can migrate apps, user data, and settings from one version of Windows to another (like going from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10). You can also update from one release of Windows 10 to the next (like going from Windows 10, version 1803, to Windows 10, version 1809).
• Dynamic provisioning. Create a provisioning package to quickly configure one or more devices, even those without network connectivity. You create provisioning packages with the Windows Configuration Designer and can install them over a network, from removable media (like a USB drive), or in near field communication (NFC) tags or barcodes.
• Subscription activation. Use a subscription to switch from one edition of Windows 10 to another. For example, you can switch from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise. When a licensed user signs into a device (and they have credentials associated with a Windows 10 E3 or E5 license), the OS changes from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise, and all the appropriate Windows 10 Enterprise features are unlocked. If the subscription expires (or is transferred to another user), the device reverts seamlessly to Windows 10 Pro edition, after a grace period of up to 90 days.

Customize the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to deploy apps and settings that are pre-configured for your organization. Include just the apps your users need. Autopilot is the easiest way to deploy a new PC running Windows 10. You can also use it with Configuration Manager to upgrade Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

Upgrade a device’s operating system without reinstalling. You can migrate apps, user data, and settings from one version of Windows to another (like going from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10). You can also update from one release of Windows 10 to the next (like going from Windows 10, version 1803, to Windows 10, version 1809).

Create a provisioning package to quickly configure one or more devices, even those without network connectivity. You create provisioning packages with the Windows Configuration Designer and can install them over a network, from removable media (like a USB drive), or in near field communication (NFC) tags or barcodes.