logo
Gaining Insights from Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Reports: Analyzing Application and Peripheral Readiness
June 28, 2025

Gaining Insights from Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Reports: Analyzing Application and Peripheral Readiness

Transitioning to ChromeOS can greatly enhance your organization’s agility, security, and cost-efficiency. But to ensure a smooth migration, it’s crucial to first understand your current IT environment. That’s where the ChromeOS Readiness Tool comes in offering detailed reports that provide clear insights into your organization's application and peripheral readiness, removing uncertainty from the transition process.

These reports equip IT teams with the data they need to make informed decisions and build a strategic roadmap for migration, identifying what’s ready for ChromeOS and what needs attention.

Understanding Application Readiness Statuses

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool analyzes your existing Windows applications and categorizes them into four key readiness levels:

  • Chrome Ready: Fully compatible applications that can run on ChromeOS without issues.

  • Possibly Ready: These may work on ChromeOS but could require additional configuration or adjustments.

  • Blockers: Applications with major compatibility issues that prevent functionality on ChromeOS. These may require alternatives or virtualization.

  • Unknown: Applications that are still being evaluated by the ChromeOS Readiness Tool team, with ongoing updates to expand compatibility data.

For ‘Possibly Ready’ and ‘Blocker’ applications, the tool may also provide virtualization recommendations, such as using Cameyo, to maintain access after migration.

Assessing Peripheral Readiness

In addition to software, the tool also offers insights into connected peripherals, evaluating their compatibility with ChromeOS.

The Peripheral Readiness Dashboard provides:

  • Overall peripheral readiness status (with percentage breakdowns)

  • Device distribution comparisons (core vs. peripheral devices)

  • Detailed views including device names, counts, categories, and models

  • Filtering options based on readiness status for deeper analysis

This helps ensure that essential hardware continues to function smoothly post-migration.

Accessing and Using the Reports

All findings are displayed in a user-friendly, web-based dashboard. This platform delivers:

  • A detailed readiness score

  • Breakdown of compatibility statuses

  • Device-level assessments

To protect data privacy, report access requires uploading the private key created during deployment, ensuring only authorized personnel can view the data.

By leveraging the in-depth application and peripheral insights provided by the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, your organization can proactively address compatibility gaps, reduce migration risks, and confidently move forward with a seamless transition to ChromeOS.

Blog Editors Team

ChromeOS Readiness Tool

Related Blogs

Submitting Feedback: How to Improve the ChromeOS Readiness Tool
June 29, 2025

Submitting feedback: How to improve the ChromeOS Readiness Too

In today’s fast-paced IT environment, a tool’s true value lies in its ability to evolve and meet the changing needs of users. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is built with this adaptability in mind, and its ongoing improvements are largely driven by user feedback. Your insights are not just appreciated, they play a vital role in refining the tool’s capabilities and shaping its future.

What Type of Feedback is Valuable?

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool team welcomes all forms of feedback, particularly in the following areas:

  • Issues Encountered: Reports on bugs, glitches, or unexpected behavior during tool usage help the team identify and resolve problems quickly, improving overall stability.

  • Suggestions for Improvement: Ideas for new features, design enhancements, or workflow optimizations guide development priorities based on real-world user needs.

  • User Experience Insights: Descriptions of how the tool is performing in your environment and how it could be improved offer valuable context for refining both functionality and user satisfaction.

How to Submit Feedback

Submitting feedback is easy and is integrated directly into the tool. Users can share their experiences and report issues either through the Report Generator application, the Pro dashboard, or, for partners, the Partner dashboard.

For more detailed input or to resolve complex queries, you can also reach out to the support team.

Reviewing Feedback and Status Updates

Feedback submission isn’t a one-way street. Once submitted, your feedback can be tracked and reviewed through the feedback status section available on the Partner Dashboard, Pro Dashboard, or Report Generator.

This feature allows you to:

  • See the status of your submitted feedback.

  • Track updates and progress based on submission dates.

  • View feedback provided by the customers. (Only applicable in the Partner Dashboard)

This transparent process fosters accountability and keeps you informed about how your input is being handled.

The Impact of Your Contributions

Every contribution you make plays a direct role in enhancing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool. Your input enables the development team to:

  • Improve Compatibility Accuracy Your feedback helps fine-tune compatibility checks, especially in resolving applications marked as "Unknown."

  • Enhance the User Experience Design suggestions and workflow feedback lead to more intuitive, efficient interfaces for all users.

  • Inspire New Features Many new capabilities stem directly from user-driven ideas and needs.

  • Increase System Reliability Bug reports and error insights ensure the tool continues to perform smoothly across diverse IT environments.

Stay Engaged and Up to Date

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is built as a dynamic, evolving platform. To get the most from it, we encourage you to enable notifications to receive updates on new features, expert guidance, and important announcements.

By contributing feedback, you’re not only improving your own migration journey, but you’re also helping the broader ecosystem adopt ChromeOS more confidently and effectively.

Your voice matters. Help shape the future of ChromeOS migration.

Your Digital Key: The Importance of Securely Storing Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Private Key
June 27, 2025

Your Digital Key: The Importance of Securely Storing Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Private Key

In the journey toward modernizing IT infrastructure and transitioning to cloud-based operating systems like ChromeOS, organizations rely on robust assessment tools to ensure a smooth and secure migration. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is a comprehensive solution designed for this purpose, meticulously analyzing application usage, device compatibility, and peripheral integration.

While the tool offers flexible deployment and intuitive dashboards, a critical element often overlooked is the secure management of your ChromeOS Readiness Tool private key. This digital key is not just a file, it is the linchpin of your data security and access to vital readiness insights.

What Is the Private Key and Why Is It Essential?

The private key, generated during the configuration process of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool in the admin machine, serves as a crucial component in the tool's robust security architecture. It is intrinsically linked to the encryption process that safeguards your organization’s sensitive assessment data. The private key is essential because it serves as the only way to decrypt and access the complete readiness reports generated by the tool and displayed on the web dashboard.

How the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Uses the Private Key for Enhanced Security

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool places paramount importance on data security, ensuring all collected data remains securely in the selected storage location by the users. This is achieved through the encryption protocols. Strict access controls are implemented to protect the encryption keys and prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, for the organizations that choose to store the collected data in the network shared folder, their employee' access to data stored in network shared folders is restricted, aligning with the tool’s commitment to data privacy.

The Indispensable Role in Dashboard Access

Perhaps the most critical function of your ChromeOS Readiness Tool private key is its requirement for accessing the web-based dashboards. To view readiness details on the Pro Dashboard or Partner Dashboard, you must upload the private key file generated during the initial deployment of the tool.

This security step ensures that only the user who deployed the tool and possesses the unique private key can view the collected assessment data. Without this key, insights into application usage, device compatibility, peripheral integration, browser insights, and virtualization recommendations remain inaccessible.

Consequences of Improper Storage or Loss

Given its pivotal role, the implications of mishandling or losing your ChromeOS Readiness Tool private key are serious:

  • Compromised Data Security If the private key falls into unauthorized hands, it could compromise the confidentiality of your IT environment, as it enables the decryption of sensitive information.

Conclusion

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is a powerful ally in your organization’s digital transformation, providing secure, flexible, and user-friendly compatibility assessments. However, its effectiveness and the security of your data can be affected by the secure storage of your ChromeOS Readiness Tool private key.

By understanding its indispensable role in the encryption process and dashboard access, and committing to its diligent protection, you ensure continuous access to essential insights and uphold the highest standard of data security throughout your ChromeOS migration.

Treat your private key as a confidential digital asset, one that is fundamental to your assessment success.

What to Expect After Installing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool
June 26, 2025

What to Expect After Installing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

After installing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, understanding what comes next is essential to maximize its benefits and ensure a smooth transition to ChromeOS. The tool delivers precise insights into your IT environment and simplifies migration by automating data collection and offering intuitive dashboards for analysis.

1. The Data Collection Process Begins

Once installed, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool is deployed across client devices, and the tool begins collecting data either automatically or with minimal manual setup, depending on your installation method.

Behind the Scenes: The tool appears as a tray icon on client devices. A status monitor checks whether the data collector and data service are running and restarts them if stopped. The data collector tracks all processes, logging open window applications and predefined background apps. Simultaneously, the data service reads, encrypts, and uploads this information.

Temporary Storage and Upload: Initially, collected data is temporarily stored on employee devices. It is later uploaded to your designated network storage or cloud storage. If a PC is powered off, data upload is paused and resumes once the device is back on. This data collection continues for a pre-selected duration, ending with the generation of a final report.

2. Employee and Device Actions Post-Deployment

The actions required from employees vary slightly based on the installation flow:

  • Enterprise Flow: For deployments via Active Directory and Group Policy Objects (GPOs), a restart is required approximately 90 minutes after the administrator installs the tool. This restart ensures Group Policy activation and proper data collection.

  • PowerShell Flow: For deployments in Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) environments, no specific user action is required. Employees can continue working without interruption. However, this flow typically involves manual setup of the data collection agent by an administrator or using a UEM software.

3. Accessing and Interpreting Assessment Results

After data collection concludes, assessment results are accessible via the Report Generator application and the web dashboard. Based on the selected deployment method, the availability of the web dashboard can be different.

Private Key Requirement: To maintain data security, accessing readiness details on the web dashboard requires uploading the private key generated during deployment. This ensures that only the authorized user who deployed the tool can view the collected data on the web dashboard.

The Web Dashboard: The dashboard offers a user-friendly interface for viewing readiness status across your organization, including:

  • High-level readiness score

  • Application compatibility breakdowns

  • Real-time device assessments

  • Peripheral compatibility insights

Key Dashboards Overview

  • Pro Dashboard: Available by default with the PowerShell flow and for the Enterprise flow only if the  GCP storage is selected. It displays:

    • Readiness status by domain

    • Foreground and background application usage

    • ChromeOS readiness insights

    • Filtering by device status and domain

    • Device and peripheral compatibility

  • Partner Dashboard: Designed for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and available with GCP storage. By entering a customer’s encryption key, partners can:

    • View multi-client readiness overviews

    • Monitor data collection progress

    • Access Chrome-ready application and peripheral insights

    • Drill down into devices, apps, and filter data

  • Report Generator (on Admin Machine): Offers full visibility into:

    • Total application counts by status (Chrome Ready, Possibly Ready, Blocker, Unknown)

    • Pie charts showing device readiness distribution

    • Detailed per-device application readiness

    • Executive reports and raw data can be downloaded as Excel or Pdf format for further analysis

Virtualization Section in the Web Dashboard

The dashboards feature a dedicated virtualization section with Cameyo recommendations, suggesting applications that can be virtualized, particularly those marked as Possibly Ready or Blocker.

Browser Insights Section  in the Web Dashboard

A built-in feature that provides a centralized view of browser and extension usage, including:

  • Popular browsers used (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Vivaldi etc.)

  • Browser version distribution

  • Extensions installed per device

This supports IT in understanding the browser and extension usage of the organization and preparing for Chrome Enterprise Browser deployment. Note: This feature is transparent and requires admin approval.

4. Ensuring Data Security and Compliance

Security and data integrity are foundational to the ChromeOS Readiness Tool.

Restricted Access: Only authorized personnel can access the data. Employee access to network shared folders is restricted, and encryption key protection is enforced through strict access controls.

5. Staying Updated for Continuous Improvement

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is actively maintained and enhanced by its development team.

Latest Versions and Notifications: Users are encouraged to enable notifications to stay informed of new features, compatibility updates, and expert tips. The current latest version is 1.10.3. Additionally, the “What’s New” section on the product page highlights recent updates and enhancements.

Final Thoughts

By understanding what happens after installation, your organization can fully leverage the ChromeOS Readiness Tool to:

  • Analyze its IT environment

  • Identify application and device readiness

  • Ensure secure data collection

  • Gain actionable insights for a strategic migration

This structured process reduces guesswork, enhances security, and enables confident, future-proof transitions to ChromeOS.