Microsoft Corp. is reportedly working on a new way to monetize Windows 10 in the enterprise.

The information comes from veteran Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley, who has broken many stories about the company over the past few decades. In a ZDNet report published today, Foley cited inside sources as saying that the technology giant is developing a managed service that will make Windows 10 devices available to enterprises for a monthly subscription.

It’s not clear exactly what devices are set to be put on offer. Microsoft will presumably prioritize its Surface line of computers, but the lineup can likely be expected to include other machines too, given the central role of hardware partners in the Windows 10 ecosystem.

According to the tipsters, the managed devices will be automatically provisioned for customers. If Autopilot, Microsoft’s existing automated provisioning service, is any indication, the offering might let companies create custom Windows 10 images that come with work applications preinstalled. Autopilot also lets enterprises have new machines connected to internal device management tools upon registration.

To further reduce administrative overhead, Microsoft will reportedly take over the task of implementing Windows 10 updates for customers. Patching is often a pain point for enterprises because of the large amount of work involved in refreshing an entire company’s worth of devices. By eliminating the need to do it manually, the managed Windows 10 service could not only free up person-hours but also lower the risk of technical issues.

Work on the offering is reportedly led by Microsoft executive Bill Karagounis. Karagounis is a former director of the company’s Windows Insider beta testing program who joined its Enterprise Mobility and Management group last year.

According to Foley, recent job postings suggest that the service will hit the market under the name Microsoft Managed Desktop. It could potentially compete with existing offerings from the company’s partners, some of which already offer Windows devices as part of monthly subscriptions. But with that said, Microsoft has in the past made sure to create opportunities for resellers to monetize its subscription bundles.

Image: Microsoft