Does Your Canton or Akron Business Need Windows 11 Support?
The recent announcement of the impending release of Windows 11, and the fact it will be offered as a no-cost upgrade has many people anxiously waiting for the upgrade to finally be available — but not every machine will be compatible. Businesses and organizations across Canton and Akron are finding themselves under pressure to create a plan that will address the upcoming Windows 11 release.
To effectively upgrade to Windows 11, Canton and Akron businesses will need to undergo a readiness check to identify machines that will be compatible and to determine what needs to be done with the machines that will not be compatible.
The majority of businesses and organizations are running Windows 10, but some are still running older operating systems, including Windows 7. While Microsoft will continue to support systems that are operating Windows 10 until 2025, businesses and organizations need to develop an efficient plan to update or eliminate devices without it leading to significant downtime – and without straining budgets or resources.
What are the requirements for Windows 11?
A significant amount of work will need to be completed to achieve full Windows 11 readiness since the requirements of the operating system will be more strict than the requirements for Windows 10. Microsoft has increased its number of management controls (there will be 1,000 new controls) eliminating the need for older management systems like Group Policy.
To be ready for the upgrade to Windows 11, devices must meet specific requirements, such as the following:
- 1 GHz processor (or faster) with two or more cores, x86_64 or ARM64 only
- 4GB of RAM
- At least 64GB of storage
- 720p minimum resolution, 9″ or greater monitor, 8 bits per color channel or higher
- Trusted Platform Module 2.0 is a minimum requirement
There will be additional system requirements that may make the upgrade to Windows 11 even more challenging. If your business or organization has devices that fail to meet these requirements will not have the ability to be updated to the new operating system.
What can Windows 11 offer your business?
During the introduction of Windows 11, Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft said the following:
”Windows has always existed to be a stage for the world’s innovation. It’s been the backbone of global businesses and where scrappy startups became household names. The web was born and grew up on Windows. It’s the place where many of us wrote our first email, played our first PC game and wrote our first line of code. Windows is the place people go to create, to connect, to learn and to achieve — a platform over a billion people today rely on.”
Windows 11 is designed to support remote workers and hybrid workers, along with their need to use multiple devices. Windows 11 will introduce a plethora of productivity-based features and the level of security needed to support these features. Windows 11 was designed with remote and hybrid workplaces in mind.
With an increased focus on remote and hybrid workers, Windows 11 will make it easier for users to work between different workstations, use different applications, and use different devices. Preferences and arrangements will remain consistent across the board as it relates to devices and settings, ensuring all users will have a better experience with Windows 11 across the board.
Will Windows 11 have efficient and effective security measures?
Microsoft understands how important security is in all businesses and organizations, but workplaces that have implemented hybrid and remote workforces are looking for an operating system that will provide them with powerful security measures. As more users find themselves needing to access sensitive and confidential data from several devices, it is critical to ensure all data will be protected. Windows 11 plans to take things to a higher level by implementing new security standards.
According to Microsoft, Windows 11 will be the most secure Microsoft operating system. Windows 11 will offer a zero-trust security model. New security features Windows 11 users can expect to find include — but not limited to encrypted, malware protection, and other improved security capabilities.
Windows 11 users can expect to see the popular application Microsoft Teams across every aspect of the operating system. Users can easily access Teams chats and meetings simply by using the Microsoft Teams icon that will be located on the user’s taskbar. Also, functionalities found in Teams will be arranged in a more accessible manner, enabling users to have a seamless audio and video conferencing experience.
While Microsoft does offer some tips and advice on preparing for a seamless transition to Windows 11, many business leaders may not understand why some or all of their devices won’t support Windows 11. Without a full understanding of Windows 11, businesses and organizations could potentially spend a significant amount of time, energy, and money inspecting their machines to determine what will be compatible and what will not be compatible. There is also the chance that some machines and devices will be overlooked.
Windows 11 is expected to provide improved features to its users, while providing a high-quality level of security. The transition to Windows 11 may prove challenging to many businesses and organizations as they do their best to update devices before the end of Windows 10 arrives in 2025.
Many Canton and Akron businesses and organizations that want to make the switch to Windows 11 when it becomes available may not currently meet the minimum requirements. Windows 11 isn’t officially released yet but Rea & Associates is preparing to provide the best Windows 11 support for businesses and organizations in the area.
Rea & Associates is researching Windows 11, testing our pre-release versions of the software (when available), and preparing our techs to work with clients on upgrades from Windows 7 and Windows 10. Plus installing new systems with Windows 11. Not every IT company in the area goes through the amount of prep work we do to prepare for a major Windows release. Contact our team today to schedule your free consultation and find out how we can help you make the transition to Windows 11.
