Hi Emily,
> I’m using ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6.1. Upgrading ArcGIS Enterprise would require the entire setup of Portal, web adaptors, Data Store, federating, SQL and Windows authentication again, right?
Correct. You would have to update the entire ArcGIS Enterprise stack to get the updated Operations Dashboard release.
FYI: Possible workaround, you could share your web services from ArcGIS Enterprise to an ArcGIS Online organization, then use Operations Dashboard in the organization.
Hope this helps,