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In a rapidly evolving digital era, enterprises need IT infrastructures that are not only secure and resilient but also flexible enough to adapt to future challenges. Transitioning to cloud-based operating systems is a crucial step in achieving this goal. With Chrome OS, Google’s cloud-native operating system, and the Chrome OS Readiness Tool, organizations gain the agility, security, and analytics required to modernize confidently and stay future-ready.
ChromeOS is more than an operating system, it’s a strategic enabler of digital transformation. Here’s how it strengthens IT for the long term:
Cloud-Native Agility and Scalability: Built for the cloud, ChromeOS allows employees to work from anywhere, on any device. Seamless integration with cloud services and VDIs ensures enterprises can scale without legacy constraints.
Security by Design: With sandboxing, verified boot, and automatic updates, ChromeOS minimizes malware and cyber risks, delivering long-term protection.
Cost Efficiency and Sustainability: ChromeOS Flex extends the life of existing hardware, reducing e-waste and hardware spend. Devices consume less energy and receive updates, aligning with financial and environmental goals.
Simplified Deployment and Management: Zero-touch enrollment and centralized management cut IT overhead, making device rollout and monitoring more efficient.
Transitioning to ChromeOS requires informed planning. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides comprehensive compatibility assessments across applications, devices, and peripherals, delivering the insights IT teams need to build a smooth migration roadmap.
Clear Compatibility Insights: Applications are classified as Chrome Ready, Possibly Ready, or Blockers. Devices are categorized as Ready to Switch, Ready with Verification, or Blocked from Switching. This structured view enables strategic decisions and highlights where virtualization or replacements are needed.
Secure Data Handling: All data collected remains under your organization’s control. Strong encryption ensures privacy, with only authorized personnel able to access readiness results.
Flexible Deployment Options: The tool adapts to different infrastructures, supporting Active Directory with on-premise storage or cloud-based setups with GCP storage buckets or Other Deployment Options that focus on UEMs
Intuitive Dashboards: Partner and Pro dashboards provide readiness scores, real-time device insights, and browser data to guide IT teams with actionable intelligence.
Continuous Evolution: With regular updates, the tool’s analytics grow stronger. Upcoming features include Workspace compatibility insights, app usage statistics, and mapping to Workspace alternatives, keeping it aligned with future enterprise needs.
Future-proofing IT infrastructure requires more than upgrades; it demands a forward-looking strategy. ChromeOS delivers cloud-native agility, built-in security, and cost-effective sustainability, while the ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides the analytics to plan and execute migration with confidence. Together, they empower enterprises to modernize their IT environments and prepare for what’s next.
Start your journey toward a smarter, more resilient IT future with ChromeOS and the ChromeOS Readiness Tool today.
Enterprises today are under constant pressure to modernize IT infrastructure while keeping costs under control. For many, ChromeOS Flex offers the ideal solution, breathing new life into existing PCs and Macs, reducing hardware spend, and delivering cloud-native security. But a successful migration requires clarity on application compatibility, device readiness, and potential blockers. This is where the ChromeOS Readiness Tool becomes highly valuable, providing the insights IT leaders need to ensure a smooth, cost-effective transition.
The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is a comprehensive assessment solution that evaluates your IT environment before migration. It analyzes:
Application usage: Categorizing apps as ChromeOS Ready, Possibly Ready, Blockers, or Unknown.
Device readiness: Classifying devices as Ready to Switch, Ready with Verification, or Blocked from Switching.
Peripheral integration: Identifying compatibility of connected hardware.
It also recommends virtualization (e.g., Cameyo) for apps that can’t run natively, preventing disruptions after migration.
The tool helps maximize return on investment through:
Enterprise Installation (Enterprise Flow): Best for Active Directory environments with on-prem infrastructure.
Other Installation: Optimized for UEM and cloud-based environments without Active Directory.
High-level readiness insights and detailed compatibility breakdowns.
Browser Insights shows browser versions, usage, and extensions across your organization.
Pro and Partner dashboards for deeper reporting and tailored insights.
Data is encrypted and remains within your organization.
Access requires the private key generated at deployment, ensuring that only authorized IT admins can view readiness details.
Recommendations are tailored to your specific environment, helping you avoid hidden migration costs and delays.
Using the ChromeOS Readiness Tool in your ChromeOS Flex migration delivers measurable returns:
Hardware Cost Savings & Sustainability Extend the life of existing devices, reduce e-waste, and avoid large-scale hardware refreshes. ChromeOS Flex devices also consume up to 46% less energy, lowering operational costs.
Predictable Migration By identifying challenges early, the tool removes guesswork, enabling a streamlined, disruption-free transition.
Time & Resource Efficiency Reduces downtime and IT workload by flagging blockers and providing alternatives before migration begins.
Enhanced Security Combined with ChromeOS security (sandboxing, verified boot, automatic updates), the tool’s secure handling of data strengthens enterprise defenses while reducing reliance on costly third-party solutions.
Future-Proof IT Strategy ChromeOS Flex supports zero-touch enrollment, centralized management, and scalability, ensuring long-term adaptability in evolving digital environments.
Modernizing with ChromeOS Flex doesn’t have to be complex. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides the insights you need, from deployment flexibility to actionable dashboards and secure, compliant data handling.
Visit chromeosreadinesstool.com to schedule a demo, explore deployment options, and start building a smarter, cost-efficient migration strategy today.
Organizations transitioning to cloud-based environments, such as ChromeOS and Google Workspace, require clarity on application and device compatibility. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides that clarity by analyzing applications, devices, and peripherals to guide smooth, cost-effective migrations.
Most applications receive a clear status, Chrome Ready, Possibly Ready, or Blocker. But sometimes, IT teams encounter the ‘Unknown’ status, which can raise questions.
An application marked as ‘Unknown’ is not unsupported. Instead, it signals that the compatibility database is being updated. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is designed to evolve, and the ‘Unknown’ status represents an active stage in this ongoing process.
In short, it means:
The tool doesn’t yet have enough verified data on that application.
The database is being refined with new compatibility insights.
A clearer status will be available as updates roll out.
The ‘Unknown’ category exists because the tool is constantly improving. The team behind the ChromeOS Readiness Tool regularly updates its database to deliver more accurate results:
Integrating new solutions – For example, recommending virtualization methods (like Cameyo) when direct compatibility isn’t possible.
Adding compatibility data – Incorporating real-world application performance results to move apps from ‘Unknown’ to a defined status.
Enhancing accuracy – Continuously refining assessments to ensure IT teams get reliable, actionable insights.
For IT teams planning a transition to ChromeOS and Google Workspace, these updates bring clear benefits:
Reduced uncertainty – Fewer apps left in the ‘Unknown’ stage.
Smarter migration plans – Better data leads to fewer surprises and smoother rollouts.
Up-to-date guidance – Organizations always work with the most current compatibility information.
To make the most of these improvements, organizations should:
Enable notifications to stay updated on new features and database updates.
Check the “What’s New” section on the ChromeOS Readiness Tool website for information about the releases done to the tool.
The ‘Unknown’ status is not a barrier, it’s proof that the ChromeOS Readiness Tool is evolving. By continuously updating its compatibility database, the tool ensures IT teams have the most accurate, reliable, and current insights for migration planning.
With this dynamic approach, organizations can move to ChromeOS and Google Workspace with confidence, knowing they’re backed by a tool that grows smarter every day.
As organizations modernize their IT environments, understanding how employees use web browsers and extensions is critical for a smooth transition to ChromeOS. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool addresses this need with its Browser Insights feature, providing a secure, transparent, and policy-driven way to derive insights from the browser usage data.
Browser Insights delivers a comprehensive view of browser and extension activity across the organization, helping IT teams improve visibility and manage their browser environment more effectively. Key data points include:
Browser Usage – Which browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave) are being used.
Browser Versions – Details on deployed versions across devices.
Extensions – Usage patterns, version IDs, and lists of devices tied to each extension.
Browser Insights operates with administrator approval and policy alignment. During deployment, admins can choose to enable the feature, ensuring data is collected only with organizational consent.
Security is central to the process:
Data is encrypted locally before transfer.
It is stored securely in the organization’s chosen location (such as a GCP Cloud bucket or network folder).
Access is restricted to authorized personnel via encryption keys.
This ensures that sensitive information remains protected while offering IT teams the visibility they need.
By combining compliance with actionable insights, Browser Insights enables:
Stronger Security – Identifies unauthorized or risky extensions before they become threats.
Simplified Management – Centralized visibility helps IT enforce browser policies consistently.
Migration Confidence – Provides a clear picture of compatibility, streamlining the move to ChromeOS.
The Browser Insights feature of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool empowers organizations with secure, admin-controlled data collection and actionable visibility into their web environments. With these insights, IT leaders can identify risky extensions, ensure compliance, and optimize browser usage to create a safer and more efficient digital workplace.
In today’s enterprise environments, IT teams face the dual challenge of securing devices and ensuring smooth operations across diverse ecosystems. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool plays a pivotal role in this effort, helping organizations assess readiness for both ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex. By analyzing application usage and device readiness, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool delivers actionable insights to identify vulnerabilities before migrating to ChromeOS. These insights enable IT leaders to strengthen a secure migration and plan a more seamless migration strategy.
While the ChromeOS Readiness Tool’s assessment capabilities are highly valued, deploying it across varied IT infrastructures, especially those relying on Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platforms, has sometimes been a hurdle. To address this, we are introducing the Unified Deployment Package, a simplified, highly compatible installation method that eliminates complexity and expands ChromeOS Readiness Tool’s accessibility across enterprise environments.
The Unified Deployment Package is designed to make deployment straightforward and efficient. Delivered as a single, self-contained batch file, it combines the PowerShell script and MSI installer into one executable flow. This batch-based installation ensures full compatibility with UEM platforms that support batch deployment, removing prior limitations to setups. The result is a cleaner, more reliable deployment process that integrates seamlessly into enterprise workflows.
The Unified Deployment Package offers clear advantages for IT administrators:
Broader UEM Compatibility – Tailored for UEM platforms using batch deployment, ensuring ChromeOS Readiness Tool can be delivered across managed Windows devices without compatibility barriers.
Simplified Installation – By packaging all components together, it reduces manual steps and accelerates deployment.
Improved Reliability – Automation minimizes the risk of failed installs, leading to more consistent outcomes.
The Unified Deployment Package reflects our ongoing commitment to making the ChromeOS Readiness Tool easier to adopt and more impactful. By removing deployment friction, it enables IT teams to focus on what matters most while ensuring a secure migration, reducing vulnerabilities, and accelerating the transition to ChromeOS.
This new feature is now available under “Other Deployment Options” in the latest ChromeOS Readiness Tool release. We encourage organizations and partners to take advantage of this enhancement to unlock faster, more reliable assessments and drive digital transformation with confidence.
In today’s digital landscape, success depends not just on great tools but also on knowledgeable partners who can guide customers with confidence. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Portal is designed exclusively for partners, providing them with the training and resources they need to effectively present the ChromeOS Readiness Tool to their customers.
The portal includes structured training materials, reference content, and guidance to help partners build deep expertise. This ensures that when customers raise questions or concerns, partners are well-prepared to deliver accurate answers and position the ChromeOS Readiness Tool effectively. In short, the Partner Portal equips partners with the knowledge and confidence to become trusted advisors in ChromeOS migrations.
For partners, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Portal provides a structured path to expertise and business expansion:
Certification & Training Partners gain access to mandatory training modules, designed to build deep knowledge of ChromeOS Readiness Tool’s features and deployment processes. Completion leads to official certification, positioning partners as trusted experts capable of delivering seamless migrations.
Customized Setup Certified partners receive their own setup file for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, ensuring all customer assessments are tracked through their portal. This guarantees accurate insights and eliminates the risks of using generic setups. The Partner Dashboard then delivers detailed readiness data, enabling precise customer recommendations.
Customer Management & Branding Partners can streamline assessments by choosing storage options such as pre-created Google Cloud Storage buckets. Additionally, partner logos are featured on the ChromeOS Readiness Tool official website in the partner section, showcasing their expertise and enhancing their brand credibility.
The ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner Portal ensures that partners are well-prepared through structured training and resources. By studying the materials provided in the portal, partners gain the knowledge and confidence needed to guide their customers effectively. As a result, customers benefit from expert-led support throughout their ChromeOS migration journey, receiving clear answers, tailored recommendations, and informed guidance from trained partners. This strengthens the customer experience while helping partners grow their expertise and credibility.
Organizations often struggle with extending the life of aging hardware while managing devices and controlling costs. ChromeOS Flex provides a solution by repurposing existing devices into modern, secure, and sustainable systems. By checking the compatibility of their current device fleet, organizations can easily install ChromeOS Flex on eligible devices, making the ChromeOS Readiness Tool an essential resource.
When it comes to device readiness, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool evaluates compatibility for ChromeOS Flex by referencing a dedicated list of supported device models. During the scan, each device model in the environment is matched against this compatibility list.
If the model is included, the device is marked as ChromeOS Flex compatible.
If not, it will be categorized accordingly, giving IT teams clarity on which devices can be repurposed.
This model-based approach ensures accuracy and simplifies decision-making for hardware reuse. Devices confirmed as compatible can be seamlessly transitioned to ChromeOS Flex, extending their lifespan and aligning them with modern security and management standards.
When combined with insights from the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, ChromeOS Flex enables organizations to modernize confidently:
Stronger Security Posture: ChromeOS Flex enforces automatic updates, sandboxes applications, and supports secure VPN solutions from providers like Cisco, Zscaler, and Fortinet. For instance, Strawberry Hotels recovered from a ransomware attack in under 48 hours by converting 2,000 Windows devices to ChromeOS Flex, avoiding costly downtime across 200 hotels.
Cost Savings & Sustainability: Repurposing hardware reduces capital expenses and environmental impact. Strawberry Hotels saved US$6.7 million while cutting 1.5 million kilos of CO₂ emissions. Similarly, Foundations Health Solutions achieved $1 million in savings through ChromeOS adoption.
Simplified Deployment: Remote deployment allows Windows devices to convert to ChromeOS Flex from anywhere, with minimal IT involvement. Even large-scale conversions can be completed in hours, with each installation taking around 10 minutes.
The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is more than a scanner; it’s a strategic decision-making asset. By clearly mapping device health and vulnerabilities, the tool helps organizations prioritize where ChromeOS Flex will have the greatest impact. The result is a stronger security posture, extended hardware value, reduced IT complexity, and measurable sustainability gains.
Ready to see where your fleet stands? Start with the ChromeOS Readiness Tool and take the first step toward a secure, cloud-first enterprise powered by ChromeOS Flex.
Organizations planning modern IT transitions face more than just device migration. Moving from Office Suite Apps to Google Workspace requires clear visibility into application usage, file types, and migration complexity.
The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is evolving. Soon, it won’t just assess ChromeOS device readiness, it will also introduce Google Workspace Migration Insight, a dedicated solution to guide enterprises through Workspace adoption. This upcoming feature will help organizations evaluate Office apps, map them to Google Workspace alternatives, and design migration strategies with confidence.
The ChromeOS Readiness Tool scans each device to detect active office applications, primarily Microsoft Office, and their usage levels. This analysis ensures decision-makers understand what users truly rely on, rather than just what is installed
The upcoming Workspace Migration Insight categorizes apps and files by migration complexity, helping IT teams plan effectively:
Compatible – Fully supported in Google Workspace
Moderately Compatible – May require adjustments
Not Compatible – Use alternatives
These insights allow organizations to anticipate challenges and reduce migration risk.
Application Usage Insights
Many organizations license more office apps than employees use. ChromeOS Readiness Tool highlights actual usage vs. licensed apps, helping IT teams:
Identify underutilized software
Optimize Microsoft 365 spend
Ensure informed decisions on Workspace adoption
ChromeOS Readiness Tool maps Microsoft apps to Google Workspace equivalents:
Excel → Google Sheets
Word → Google Docs
PowerPoint → Google Slides
Outlook → Gmail & Calendar
Each mapping is planned to provide a compatibility status for every Workspace alternative, taking into account both feature coverage and macro usage from the corresponding Office app. This will help enterprises anticipate training needs, workflow adjustments, and feature parity considerations.
All assessment data is securely collected and SOC 2 Type II compliant, giving IT teams confidence that sensitive information is protected.
The Google Workspace Migration Insight update turns ChromeOS Readiness Tool into a full Workspace adoption companion, not just a ChromeOS readiness tool. Enterprises can now:
Analyze actual application usage across devices
Identify migration complexity upfront
Map workflows to Google Workspace with feature clarity
Optimize resources while planning migration
By integrating device readiness, application readiness, and Workspace mapping, ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides a complete migration picture, ensuring organizations move to modern workflows smoothly and strategically.
Effectively managing security assessments with the ChromeOS Readiness Tool depends on proper data storage. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides valuable insights into device and app readiness before migrating to ChromeOS. A key part of its setup involves configuring Google Cloud Platform storage buckets. This explains storage options and configurations to ensure assessment data is secure, organized, and accessible.
When deploying the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, organizations must determine how assessment data will be stored and managed. GCP storage buckets act as secure containers within Google Cloud for all collected data. The installer provides two main storage options:
Partner Google Cloud Storage – a pre-existing bucket maintained by a ChromeOS Readiness Tool Partner, where customer data can be stored.
Company Google Cloud Storage – a bucket created and directly managed by your own organization.
For independent companies not working with a Partner, the storage choice is straightforward:
Select Company Google Cloud Storage.
Create your own storage bucket.
Connect the ChromeOS Readiness Tool by entering the bucket name once access is granted.
This ensures all assessment data is stored securely within your company’s GCP environment.
Organizations working with a certified Partner have two choices, enabled by a Partner setup file:
Partner’s Shared Bucket – Customers store data in the Partner’s bucket. The Partner requires a private key to view readiness results on their dashboard.
Customer’s Own Bucket – Customers may have the option to create their own storage bucket, selecting Company Google Cloud Storage instead of using the shared Partner option.
When configuring storage for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, following best practices ensures smooth and accurate data storage.
For users, we recommend:
Create and prepare the GCP bucket in advance – Set up the storage bucket before starting the configuration process.
Share access with the customer – Grant the customer the required access to the prepared bucket for seamless integration.
Verify access privileges – Double-check roles and permissions (e.g., Storage Object Admin) to avoid connection issues.
Refer to official resources – Use the step-by-step guidance in the user documentation and tutorial videos available on the ChromeOS Readiness Tool website and YouTube channel.
By following these practices, partners can streamline deployments, reduce errors, and ensure storage is ready for smooth data collection.
Correctly configuring GCP storage buckets is essential to unlocking the full value of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool. Whether you are a Pro company managing your own data or a Partner supporting multiple customers, selecting the right storage option ensures assessment data is secure, accessible, and aligned with dashboard insights. With the right storage configuration, organizations can confidently manage and store the data.