diff --git a/.azure.yml b/.azure.yml
index bb6f0c16..82dc3020 100644
--- a/.azure.yml
+++ b/.azure.yml
@@ -71,22 +71,40 @@ jobs:
   timeoutInMinutes: 120
   pool:
     vmImage: 'windows-latest'
+  variables:
+    VCINSTALLDIR: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC'
 
   steps:
   - checkout: self # represents the repo where the initial Pipelines YAML file was found
     submodules: recursive # set to 'recursive' to get submodules of submodules
 
+  # install qt 5.15 via aqtinstall
+  - script: |
+      cd $(Build.SourcesDirectory)
+      python -m pip install aqtinstall
+      python -m aqt install -O c:\Qt 5.15.0 windows desktop win64_msvc2019_64
+    displayName: 'Install Qt'
+
+  # use Python 3.x from the tool cache
   - task: UsePythonVersion@0
     inputs:
       versionSpec: '3.x'
       addToPath: true
       architecture: 'x64'
+    displayName: 'Install Python'
 
+  # install nsis via chocolatey
+  - powershell: choco install --no-progress nsis -y
+    displayName: 'Install NSIS'
+
+  # install openssl via chocolatey
+  - powershell: choco install --no-progress openssl -y
+    displayName: 'Install OpenSSL'
+
+  # register x64 architecture environment
   - script: |
-      cd $(Build.SourcesDirectory)
-      python -m pip install aqtinstall
-      python -m aqt install -O c:\Qt 5.15.0 windows desktop win64_msvc2019_64
-    displayName: 'Install Qt 5.15.0'
+      call "%VCINSTALLDIR%\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
+    displayName: 'Set up x64 build architecture environment'
 
   # build process
   - bash: ./.ci/ci_build.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml b/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
index 3253a5cb..7e93917c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ jobs:
   windows:
     name: Windows
     runs-on: windows-latest
+    env:
+      VCINSTALLDIR: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC'
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v1
@@ -147,18 +149,18 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.x'
 
       - name: Install NSIS
-        run: |
-          Invoke-WebRequest https://netcologne.dl.sourceforge.net/project/nsis/NSIS%203/3.05/nsis-3.05-setup.exe -OutFile nsis-setup.exe
-          .\nsis-setup.exe /S
+        run: choco install --no-progress nsis -y
+
+      - name: Install OpenSSL
+        run: choco install --no-progress openssl -y
 
       - name: Set up x64 build architecture environment
         shell: cmd
-        run: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
+        run: call "${{env.VCINSTALLDIR}}\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
 
       # Build packages
       - name: Build packages
         env:
-          VCINSTALLDIR: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC'
           PLATFORM: windows
         shell: bash
         run: ./.ci/ci_build.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/push-master.yml b/.github/workflows/push-master.yml
index 1d62e917..95febfe8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/push-master.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/push-master.yml
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ jobs:
   windows:
     name: Windows
     runs-on: windows-latest
+    env:
+      VCINSTALLDIR: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC'
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v1
@@ -110,9 +112,15 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: '3.x'
 
+      - name: Install NSIS
+        run: choco install --no-progress nsis -y
+
+      - name: Install OpenSSL
+        run: choco install --no-progress openssl -y
+
       - name: Set up x64 build architecture environment
         shell: cmd
-        run: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
+        run: call "${{env.VCINSTALLDIR}}\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"
 
       # Build packages
       - name: Build packages
@@ -121,6 +129,13 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: ./.ci/ci_build.sh
 
+      # upload artifacts (only on tagged commit)
+      - name: Upload artifacts
+        if: startsWith(github.event.ref, 'refs/tags')
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
+        with:
+          path: build/Hyperion-*
+
 ######################
 #### Documentation ###
 ######################
@@ -165,7 +180,7 @@ jobs:
   publish:
     name: Publish Releases
     if: startsWith(github.event.ref, 'refs/tags')
-    needs: [Linux, macOS, Docs]
+    needs: [Linux, macOS, windows, Docs]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -200,6 +215,7 @@ jobs:
           prerelease: ${{ env.preRelease }}
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
       # Dispatch event to build new HyperBian image
       - name: Dispatch HyperBian build
         uses: peter-evans/repository-dispatch@v1