Microsoft has developed a new set of cloud-powered technologies aimed at simplifying the set-up of new Windows 10 PCs that it's calling Windows AutoPilot.

Windows AutoPilot Deployment is a new cloud service that enables IT to customize the Windows 10 out of box setup experience using a cloud configuration. Imagine being able to take a new device out of the box and with just a few clicks fully configuring it for productive use - no more images to create and maintain, no infrastructure to manage, and a simple process. In addition, any member of an organization will be able to easily setup a new device without needing any IT assistance.

Windows AutoPilot Deployment works with existing Azure Active Directory and Intune mobile device management (MDM) services, enabling a new PC to be transformed into a business-ready device: joined to Azure Active Directory, enrolled in Intune, transformed to Windows 10 Enterprise, settings applied, Office 365 apps and line-of-business apps installed.

As part of Windows AutoPilot Deployment, Microsoft will roll out the Windows AutoPilot Deployment Program to enable OEMs, distributors, and resellers to link devices to an organization. Surface will pilot Windows AutoPilot Deployment program with select customers and partners this summer.

The Microsoft Store for Business and Microsoft Partner Center will soon provide Windows AutoPilot capabilities so that organizations as well as partners managing IT for organizations can link and configure devices.

Windows AutoPilot and other new features will be added in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update later this year:

• Windows AutoPilot Reset - a new reset mechanism to reset a fully configured device while maintaining MDM management and AAD connection state and automatically get the device back into a fully configured state.
• Enhanced Personalization with Windows AutoPilot Deployment - ability to pre-assign a device to a specific employee in the organization via cloud-configuration.
• Self Service Active Directory domain join - self-service deployment to get new Windows 10 devices into Active Directory domain joined state along with Microsoft Intune enrollment.

Microsoft is adding more features to Intune to enable it to take advantage of Windows AutoPilot and the coming Windows Defender Application Guard technology that will be in the Fall Creators Update. Intune will provide a way to deploy and configure Windows Defender Application Guard and Windows Firewall rules. And Intune also will provide an option to show progress during the device provisioning process, so employees can see information about what their companies are managing, officials said.

Devices joined to Active Directory and automatically registered in Azure Active Directory can be enrolled in Intune or another mobile-device-management service via Windows Autopilot Deployment, officials said.