A How-To Guide for Building an AI-Ready Endpoint Strategy
Plan smarter refreshes for Windows 11 and Copilot with AMD-powered devices.
The Endpoint Refresh Is Becoming an AI Strategy
Windows 11 migration and Copilot adoption are changing the endpoint conversation. What used to be a device refresh decision is now a broader modernization moment, one that touches productivity, security, management, user experience and long-term lifecycle planning.
55%
of the total PC market is projected to be AI PCs in 2026.1
For IT leaders, the question is no longer just which devices need to be replaced. It is whether the endpoint environment is ready to support the way people will work next.
Windows 10 end of support has already pushed migration planning to the top of many IT roadmaps. But Windows 11 readiness is only one part of the story. Copilot and AI-powered features are becoming more embedded in everyday workflows, creating new demands for endpoint performance, local processing, manageability and user enablement.
Waiting can compress timelines, increase risk and force short-term buying decisions. But rushing into a refresh without a broader strategy can create its own problems, especially if devices purchased today cannot support the AI-enabled experiences users may need tomorrow.
A smarter approach starts with an AI-ready endpoint strategy.
Windows 11-Ready Is Not the Same as AI-Ready
Many organizations are focused on whether their current devices can support Windows 11. That is an important first step, but it does not answer every modernization question.
A device can be ready for Windows 11 without being ready for the next wave of AI-enabled workplace experiences. As Copilot and Copilot+ PC capabilities evolve, endpoint performance, memory, storage and local AI processing can all affect how users experience modern work.
What Is a Copilot+ PC?
Copilot+ PCs are a class of Windows devices built to support advanced AI experiences with local processing capabilities. They include hardware specifications that go beyond basic operating system readiness.
Microsoft Copilot+ PC specifications include:
- 16GB or more of RAM
- 256GB or more of storage
- A neural processing unit capable of 40+ TOPS²
These new standards matter because AI workloads don’t all run the same way. Some experiences may rely on the cloud. Others may benefit from local processing to improve responsiveness, reduce network dependence or help manage cloud compute costs.
AMD-powered endpoint devices can help organizations prepare for evolving AI demands by providing the performance, memory and NPU capabilities needed to support Windows 11 today while creating a stronger foundation for Copilot and future AI-enabled workloads.
Build an AI-Ready Endpoint Strategy
Endpoint modernization should not begin with a device list, but with a clearer understanding of how people work. The goal is to match device capabilities to real roles, workflows and business needs, then build a scalable plan for deployment, management and lifecycle support.
Step 1:
Segment Users by Role and Workflow
Look beyond job titles to understand how different groups actually work.
What to consider:
- Daily applications and workflows
- Collaboration and meeting demands
- Copilot usage expectations
- Mobility and connectivity needs
- Data sensitivity and security requirements
- Performance and multitasking needs
Step 2:
Define Endpoint Tiers
Match each user group to the level of performance, manageability and AI readiness they need. Some users may need dependable Windows 11-ready devices for standard productivity. Others may need AI-ready endpoints with stronger memory, processing and local AI capabilities.
What to consider:
- Baseline Windows 11 requirements
- Copilot and Copilot+ PC readiness
- Local AI processing needs
- Security and management standards
- User experience expectations
- Budget and refresh priorities
Step 3:
Plan for the Next 24 to 36 Months
Endpoint decisions made today should support the way users will work across the full device lifecycle.
What to consider:
- Expected device lifecycle
- Future AI-enabled workflows
- Application and operating system updates
- Warranty and support needs
- Refresh timing by user group
- Scalability across the fleet
The result is a practical endpoint strategy that helps IT leaders prioritize investments, support Copilot adoption and standardize on AI-ready devices with more confidence.
Balance Local and Cloud AI Workloads
AI does not have to live entirely in the cloud or entirely on the endpoint. The right balance depends on the workflow, the user, the data involved, and the organization’s performance, security and cost requirements.
Cloud-based AI can provide scale and access to powerful services. Local AI processing can support responsiveness, reduce dependence on network availability and help improve the experience for certain everyday AI tasks.
Endpoint vs. Cloud Decision Path
Consider local processing when:
- The workflow involves sensitive or
regulated data - Users need fast, responsive performance
- Connectivity is limited or unpredictable
- Repeated AI tasks could increase cloud compute costs
- A better user experience depends on device-level performance
Consider cloud processing when:
- The workload requires large-scale compute resources
- Users have reliable connectivity
- Data governance policies support cloud-based AI workflows
- The use case is still being piloted
- Centralized access, control and scalability are higher priorities
AMD-powered AI PCs give organizations more flexibility in this decision-making process by supporting local AI capabilities that can complement cloud-based Copilot and AI services.
Pilot, Scale and Sustain
A successful Copilot and AI-ready endpoint strategy should be grounded in real-world validation. Testing in the environment where employees actually work helps ensure the strategy aligns with day-to-day workflows, applications and user expectations.
That means piloting with real users, real device images, real applications and real workflows. Synthetic benchmarking can be useful, but it does not always show how a device will perform in the daily rhythm of meetings, multitasking, document creation, data analysis and collaboration.
Pilot With Real Workflows
Validate Windows 11 readiness, Copilot usage, device performance, application compatibility and user experience with representative users.
Build the Management Baseline
Confirm device compliance and update strategy, identity controls, security policies and support readiness before expanding rollout.
Measure What Matters
Track user experience, application performance, battery life, collaboration quality, support tickets and adoption of Copilot-enabled workflows.
Sustain Adoption
Use pilot findings to refine endpoint standards, user guidance, support documentation and refresh planning before scaling across the fleet.
The pilot should answer more than “Does it work?” It should help define where AI-ready endpoint capabilities create the most value, which users should be prioritized and what IT needs in place before broader adoption.
Find Your Best Next Step
Many organizations are moving toward the same destination, but not from the same starting point. The right next step depends on where your endpoint, Windows 11 and Copilot plans stand today.
How CDW Helps You Move From Planning to Progress
Windows 11 migration and Copilot adoption are not just technology milestones. They are change management, endpoint strategy, security and lifecycle planning challenges.
CDW brings those pieces together through deep services expertise, solution guidance and strong partnerships with AMD, Microsoft and leading OEMs.
Readiness Assessment
Evaluate your current endpoint environment, identify Windows 11 migration gaps and clarify which devices are ready for modernization.
Endpoint Segmentation and Strategy
Define user roles, endpoint tiers and refresh priorities so your device strategy aligns with real business needs.
Copilot and AI Readiness
Assess data governance, workflow alignment, security considerations and user enablement needs before expanding adoption.
Pilot and Deployment Support
Plan pilots, validate real workflows, configure devices and support rollout at scale.
Lifecycle Planning
Create a refresh roadmap that supports procurement, deployment, management, support and future AI-ready device needs.
AMD-Powered Endpoint Solutions
Select AI-ready endpoint devices powered by AMD processors and designed for Windows 11 and Copilot experiences.
Modernization Is a Strategy, Not a Single Step
The move to Windows 11 and Copilot is more than a migration. It is an opportunity to rethink how endpoint devices support productivity, security, AI adoption and long-term value.
The right AI-ready endpoint strategy helps you:
✓ Match devices to real user needs
✓ Support Windows 11 migration
✓ Prepare for Copilot adoption at scale
✓ Balance local and cloud AI workloads
✓ Improve lifecycle confidence
✓ Strengthen endpoint security and management
✓ Reduce risk as workplace AI evolves
Sources:
1 Gartner, “Gartner Says Artificial Intelligence PCs Will Represent 31% of Worldwide PC Market by the End of 2025,” August 2025
2 Microsoft, “Copilot+ PCs Hardware Requirements”
Build Your AI-Ready Endpoint Strategy With CDW
CDW can help you assess your environment, define endpoint tiers, pilot AI-ready devices and create a modernization roadmap that supports Windows 11, Copilot and the future of work.