Windows Autopilot

In the Ultra Transcenders books

MD-102

Each book explains Windows Autopilot in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.

Terms in this definition

• RAMP

  The approach used by the Cloud Adoption Framework's Manage methodology to structure cloud operations: teams, duties, processes and tools. It divides what the central platform handles from what each workload handles.

Related terms

• Autopilot deployment profile

  Controls how the out-of-box experience runs on Windows Autopilot devices: which deployment mode and join type to use, and whether every targeted device should be converted to Autopilot. Up to 350 of these Intune profiles can exist in a tenant.

• DFCI

  Gives Intune control over firmware (UEFI/BIOS) options, for instance switching off cameras or boot options, on supported Windows Autopilot hardware. Those settings remain even when Windows is reinstalled.

• Enrollment Status Page

  A progress screen in OOBE and Windows Autopilot that follows network profiles, certificates, policies and apps as they install, first for the device and then for the user. It can stop the person using the device until certain apps have finished.

• Hardware hash

  A value that uniquely identifies a Windows device's hardware. Uploading it to Windows Autopilot registers the device to the tenant.

• MDT

  Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a now-retired tool for deploying Windows on premises; it receives neither support nor updates. Microsoft's suggested replacements are Windows Autopilot, or OSD in Configuration Manager for organisations that keep on-premises infrastructure.

• OOBE

  The set of screens Windows shows when a device is first switched on and set up. Windows Autopilot deployment profiles tailor these screens, and the Enrollment Status Page appears while they run.

• Pre-provisioning

  Splits Windows Autopilot setup into two stages: first a technician pre-installs device apps and policies, then the user completes their own part later. Both hybrid and cloud-only Microsoft Entra join are supported.

• Self-deploying mode

  Joins a device to Microsoft Entra with no user input at all, relying on TPM attestation; this Windows Autopilot mode suits kiosks and shared devices.