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Defining Your Assessment Period: Setting the Right Data Collection Duration in the ChromeOS Readiness Tool
June 23, 2025

Defining Your Assessment Period: Setting the Right Data Collection Duration in the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

Organizations looking to transition to ChromeOS need a clear understanding of their current IT environment. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides a comprehensive assessment, and a crucial step in this process is defining the assessment period, the duration for which the tool collects data. This period directly impacts the depth and accuracy of the insights you receive, guiding a smoother migration.

What is the Assessment Period?

The assessment period, also known as the data collection duration, is a specified number of days during which the ChromeOS Readiness Tool actively monitors and gathers information about your organization's device application usage. This comprehensive data collection is essential for generating an accurate compatibility report for a successful ChromeOS transition.

How to Define Your Assessment Period

During the deployment configurations of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, administrators will be prompted to select the number of days for the data collection period. This step is part of the initial setup, allowing you to tailor the assessment to your organization's specific needs and timeline.

What Happens During Data Collection?

Once the tool is deployed and the data collection period begins, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool operates efficiently in the background:

  • Active Monitoring: An administrator can access a report generator app on their desktop to view how much time remains for data collection. The tool also appears as a tray icon on employee devices, which can be hidden by the admin if necessary.

  • Continuous Operation: A built-in status monitor checks if the data collector and data service components are running, and automatically restarts them if they stop.

  • Selective Data Logging: The data collector tracks all processes, monitoring their start and stop times. It specifically logs open window applications and predefined background applications, ensuring relevant usage data is captured.

  • Secure Data Handling: The data service reads these logs, encrypts the collected information, and uploads it to either network storage or cloud storage based on the chosen storage location. Data is temporarily stored on employee devices and then pushed to the designated network storage location. If a PC is powered off, data will not upload until the device is turned back on.

This continuous process ensures that comprehensive and accurate data is gathered throughout the chosen assessment duration.

What Happens After the Assessment Period?

Upon the completion of the selected data collection period, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool compiles all the gathered information to generate a final, comprehensive report.

Administrators can then access an organizational readiness report and a summary of device readiness on the intuitive web-based dashboard. This dashboard displays key information such as the total application count for each readiness status, a pie chart showing the percentage of devices in each readiness category, and a table listing all devices with their readiness status. You can also view an application summary for each device, categorized into Ready, Possibly Ready, Blocker, or Unknown. Additional reports, like a summary of devices in each readiness category and a list of most used applications, are available in the data insight section. Previous reports can be found in the history reports section.Raw data and executive summary report can be downloaded in Excel format or Pdf.

For partners, the dashboard allows viewing the progress of data collection for their customer companies, including the selected assessment duration, time to completion, and the completed percentage. Once data collection is finished, partners can enter their customers' encryption files to unlock and view detailed readiness data.

Hence, setting the data collection duration is a foundational step in utilizing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool effectively. By carefully defining this assessment period, organizations ensure that the tool gathers all necessary data, enabling the generation of precise reports and actionable recommendations. This clarity is invaluable for strategic planning and achieving a seamless, efficient transition to ChromeOS.

Access Granted: Properly Configuring Permissions for GCP Storage with Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Service Account
June 22, 2025

Access Granted: Properly Configuring Permissions for GCP Storage with Your ChromeOS Readiness Tool Service Account

In a cloud first IT world, securely storing assessment data is essential. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool supports Google Cloud Platform (GCP) storage buckets as a primary storage option offering centralized access to compatibility assessment results and enabling key features like the Pro Dashboard and Partner Dashboard for in-depth ChromeOS migration insights.

To ensure seamless integration between the ChromeOS Readiness Tool and your GCP bucket, it’s crucial to grant the right permissions to the ChromeOS Readiness Tool dedicated service account. Without this setup, data uploads and dashboard access may fail.

Required Role: Storage Object Admin

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool service account must be granted the “Storage Object Admin” role within your selected GCP storage bucket. This allows the tool to write and manage your assessment files securely in the designated bucket.

Step-by-Step: GCP Permissions Setup for ChromeOS Readiness Tool

  • Log in to Google Cloud Access console.cloud.google.com, and choose your preferred GCP project. Create a new project if needed by assigning it a name, organization, and location.

  • Create a Storage Bucket In your selected project:

    • Navigate to Cloud Storage > Buckets, and click "Create".

    • Define your bucket name, choose a location type and storage class, and configure access control settings.

    • Make sure to restrict public access as part of best practices.

  • Grant the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Service Account Permissions

    • Go to the Permissions tab for your bucket.

    • Click "Grant Access".

    • In "New principals," enter the service account email (you’ll find it in the ChromeOS Readiness Tool wizard during installation).

    • For the role, select: Cloud Storage > Storage Object Admin

    • Click "Save" to apply the changes.

  • Connect the Storage Bucket in ChromeOS readiness Tool Wizard

    • Return to the ChromeOS Readiness Tool setup wizard.

    • When prompted, choose "Google Cloud Storage" as your storage type.

    • Enter the exact bucket name you created (you can copy it from the "Objects" tab in GCP).

    • Click "Connect." You’ll see a green check mark once the connection is successful.

Why This Matters

Properly assigning permissions to the ChromeOS Readiness Tool service account ensures:

  • Secure Data Collection Your assessment data is encrypted and uploaded securely to your GCP bucket.

  • Dashboard Access GCP storage is required for full access to both the Pro Dashboard and the Partner Dashboard (the latter also requires CSP status).

By following these simple steps, you’ll enable the ChromeOS Readiness Tool to store data safely and unlock the full potential of its analytics dashboards. Proper permission configuration is a small step that makes a big impact on the success and visibility of your ChromeOS transition.For your convenience, we've provided a detailed User Guide to walk you through the entire process. Feel free to refer to it anytime for step-by-step guidance and make your migration experience smoother!

Stealth Mode: How to Hide the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Tray Application on Client PCs
June 21, 2025

Stealth Mode: How to Hide the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Tray Application on Client PCs

When deploying new tools across an organization, IT administrators often prioritize delivering a streamlined user experience. System tray icons, while informative, can sometimes cause confusion or contribute to desktop clutter. To help maintain a clean and consistent environment, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool offers a built-in option to hide its tray icon on client devices.

A Clearer Experience with the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool runs a lightweight data collection agent on client PCs to assess ChromeOS compatibility. To ensure the tool operates unobtrusively, administrators can configure the tool to hide its application icon during deployment.

How to Hide the Tray Icon

This option is available during the initial configuration process:

  • During deployment configuration, the setup wizard presents several customization options.

  • In the configurations section, you'll find a checkbox labeled to control the tray icon visibility.

  • By selecting this checkbox, the tray icon will be hidden from employee devices once deployed.

With this configuration enabled, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool runs silently in the background. The agent collects assessment data without displaying any interface or icon in the system tray, maintaining the user experience.

Why This Matters: Benefits of a Hidden Tray App

Enabling this option offers multiple advantages:

  • Limiting Distractions: Employees stay focused without being prompted by unfamiliar system tray items.

  • Consistent Deployment: Ensures uniform configuration across all managed devices in your organization.

  • Professional Look and Feel: Helps maintain a polished, IT-managed environment with minimal end-user impact.

By choosing to hide the ChromeOS Readiness Tool’s tray icon, IT teams can deliver a quiet, background deployment that respects the end user experience. It’s a small but impactful configuration that supports efficient data collection while maintaining a distraction free work environment, aligned with best practices in enterprise IT management.

Beyond the UI: Unlocking Deeper Insights with ChromeOS Readiness Tool's Exported Reports
June 20, 2025

Beyond the UI: Unlocking Deeper Insights with ChromeOS Readiness Tool's Exported Reports

Nowadays, in the IT landscape, organizations are under pressure to make informed, strategic decisions when navigating digital transformation, especially when considering a migration to ChromeOS. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides a comprehensive solution for assessing compatibility. The Report Generator application allows the administrators to generate an in-depth report after the readiness assessment of the organization. For those looking to go further, the Report Generator also enables the export of raw data reports, empowering IT teams to perform in-depth, customized analysis far beyond the standard UI. Most importantly, it will allow the administrators to download an executive summary, which will help the higher management to make data-driven decisions more easily.

The Report Generator: Real Time Readiness at a Glance

The Report Generator application of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool includes a report that serves as the central hub for real-time readiness insights. Key capabilities include:

  • A high level of organizational readiness details

  • Device level compatibility breakdowns

  • History reports section with the reports generated from previous configurations

  • Feedback summaries collected during tool usage

This interface is ideal for review and operational monitoring.

Raw Data Reports: Dive Deeper, Plan Smarter

While the report generated from the Report Generator provides a high-level overview, organizations often require deeper insights to support planning, budgeting, and phased deployment. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool addresses this need by allowing administrators to export detailed reports in Excel format.

Two key types of reports are available for download:

1. Device Readiness Overview

This report delivers a detailed look into device compatibility across the organization. It includes:

  • Individual device readiness status

  • Usage metrics

  • Configuration details

  • Application readiness indicators

This enables IT teams to identify potential blockers or prioritize specific devices for upgrades or replacement.

2. Peripheral Readiness Overview

This report captures:

  • Peripheral device names and types

  • Readiness status

  • Association with devices and usage context It’s particularly useful for planning hardware continuity and avoiding post-migration disruptions due to unsupported peripherals.

Executive Summary Report:

The Executive Summary provides a high-level PDF overview of the assessment results, tailored for administrators and decision-makers. It highlights key insights without including detailed data, making it ideal for quick reference.

Advanced Insights with Data Visualization Tools

The true value of these Excel exports comes when they’re used in external analytics and visualization platforms.

By importing the raw data into these tools, organizations can:

  • Build Custom Dashboards tailored to stakeholder needs

  • Conduct Advanced Trend Analysis across time, device groups, or business units

  • Cross reference Data with internal systems

  • Enable Strategic Forecasting, including phased migration planning and budget impact analysis

Conclusion: From Visibility to Action

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool doesn’t just show you where you are, it helps guide where you’re going. With both a real time dashboard and in depth Excel/PDF exports, it enables IT leaders to balance quick insights with data driven strategy.

By pairing these reports with your existing business intelligence tools, your organization can:

  • Gain a holistic view of readiness

  • Tailor migration plans by region, department, or hardware lifecycle

  • Confidently manage the shift to ChromeOS or ChromeOS Flex

Go beyond the UI, unlock the full potential of your data, and make ChromeOS migration smarter, faster, and more efficient.

Your Command Center: Navigating the Pro Dashboard of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool
June 19, 2025

Your Command Center: Navigating the Pro Dashboard of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

In an era of rapid digital transformation, understanding how ready your organization is to transition to ChromeOS is vital. The Pro Dashboard of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool acts as your centralized control panel, equipping IT teams with deep visibility into readiness metrics and enabling data driven decisions for a seamless migration.

Access to this dashboard begins with a secure login via a dedicated web URL using a Google account. To ensure data integrity and confidentiality, users must also enter the private key generated during deployment. This step restricts dashboard access to the administrator who initiated the deployment, ensuring the security of the organization’s readiness details. 

Once authenticated, the dashboard opens with a Company Readiness Overview, providing a visual summary of your organization’s ChromeOS compatibility. This includes key metrics such as domain coverage, device readiness, and Chrome ready application percentages, all displayed through interactive charts and percentages. This high-level view offers a clear snapshot of migration progress and areas needing attention.

From there, you can explore more granular insights into both application and device readiness. The Most Used Applications section identifies commonly accessed apps, separating those running in the foreground from background processes and flags their readiness status. This enables IT teams to identify which applications may need to be replaced, virtualized, or re-evaluated.

For more localized insights, the dashboard also offers a breakdown of readiness data by individual domains. Here, you can assess device distribution and app compatibility across business units, making it easier to coordinate staged migrations.

The Devices section enables a domain-specific drill-down, listing each device along with its ChromeOS Flex readiness status and detailed application assessments. Users can apply filters to sort devices by readiness state or dive deeper into individual app performance. Similarly, the Peripheral section provides device-level details about peripheral compatibility, comparing the readiness status of core devices and accessories through a clean visual layout. Additional tables display peripheral readiness by device name, offering sort and filter capabilities for efficient analysis.

To support broader planning and governance, the Pro Dashboard includes powerful supplementary tools. The Browser Insights feature delivers a comprehensive view of browser usage, installed extensions, and versioning across the organization. Importantly, this feature activates only with administrator consent, maintaining transparency and control over data collection.

Another valuable component is the Virtualization section, recently introduced to guide teams in identifying apps that may be candidates for virtualization, particularly with solutions like Cameyo. This section highlights “Possibly Ready” and “Blocker” applications and provides direct recommendations for virtualization where applicable. Helpful tooltips explain which applications are not compatible or still under evaluation, adding context for informed decision-making.

Beyond visibility and planning, the Pro Dashboard also encourages proactive management. IT teams can submit feedback or report issues directly through the interface, supporting continuous improvement of the tool based on real-world usage.

With its intuitive layout, robust analytics, and secure access protocols, the Pro Dashboard positions itself as an essential asset for any IT team leading a ChromeOS migration. Whether you're evaluating thousands of devices or just beginning your readiness assessment, this dashboard ensures you have the insight, control, and confidence to manage your digital transformation effectively.

Partnering for Success: Maximizing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Dashboard for Customer Assessments
June 18, 2025

Partnering for Success: Maximizing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Dashboard for Customer Assessments

In today’s fast growing digital landscape, technology partners play a vital role in supporting organizations through major IT transformations, such as migrating to ChromeOS. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is built to streamline this journey, and its dedicated Partner Dashboard acts as a powerful resource for service providers assessing and managing their customers' readiness.

This intuitive, web-based interface enables partners to view multiple customer organizational readiness details, ensuring efficient, informed, and confident transitions to ChromeOS.

Your Central Hub: The Partner Dashboard

The Partner Dashboard offers a centralized view into customers’ organizations’ ChromeOS readiness. Access begins by navigating to the dashboard’s login page and signing in with a Google account. For completed assessments, partners can enter the customer’s encryption file to securely retrieve readiness reports. This way, it is a must for the partner to get the consent of the customer to view their readiness details. 

For ongoing assessments, the dashboard also displays:

  • Selected assessment duration

  • Progress percentage

  • Estimated time to completion

This transparency allows partners to easily track status and plan next steps.

Rich Readiness Insights at Your Fingertips

Once access is authorized via the encryption file, the dashboard unlocks detailed data across several key areas:

Company Overview

  • High-level metrics: total devices, readiness status distribution, percentages

  • A quick snapshot of organizational readiness

Device Specific Readiness

  • View ChromeOS Flex compatibility and device status per domain

  • Filter and drill down into individual device-level insights

  • Clickable data points for deeper visibility into app readiness per device

Application & Peripheral Readiness

  • Breakdown of Chrome Ready, Possibly Ready, and Blocker apps

  • Readiness percentages and counts across all apps and connected peripherals

Peripheral Insights

  • Visual dashboards showing core vs. peripheral readiness

  • Device-level details, including model, category, and readiness status

  • Expandable “View More” section for deeper analysis

Browser Insights

  • Reports on browser usage, installed extensions, and versions provide a detailed overview of organization-level usage.

Virtualization Recommendations

  • A newly introduced section highlights apps suitable for virtualization

  • Cameyo based recommendations for apps in 'Possibly Ready' or 'Blocker' categories

  • Tooltips offer extra guidance for apps under review or not compatible with virtualization

Managing Multiple Clients with Ease

One of the Partner Dashboard’s key benefits is multi-tenant management. By entering different customer encryption files, partners can:

  • Seamlessly switch between customer accounts using a drop-down selector

  • View all associated devices, apps, and insights for each customer and domain

This unified management experience streamlines assessments for service providers handling several organizations simultaneously.

Built-in Security and Confidential Access

Security is foundational. Customer data can only be accessed using:

  • A Google account with the correct permissions

  • The private encryption key file generated during the tool installation

This ensures strict data confidentiality, only authorized users with both credentials can view the reports and related insights. When used with GCP storage, the system adheres to secure cloud practices by leveraging access roles and encryption policies.

Conclusion: Enable Informed, Confident ChromeOS Migrations

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Dashboard empowers service providers with the data and tools needed to guide successful ChromeOS migrations. From granular device level analysis to cross company comparisons and virtualization recommendations, this dashboard delivers unmatched visibility and control.

By using the dashboard, partners can:

  • Deliver high impact assessments

  • Identify compatibility gaps early

  • Support smarter decision making

  • Strengthen long term customer relationships

Ready to unlock smarter migration strategies? Start leveraging the Partner Dashboard today.

Choosing Your Storage: Network Shared Folder vs. GCP Cloud for ChromeOS Readiness Tool Data
June 17, 2025

Choosing Your Storage: Network Shared Folder vs. GCP Cloud for ChromeOS Readiness Tool Data

As organizations move toward IT modernization and explore the benefits of ChromeOS, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool plays a central role in assessing whether the organization's devices are ready for a seamless transition to ChromeOS. One of the most important steps in deploying this tool is selecting where to store the data it collects. This decision is directly influenced by the deployment method chosen, either the Enterprise Flow or the PowerShell Flow, with each flow offering different storage options.

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is designed to scan and assess your environment across devices, apps, and peripherals to generate insights that inform ChromeOS migration decisions. Emphasizing security and privacy, the tool ensures that all collected data is stored securely and is accessible only to authorized users. Storage configuration is a critical part of maintaining this secure ecosystem.

Organizations deploying the Enterprise Flow, often used in Active Directory environments with Group Policy Objects (GPOs), can store data either in a network shared folder or use a dual storage setup that combines a shared folder and a GCP Cloud (Storage Bucket). In the first scenario, data remains completely on premise, accessible only to authorized personnel with specific folder permissions, ideal for companies with strict compliance or internal hosting policies. If GCP storage is also configured, the tool will store data in both the network shared folder and the GCP storage bucket. This dual setup provides additional flexibility, blending the control of local infrastructure with the scalability and accessibility of cloud storage.

In contrast, the PowerShell Flow is designed for organizations that do not use Active Directory and instead rely on Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) systems. This flow supports only cloud storage, with GCP Cloud as the sole option. The PowerShell Flow’s architecture is cloud-first, offering compatibility with modern IT environments that prioritize remote device management and distributed infrastructures. Unlike the Enterprise Flow, it does not support a local shared folder option, and the deployment of the data collection agent should be done either manually or using a UEM software. 

Regardless of the chosen flow, utilizing GCP Cloud storage requires setting up a storage bucket in a designated Google Cloud project. This involves creating or selecting a project, naming the bucket, choosing its location type and storage class, and defining access controls. The deployment also requires assigning the Storage Object Admin role to the service account provided by the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, ensuring the tool can write data to the designated bucket.

Storage choice also directly impacts dashboard access. The Pro Dashboard, which offers insights into application usage, device readiness, and domain-level data, is included by default in the PowerShell Flow. In the Enterprise Flow, access to the Pro Dashboard becomes available only when GCP Cloud storage is enabled. 

Several key considerations can guide the storage decision. For organizations operating within a traditional, on-premises environment with strong Active Directory integration, the Enterprise Flow with either a shared folder or a shared folder and GCP combination offers a familiar, secure deployment. For cloud-centric companies leveraging UEM tools, the PowerShell Flow with GCP Cloud storage provides a more agile approach. In either case, access to dashboards and analytics depends on integrating GCP Cloud storage into the deployment.

Security is central to both flows. The tool ensures that data collected from endpoints is encrypted before transfer and is accessible only to the deploying user. A private key generated during deployment is required to decrypt and view data on the dashboards, and strict controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to encryption keys. While collected data may be temporarily stored on user devices, it is pushed securely to the designated storage as configured during installation.

In conclusion, selecting the appropriate storage for your ChromeOS Readiness Tool deployment is a foundational step in enabling secure and insightful readiness assessments. Whether prioritizing on-premises control with a network shared folder or leveraging the flexibility and dashboard access of GCP Cloud, the tool provides robust options to align with your IT environment. With strong encryption, adaptable flows, and secure storage pathways, your organization can confidently move toward ChromeOS adoption while maintaining complete control over its data.

Setting up a GCP Storage for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide
June 16, 2025

Setting up a GCP Storage for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool:A Step by Step Guide

In today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, organizations are consistently looking for IT solutions that are not only efficient and secure but also cost effective. As more businesses explore the shift to cloud based operating systems such as ChromeOS, gaining a deep understanding of their current IT infrastructure is essential for a seamless migration.

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is designed to provide a comprehensive compatibility assessment, helping organizations evaluate their preparedness for ChromeOS adoption. A key element of this process is ensuring that the collected data is securely stored and easily accessible.

By leveraging Google Cloud Platform (GCP) storage buckets, organizations benefit from a reliable, scalable, and secure solution to store assessment results. This storage mechanism is central to enabling advanced features like the Pro Dashboard and Partner Dashboard, regardless of whether the tool is deployed via the Enterprise Flow or the PowerShell Flow.

How to Set Up GCP Storage for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create and configure your GCP storage bucket for storing ChromeOS Readiness Tool assessment data:

1. Log In and Select a Project

Begin by logging into your Google Cloud account. If you have an existing project, select it from the list that appears. Otherwise, create a new project by providing the project name, organization, and location, and then clicking “Create.”

2. Create the Storage Bucket

After selecting your project, click the “Create” button to start setting up your storage bucket. You will be guided through several configuration steps.

3. Name the Bucket

Provide a unique name for your storage bucket and proceed by clicking “Continue.”

4. Set Location Type

Choose the appropriate location type for your data (Regional, Dual Regional, or Multi-Regional). While Google provides default settings, you can adjust them based on your needs. Click “Continue” once configured.

5. Select the Storage Class

Pick the desired storage class, such as Standard or Nearline, and continue.

6. Configure Access Controls

Set up the access control preferences for the objects in the bucket and click “Continue.”

7. Define Data Protection Settings

Configure your data protection settings as needed and then click “Create.”

8. Confirm Public Access Restrictions

A modal window will appear to confirm restrictions on public access. Click “Confirm” to restrict access, following best security practices.

After completion, a confirmation screen will notify you that your bucket has been successfully created.

Assigning Permissions to the Service Account

To enable the ChromeOS Readiness Tool to securely upload data to the bucket, it's important to configure access for the service account.

  1. Open the “Permissions” tab from the bucket’s settings page.

  2. Click “Grant access.”

  3. In the “New principals” field, enter the service account email (this can be copied from the wizard modal in the tool).

  4. Click “Select a role,” navigate to “Cloud Storage,” and choose the “Storage Object Admin” role.

  5. Click “Save” to finalize the permission settings.

Connecting the Bucket via the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Wizard

Once the bucket and permissions are in place, follow these steps to connect it through the tool:

  1. Go to the “Objects” tab in your GCP bucket and copy the bucket name.

  2. In the ChromeOS Readiness Tool wizard, paste the copied name into the prompt where bucket information is requested.

  3. Click “Connect the storage bucket.” A green check mark will confirm a successful connection.

Understanding Storage Behavior Based on Deployment Method

The behavior of data storage depends on the method you choose for deploying the ChromeOS Readiness Tool:

If you're using the Enterprise Flow, you have the option either to store your assessment results in both the GCP storage bucket and a selected network shared folder or only in the network shared folder. This shared folder is only accessible to authorized personnel, ensuring restricted and controlled access for employees.

If you choose the PowerShell Flow, however, network shared folder storage is not applicable. In this case, GCP Cloud storage acts as the sole repository for your assessment results.

Conclusion

By following these steps, your organization can ensure that all ChromeOS Readiness Tool assessment data is stored securely and accessed efficiently. With GCP's reliable cloud infrastructure, your IT team is empowered with the visibility and control needed to drive a secure, informed, and confident migration to ChromeOS.

Getting Started: A Practical Guide to Installing and Deploying the ChromeOS Readiness Tool with Enterprise Deployment
June 14, 2025

Getting Started: A Practical Guide to Installing and Deploying the ChromeOS Readiness Tool with Enterprise Deployment

In an era where IT modernization is paramount, organizations are continuously seeking efficient and secure pathways to evolve their infrastructure. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool stands as a valuable asset in this journey, offering a comprehensive compatibility assessment for a seamless transition to ChromeOS. For organizations that operate within established on-premise environments and rely on traditional IT management, the Enterprise Flow (also referred to as Enterprise Installation) provides a robust and integrated deployment solution.

This guide will navigate you through the installation process and highlight the essential components of deploying the ChromeOS Readiness Tool using the Enterprise method.

Understanding the Enterprise Flow

The Enterprise Flow is specifically engineered for environments that leverage Active Directory and Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for their IT management. It is the ideal choice for organizations that operate without a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) system and are built upon an on-premise infrastructure. A key characteristic of this flow is its automated data collection agent, which simplifies the gathering of assessment data.

The Installation Journey: Enterprise Method

The initial step for installing the ChromeOS Readiness Tool begins with downloading and running the provided MSI file. An administrator must first install the tool on their admin machine before initiating an organization-wide deployment.

Once the installer application is launched, the configuration specific to the Enterprise Flow begins:

  1. Select Installation Method: The installation wizard will prompt you to choose the installation method. For the Enterprise Flow, you will select the "Windows Server Active Directory" option. This ensures compatibility with your existing Active Directory and GPO infrastructure.

  2. Choose Storage Options: You will then select where the assessment results will be stored. The Enterprise Flow supports two primary storage options:

    • Network Shared Folder: Assessment results can be securely stored in a selected network shared folder within your on-premise infrastructure. Data will be stored here if this option is chosen. Only authorized personnel with appropriate permissions can access this shared folder, and employee access to this data is restricted.

    • GCP Cloud (Storage Bucket): Assessment results can also be stored in a GCP (Google Cloud Platform) storage bucket. If this option is selected, data will be stored in both the GCP storage bucket and the network shared folder. To enable this, you must grant the storage object admin role to the provided service account within your GCP project. You may select the GCP storage and network shared folder option to store results in both locations.

  3. Sign In with Google Account: You will be required to sign in with a Google account if you select the GCP storage and network shared folder option. This account will later be used to access and view the Pro dashboard.

  4. Enter Company Information: Provide your company's name and the address details. You also have the option to upload your company logo, which can be displayed on your personalized dashboard.

  5. Connect to Cloud Storage (if applicable): If you choose the GCP Cloud storage option, you will connect to your company's Google Cloud Storage. As a Pro user, you will choose the "company Google Cloud Storage" option. As a Partner user, you will choose the cloud storage bucket provided by your partner. Ensure you grant the storage object admin role to the provided service account in your GCP project.

  6. Configure Deployment Settings: In the deployment configurations, you will select the number of days for the data collection period. The final report will be generated after this period. Additionally, you can enable the browser insights feature and choose to hide the tray application on client PCs.

  7. Select Domains and Organizational Units: You will then select the preferred domains and organizational units (OUs) within your organization where you want to install the tool. This is a one-time installation, so it's crucial to select all desired domains and units as changes cannot be made after installation.

  8. Deploy and Install: Click "install" to deploy Group Policies and install the tool. Once the GPOs are updated and linked successfully, a configuration complete message will appear.

  9. Export Private Key: After the installation is complete, you will be prompted to export your private key file. It is essential to save this key file securely, as it is necessary for viewing the readiness assessment details in the Pro dashboard if applicable.

Once deployed, for the data collection to begin and Group Policy to activate, devices need to be restarted approximately 90 minutes after the administrator deploys the application. The collected data will be temporarily stored on employee devices and will later be pushed to the selected network storage location or cloud storage. Data collection will proceed for the selected duration, ultimately generating the final report. If PCs are powered off, data will not upload until the PC is on.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Flow of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides a robust and tailored solution for organizations deeply integrated with Active Directory and operating within an on-premise infrastructure. It empowers IT teams with detailed compatibility assessments and secure data handling, enabling a confident and strategic approach to migrating to ChromeOS.

To embark on your ChromeOS migration journey, visit the official website to schedule a demo and select the Enterprise installation method that aligns with your organization's infrastructure.