IT Specialists Agree: Windows 10 Is the Best
August 22, 2016 by Lore Marketing Team
The much anticipated updates released with the Windows 10 Anniversary has IT specialists excited over an operating system that was already impressive compared to Windows 8 and Windows 7. According to market research from IDC, Windows 10 was adopted much more by PC users than any other Windows version. A report from WinBeta reveals 60% of users believe their experience with Windows 10 has been either ‘favorable’ or ‘very favorable.’
It’s undeniable that Windows 10 is the preferred operating system (OS) over other versions. It’s not only for home or personal use, though. IT specialists are adopting the OS at an alarming rate. Currently, 43.9% of respondents in an IDC survey said they support Windows 10 on IT-purchased notebooks, and 75.2% of them reported they were planning on using Windows 10 much more in the next year. The top two reasons for the migration is the inevitable obsolescence of Windows 7 and 8 and the new hardware support Windows 10 provides. In addition, VMWare reports 50% of users would rather work with Windows 10 than any other version.
What About Security and BYOD?
A concern of any IT specialist is the security of an OS. Upon careful examination of the W10 EULA, certain data can be accessed by Microsoft. However, this may not be a major concern for most businesses, especially with high quality security software installed on BYODs. The compatibility of Windows 10 with most software and hardware is what makes it attractive to most OS adopters.
The Windows 10 Enterprise edition offers the security and mobility needed for organizations with BYOD. The cloud-based Azure Active Directory offers secure and simple sign-on and authentication. Dale Vile, esteemed analyst for Freeform Dynamics, says that Windows 10 offers enterprise customers the long-awaited “run anywhere” applications and operational improvements that make it the best OS for small to large organizations. Clive Longbottom, co-founder for the analyst firm Quocirca says, “Windows 10 is certainly a major move by Microsoft. It is a shift to continuous delivery updates (no massive fork-lift upgrades in the future). Then there’s the obvious stuff, such as the fact the security model underpinning it is far more modern; the fact it has been optimized for fast, consistent internet access with the new Edge browser, and so on. It deserves to do well, for sure, but whether Microsoft can persuade customers effectively of its merits is another matter. It has to get all those XP desktops migrated.”
In addition to the versatility of Windows 10 on a tablet, many organizations are encouraging Windows 10 mobile phone use. It’s essentially a PC in your pocket. The Continuum application works with Windows 10 Universal applications, including Office. While some of the processes may differ, it does allow users to access and use their mobile phone to access data, and plug into keyboard, mice, and additional monitors through USB connections. This enables business travelers the luxury of working from the office from anywhere in the world with the peripheral capabilities.
Get the Most Out of Windows 10
Among the security and compatibility benefits of Windows 10, businesses can relish in many other OS features.
Mobile Device Management – Multiple users can share one device to have full control of VPN, device-wipe capabilities and configuring enterprise data. In addition, for those bringing personal devices to work, the MDM allows for separating personal and corporate data.
Update controls – In previous Windows versions, updates were uncontrollable. This led to many updates that caused issues with already installed and configured software and hardware. Windows 10 allows for adjustments in the frequency of updates. The Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) allows IT professionals to adjust the timing of installing patches.
Runtime configuration tools – Businesses won’t need to re-image when configuring devices. This can make the setup of wireless networks, email profiles, and VPNs simple. It can also make it easier to enforce security policies and control security updates.
Levels of security – In addition to Windows 10 security, which includes a two-factor authentication of device access and PIN or fingerprint entry, additional security measures such as WindowsBitlocker, an encryption tool for data, can offer another level of protection to safeguard data across networks.
Migrating to Windows 10
Adaptiva’s survey reports 64 percent of companies are planning to migrate to Windows 10 within the next year. According to the Chief Operating Officer at Adaptiva, Jim Souders, “The [survey] results are consistent with the influx of questions and interest we are seeing internally from customers who are in the Windows 10 planning process, and are looking to automate their migrations with a systems management solution that saves time and deployment costs.” The enterprise data protection and security auditing are just two of the many reasons migration is accelerating.
As any IT specialist knows, migrating to a new OS is no easy feat. Fortunately, the consensus is that most IT specialists are optimistic about migrating to Windows 10. Actually, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Kevin Curran, reports that Windows 10 has many features that support easy migration to the Windows OS upgrade.
For more information on migrating to or upgrading to Windows 10, contact us today