Digital Shared Services will begin the process of upgrading all compatible workstations in the health system to Windows 11 in mid-May. This is being done as Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025.

Upgrading to Windows 11 will allow us to continue to provide critical security updates for our operating systems. While there will be noticeable visual changes to how systems operate in Windows 11, actual workflow for users will remain largely the same.

Improvements include enhanced security features, performance optimization, a modern user interface, improvements to accessibility features, built-in applications, and more.

User guides, videos, FAQs and other resources for users are available on our Windows 11 Upgrade webpage.

Digital Shared Services staff have performed extensive testing to ensure Windows 11 is compatible with our systems and software.

Deployment Schedule

As the deployment process takes 2-3 hours per workstation, deployment of Windows 11 is being rolled out in targeted phases in order to minimize disruptions. Windows 11 will be rolled out to users in the following order (note: in many cases, rollout will overlap between groups).

1. Clinical Appliances & Tap & Go Computers – Clinical Appliance and Tap and Go workstations will be targeted for upgrade during overnight hours (10 p.m. – 6 a.m.) through a randomization process to ensure multiple systems in a given area are not interrupted at the same time.
2. Logged Out General Purpose Workstations – Automatic deployments will begin in May 2025, and are expected to continue until the end of deployment in October. To minimize interruption, general purpose workstation upgrades will initially target workstations that are logged out and not in use.
3. End User Self-Service Upgrades – Beginning in June, staff will be encouraged through the communications campaign to begin to upgrade their own devices when it is convenient for them and to avoid interruption in later stages of the deployment.
4. Required Upgrades for General Purpose Workstations – Beginning in August, staff will begin to receive notifications for systems that have not been upgraded with actions required and applicable deadlines. These upgrades will be scheduled for overnight maintenance windows when possible. Where all previous approaches to managing interruption have been taken, the final deployment phases will require daytime interruptions.

Communication

Several communications methods have been developed to let users know about this upgrade. These include:

1. A Windows 11 upgrade webpage with reference guides and other assets
2. All-staff email notices at the start of the upgrade process and when self-service upgrades become available
3. Staff intranet news postings
4. Reminder messages in staff newsletters
5. A slide on the corporate screensaver
6. Targeted reminders from the project team

Staff communication will start the week of May 12, 2025.

Please share this message as appropriate.

Submitted by: Digital Shared Services