Q&A
Q&A: Going Beyond the Basics with Windows Autopilot
Veteran deployment expert Michael Niehaus explains how IT pros can push Windows Autopilot beyond default provisioning to support deeper customization, automation and modern endpoint strategies.
When it comes to modern endpoint provisioning, Windows Autopilot has become a go-to tool for streamlining new device rollouts. But for organizations aiming to go beyond out-of-the-box setups, Autopilot's real value lies in its flexibility -- and the creativity IT pros bring to customizing it.
Michael Niehaus, a longtime Windows deployment expert and TechMentor veteran, has been at the forefront of these conversations for years. This August, Niehaus returns to TechMentor in Redmond to lead the session, "Hacking Windows Autopilot," where he'll share practical insights into scripting, automation and advanced configuration techniques that can help IT admins transform Autopilot into a powerful engine for modern device management.
In this Q&A, Niehaus outlines some of the common challenges IT teams face with Autopilot workflows, explores ways to improve user experience through policy and scripting and discusses where Microsoft might take the platform next. His comments also follow a growing trend, as Microsoft steadily expands IT's control over Windows 11 setup, especially through tools like Intune and Entra ID.
Niehaus's session is part of the TechMentor conference, taking place August 11–15 at Microsoft's Redmond campus. Register by July 18 to save $300!
Redmondmag: Windows Autopilot is primarily designed for provisioning. What are some of the most impactful ways IT pros can extend its functionality beyond the basics?
Niehaus: Windows Autopilot itself focuses on simplifying the out-of-box experience to get the device joined to Entra ID or Active Directory; everything else beyond that is on you. Apps are generally easy; everything else requires additional work. While Intune or other MDM services can configure policies that lock down certain settings, there are plenty of other things that you might want to tweak to improve the user experience. You may need to run an assortment of scripts to tweak the Windows defaults to your organization's likings: background images, task bar layouts, cleanup of Windows in-box apps, etc.
What challenges do IT teams commonly face when implementing custom Autopilot workflows, and how can they overcome them?
The biggest challenge: anything beyond simple app ordering (e.g. install "App 1" before installing "App 2") is complicated. More complex workflows (e.g. install this app, generate a certificate, apply a policy, run a script, install another app) require much more creativity. The next challenge then is typically troubleshooting -- figuring out what went wrong and taking steps to prevent that from happening in the future.
What scripting and automation techniques work best for customizing Autopilot deployments?
PowerShell scripting skills are essential, so every IT team should be proficient. This isn't your typical sort of scripting either, it's more focused on, "how do I configure Windows," combined with techniques such as embedding scripts into Intune Win32 "apps" so that they can be installed at the right time in the process (and even initiate reboots, if needed).
With the increasing adoption of cloud-based management, how does Autopilot fit into a broader modern endpoint management strategy?
Autopilot helps get the device to a state where it is "ready for productive use" in that cloud-based world. This modern endpoint management strategy also is very user-centric (e.g. for conditional access), so having the user complete the process themselves helps establish the relationship between the device and that user.
Given the pace of change in device management, how do you see Autopilot evolving in the next few years?
That remains to be seen. Microsoft has slowed the pace of changes to Autopilot with only one significant change, Autopilot device preparation (a.k.a. APv2), released in the past five years. (The focus has instead been on added-cost features like those in the Intune suite.). I would expect to see additional enhancements in the next year, filling in some of the gaps in that APv2 scenario. Beyond that, most of the enhancements are likely to be in the MDM service itself (Intune), both keeping up with enhancements to the Windows platform and addressing customer feedback.