Linux Migration
The right platform for the workload. We help organizations move selected users, workstations, servers or workloads to Linux where it makes sense, and we say plainly where Windows should stay.
- Service
- Linux Migration
- Covers
- Readiness assessment, pilot, migration, security and ongoing management
- Serves
- Onsite in New Mexico; remote engineering nationwide
Why organizations evaluate Linux
Common reasons: rising licensing costs, hardware that can’t run the next Windows version, a wish for more control over updates and data, or engineering tools that run best on Linux. Those are good reasons to look. They aren’t automatically reasons to switch.
Start with workloads, not ideology
We look at what each group of people actually does: the applications, file formats, devices and services they depend on. Each workload lands in one of six categories:
- Linux ready Runs natively on Linux today.
- Linux + web or SaaS Works in a browser or web application.
- Linux + compatibility layer Windows software that runs reliably through a compatibility layer.
- Linux + Windows VM A few Windows-only applications, kept in a virtual machine.
- Windows required Should stay on Windows, for now or for good.
- Needs assessment Not enough information yet; we test before deciding.
Each workload, not each company, gets a classification. Most organizations end up with a mix.
What we work through
Application compatibility
Native Linux versions, web and SaaS equivalents, compatibility layers, or a Windows virtual machine for the few applications that need one.
Documents and collaboration
File formats, templates and macros, Microsoft 365 in the browser, LibreOffice, and how documents move between Linux and Windows users.
Identity and authentication
The same company sign-in and multifactor authentication on Linux as on everything else.
Endpoint management
Central configuration, patching, inventory and remote support.
Hardware and peripherals
Printers, scanners, docking stations, specialized devices and GPUs, tested before rollout.
Security and encryption
Disk encryption, firewalls, hardened baselines and central logging.
Training and workflow
Short, role-specific training and a clear way to get help in the first weeks.
Pilot first, and plan for hybrid
A pilot uses a small group of willing users, a defined set of applications and a fixed period. It either proves the plan or shows what needs to change before anyone else moves.
Most organizations end up running Linux and Windows side by side, with shared identity, file access and management. That’s a sound design, not a failure.
When Windows should stay
Some applications and workflows belong on Windows: specialized engineering or accounting software without a Linux version, devices that ship only Windows drivers, or work where retraining would cost more than licensing saves. We identify them early and plan around them rather than forcing a move.
How a migration works
- Assess Inventory users, applications, devices and dependencies, and classify each workload.
- Pilot A small group, a fixed period, and clear criteria for success.
- Migrate Move groups in waves, with rollback plans and support on hand.
- Secure Hardened configurations, encryption, logging and patching.
- Manage Systems kept patched, consistent and supported.
A Linux readiness assessment covers user roles, endpoint counts, applications, browser and SaaS use, Microsoft 365 and identity dependencies, document formats, printing and scanning, VPN, peripherals, engineering and development tools, endpoint management, backup, security and training needs. It produces a recommendation for each workload, not a blanket answer.
Questions we hear
Will all our software run on Linux?
Probably not all of it, and that’s fine. Much of most organizations’ work is browser-based or has Linux versions; the rest can run in a Windows virtual machine or stay on Windows.
How long does a migration take?
A pilot usually runs a few weeks. The full timeline depends on the number of people and applications; moving in waves keeps the business running throughout.
Can we go back if it doesn’t work?
Yes. Pilots and waves are planned with rollback in mind, and the readiness assessment is designed to surface problems before anyone moves.
Related
Evaluate my environment
Tell us roughly how many people and devices you have and what they run. We’ll tell you whether a readiness assessment makes sense.