Question:

How does MDM enrollment affect the Windows edition and product key of devices with Office E3 licenses?

We are using Windows 11 Pro devices with individual product keys (no volume license) and Office E3 licenses for our users. After enrolling the devices in MDM, we observed that they switched to Windows 11 Enterprise edition and adopted a common Microsoft product key (ending in 3V66T), while remaining activated. Is this an expected outcome of the enrollment process? What is the relation between the Office E3 license and the Windows edition change?

Answer:

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a service that allows organizations to manage and secure their devices remotely. MDM can be used to enforce policies, configure settings, install apps, and wipe data on devices that are enrolled in the service. MDM can also help organizations to comply with various regulations and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

One of the benefits of MDM is that it can automatically upgrade the Windows edition of enrolled devices to match the license level of the user. For example, if a user has an Office E3 license, which includes Windows 11 Enterprise, their device will be upgraded from Windows 11 Pro to Windows 11 Enterprise when they enroll in MDM. This upgrade is done without requiring a new product key or activation, as the device will use a generic Microsoft product key (ending in 3V66T) that is valid for all devices enrolled in MDM.

This behavior is expected and normal for MDM enrollment, as it allows users to access the features and benefits of Windows 11 Enterprise, such as advanced security, management, and productivity tools. The Windows edition upgrade is reversible, meaning that if the user unenrolls from MDM or loses their Office E3 license, their device will revert back to Windows 11 Pro and use their original product key.

The relation between the Office E3 license and the Windows edition change is that the Office E3 license includes Windows 11 Enterprise as part of the Microsoft 365 bundle. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that provides access to various Microsoft products and services, such as Office apps, OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint. By having an Office E3 license, the user is entitled to use Windows 11 Enterprise on their device, and MDM makes this process easier and seamless by automatically upgrading the device when it is enrolled.

To summarize, MDM enrollment affects the Windows edition and product key of devices with Office E3 licenses by upgrading them to Windows 11 Enterprise and using a generic Microsoft product key. This is an expected and normal outcome of the enrollment process, as it allows users to enjoy the features and benefits of Windows 11 Enterprise. The upgrade is reversible, and the relation between the Office E3 license and the Windows edition change is that the Office E3 license includes Windows 11 Enterprise as part of the Microsoft 365 bundle.