Autopilot is often recommended as the standard approach for moving devices to Microsoft Entra ID.

For small environments, wipe-and-reload may work well.

But when organizations need to migrate hundreds or thousands of live user devices, the real challenges begin.

The Problem with Wipe-and-Reload

Traditional migration methods usually involve:

Wiping devices completely

Reimaging systems

Reinstalling applications

Rebuilding user profiles

Reconfiguring VPN, security tools, and access policies

While technically effective, this creates major operational issues in large-scale environments.

Why It Fails at Scale

For enterprise migrations, wipe-and-reimage often leads to:

User productivity loss

High helpdesk ticket volume

Application rework

Profile and personalization loss

Remote user disruption

Compliance and security gaps

Project delays and rollout risks

When managing 500, 2,000, or even 10,000+ devices, these problems multiply quickly.

A Better Migration Approach

Modern Entra ID migrations…