In the ever-evolving technology landscape, staying current and anticipating the future is not merely optional, it is a necessity. The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 marks a pivotal moment in the move towards a more secure, collaborative, and efficient workspace.
To make a success of this transition means working with the right technology partner, to allow your organisation to upgrade seamlessly, securely and reap the full benefits of Windows 11. Dell Technologies should be your partner on that journey.
A More Secure Era of Client Devices
Windows 11 is a significant step forward from its predecessor, Windows 10. However, from a user’s point of view, Windows 11 is an evolution of something familiar –– with the addition of a sleek user interface and enhanced aesthetic, rather than a completely new environment.
Under the surface, Windows 11 has a robust foundation developed with security in mind. It builds on the security model introduced in Windows 10, taking advantage of progress in device hardware security features, making it natively more secure. While these foundational changes might not be visible to users, they play a pivotal role in safeguarding your digital assets and data.
There are two years until Windows 10 reaches end-of-support, in mid-October 2025. At this time all security patches and innovation updates will be discontinued for most desktop versions of Windows 10; features such as Windows Copilot will only be available with Windows 11. That means it is important for any organisation that wants to innovate and maintain security in a distributed enterprise estate to begin planning for that transition now.
Know Your Enterprise Client Estate
One crucial aspect to note is the updated hardware requirement for Windows 11. Some older hardware may not be able to run the new operating system as they do not have the parts to support some Windows 11 enhanced security features.
The first step in the transition process is to understand your client hardware estate. If your devices have eighth generation or later Intel Processers, then the devices will be at least compatible, if perhaps not optimal.
Understanding the mix of your existing hardware now and any limitations will ensure a smooth transition later down the line. Following the pandemic, which saw a rush for companies to acquire PCs for their employees at home from wherever they were available, many organisations may have an unusually wide variety of devices from a greater range of vendors than they would have had in the past. Many of these devices may not have Enterprise features, such as remote manageability.
This multi-vendor landscape adds further complexity to the transition, on top of all the new challenges posed for companies that are continuing to support a hybrid (mixed remote/office) workforce post-pandemic.
With many organisations having downsized their in-person workspaces, it may simply not be possible to have full teams in a single location. And so, it is important to ensure that there is experience equality between those present in-person and those working remotely. Windows 11 offers improved collaborative tools and tighter integration with Microsoft Teams, which will benefit all organisations.
These three key factors – age of hardware, enterprise manageability, and the need for increased hybrid working tools – mean it is imperative for companies to understand their client hardware, employee requirements and the IT resources needed to support increased productivity.
Seamless Integration with Dell Technologies
Dell Technologies recognises that the journey to Windows 11 is multifaceted. It goes beyond the operating system itself and encompasses the hardware that supports it, the deployment strategies, and modern deployment and management infrastructures that unlock the enhanced features of Windows 11 for the end-user. Some of the benefits of trusting Dell Technologies with your journey to Windows 11 include:
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- Next generation security: With Dell Technologies client devices your workloads and data are protected however, wherever and whenever your employees work. Our devices are secure-by-design, equipped with zero trust capabilities, making them the most secure commercial PCs in the industry and the ideal partner to the most secure Windows Operating System ever.
- Seamless collaboration and boosted productivity: Dell’s commercial PCs are equipped with the latest processors and features that complement Windows 11. From PCs designed with the latest collaboration technology built-in, as well as user-friendly accessories like Teams Certified speakerphones, docking stations with built-in wireless charging for mobile devices, monitors with built-in webcams to headsets, Dell’s end-to-end offering reduces the time spent in meetings by three hours per week on average.
- Enhanced efficiency: We also offer the world’s most intelligent commercial PCs with Dell Optimizer – using built-in AI to optimise applications and battery life for a personalised experience – ensuring your devices operate in the best and most efficient way for the work that you are doing.
- Unburden your IT teams: With over 35 years in partnership with Microsoft and a suite of deployment and management tools that simplify the transition process, our management tools integrate seamlessly with Microsoft solutions like Intune – streamlining BIOS updates, and other essential tasks, so you can focus on innovation over admin. Taking advantage of our supply-chain services built on Microsoft Autopilot and Pre-provisioning with Intune, Dell is able to deliver ready-to-use devices directly to end-users from our factories. We can also support with planning and migration, with offers to suit all sizes of companies and whatever stage of the transition they are in.
Planning For The Future
Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14th 2025; it is essential to plan now and not wait until the last moment. Deployment of Windows 11 should be carried out in stages across your user estate, so whilst Windows 11 may not be an overnight transition, with proper planning and preparation it can be done smoothly and without disruption. Simple activities like testing in-place Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade in a Proof of Concept with Dell can be done to establish that there are no roadblocks to a trouble-free migration.
We will work with you to assess your requirements, understand the challenges that you have, based on our extensive experience with similar customer environments, so that we can make the right recommendation to roll out Windows 11 across your organisation.
The Future is Windows 11
While Windows 11 may not represent a dramatic departure from Windows 10 on the surface, its enhancements in security, collaboration, and user experience are clear. It is a step forward into a more secure and efficient digital workspace that aligns with the demands of the modern world, where remote and hybrid work are the norm.
As organisations embark on this journey, Dell Technologies stands ready to provide the hardware, expertise, and support needed to ensure a seamless transition – with 39 years of delivering world class products and global scale with our unmatched supply chain, and as a partner to Microsoft for almost all of that history. The road to Windows 11 is a path to a more secure, collaborative, and productive future, and with Dell as your partner, you can navigate it with confidence.
