Windows 10 for business

Main article: Windows 10

Popularity of Windows OS

Main article: Popularity of Windows OS

Security of Windows

Main article: Security of Windows

Errors Windows 10

Main article: Errors Windows 10

2018

Why Windows 10 Pro is unsuitable for the companies

In May, 2018 analysts of Gartner expressed opinion that the changes made by Microsoft company in support of Windows 10 do the version of Windows 10 Pro unsuitable for most the large companies.                

We expect that Microsoft will position further Windows 10 Pro as the edition not suitable for corporations as the company reduces support and limits access to functions of corporate management — the vice president for researches and one of experts in Windows Gartner Stephen Kleynkhans reported.

Analysts of Gartner expressed opinion that the changes made by Microsoft company in support of Windows 10 do the version of Windows 10 Pro unsuitable for most the large companies

According to the ComputerWorld portal, Windows 10 Pro is the intermediate version of the operating system between home (Home) and corporate (Enterprise) versions on the functions and the price. As Enterprise-versions of Windows were never provided to computer makers, Pro was the most popular previously installed OS on the new PCs deliverable at the companies.

In spite of the fact that the Pro-version is used long ago by corporate clients, Microsoft repeatedly waged campaigns for migration on Windows 10 that led to bigger separation of Pro and Enterprise. According to analysts of Gartner, in 2018 the gap became insuperable, and making changes of Microsoft in support of Windows 10 became a last straw.

In 2017 Microsoft announced prolongation of support of assembly of Windows 10 (1511 — also known as Windows 10 November Update) for six months (till April of the 2018th), "to help some early corporate users who finish transition to Windows". In February Microsoft added versions 1609, 1703 and 1709 released in the middle of 2016 and in April and October, 2017 respectively, to the augmented list of support, having provided 24 months of support instead of normal 18.

However this change concerned only Windows 10 Enterprise, but not the version of Windows 10 Pro which support remained at the level of 18 months.

For example, support of Windows 10 of Enterprise 1709 and free "additional service" will end in October, 2019 whereas support of Windows 10 of Pro 1709 is stopped on April 9, 2019.

According to Stephen Kleynkhans, it can mean that Microsoft does not intend to use the version of Pro for corporate clients.

Clients who use Windows 10 Pro now should monitor statements of Microsoft because they finally will need to purchase Windows 10 Enterprise as Windows 10 Pro will be focused on semi-professionals and representatives of small business — the analyst considers.

One more component of the current strategy of support Microsoft Windows 10 which the company called "additional paid service" was also unavailable to those who work with Windows 10 Pro. Additional support which Microsoft will sell at the cost which size is not announced is available only to clients who purchased versions of Enterprise and Education. Paid services are provided for 12 months in addition to 18 months of free.

According to Gartner, options of prolongation of service and paid support are applicable only to corporate and educational versions. The customer support, using Windows 10 Pro, will still make 18 months. Thus, Microsoft hints even stronger that corporate clients should upgrade to the version of Windows 10 Enterprise.

Without looking not that the possibility of paid prolongation of support can seem attractive, finally it can appear quite expensively in practice, researchers believe, having urged the companies to demand from Microsoft two complete years of support for Windows 10.^[1]

Windows ML is the platform on work with AI

The Microsoft corporation announced on March 15, 2018 that in the following updating of Windows 10 the platform for developers on work with artificial intelligence of Windows ML will be submitted. According to the statement of the company, it will allow "allocate" user applications on Windows with 10 "smart" functions much more simply and quicker.

The platform includes the program interface Windows Machine Learning API using which it will be possible to implement functionality of in advance trained neuronets and ready models of machine learning in the developed applications. Examples of implementation of these technologies can be the most various: from "smart" search in video and images before drawing up individual musical playlists.

At the same time important characteristic of Windows ML is that work of AI technologies does not require a cloud platform — calculations can be made at local capacities. Among other features — the lack of delays of network, decrease in operating costs of development, flexibility in creation of solutions and also convenience of start both in a cloud, and on the device, claim in Microsoft.

The Windows platform of ML will be supported by devices on Windows: notebooks, stationary PCs, peripheral devices of Internet of Things, servers, data centers and even the headset of the mixed reality of Microsoft HoloLens.

The purpose of Microsoft is wide circulation and democratization of artificial intelligence technologies. For this purpose the corporation implements AI in the products, such as, for example, packet of Office 365 and system of biometric authorization Windows Hello.

2017

Microsoft planned improvement of instruments of IT management

On June 30, 2017 the Microsoft company announced plans of upgrade, in autumn updating, instruments of IT management for corporate clients.

As a part of these functions:

• Windows AutoPilot: the packet of technologies and opportunities of installation created for simplification of process of setup and management of Windows 10 PC.
• Windows AutoPilot Deployment Program: function of a binding of devices to the organization. For equipment manufacturers, distributors and resellers to tie the device to the organization.
• Windows AutoPilot Reset: the mechanism of reset of the configured device when preserving control over it by means of MDM (Mobile Device Managment) and preserving of connection to Azure Active Directory which allows to return automatically the device to a status with the set settings.
• MDM functions: in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update they will provide visualization of the status of the device at initialization, with their help it will be possible to tell the employee - what configurations are configured and when the device is ready to use.
• Device Health: the last addition to Windows Analytics packet, will allow to detect problems which can complicate work with the device on Windows 10, will provide necessary instructions for the pro-active solution.

Forrester: Windows 10 pays back investments (ROI) quicker

On April 11, 2017 the Forrester Consulting company submitted the version of the research Total Economic Impact (TEI) devoted to efficiency of use of Windows by 10 corporate customers.

According to results of a research, Windows 10 provides an investment payback (ROI), at the same time allows the companies to work in safer environment, to optimize tasks of management and to increase mobility of employees.

The research Forrester TEI estimates costs and advantages in areas on which IT services, a contribution of technologies to the general increase in efficiency of business processes are usually estimated. Representatives of eight large companies with number of staff from 20 thousand employees and from 24 thousand devices from the installed Windows 10 participated in polls.

According to the results of a research of analytics of the company drew conclusions:

• investment payback (ROI) — in three years of investment of the polled organizations pay off from 188% to 233%, the complete investment payback is possible within 13-14 months. The expected cumulative advantages of the standard organization in three years will be made by $14.7 million.
• reducing costs of IT and their service — the polled organizations are sure that on control of computers Windows 10 is left by 15% less time, than on device management with the previous versions of Windows OS and estimate these advantages at $1.5 million.
• reducing costs of cybersecurity with its gain — Windows 10 supports several functions of security (for example, BitLocker, Credential Guard, Device Guard, the Defender of Windows, Windows Hello, Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection) and uses technologies of virtualization for management and additional improvement of security and protection against encoders.

After implementation of Windows 10 of the organization expect reduction of such problems and (or) durations of their solution for 33%. In a financial equivalent of the company estimate the benefit the amount more than $700 thousand a year.

Growth of productivity of all participants of business processes – in addition to reducing costs of IT services respondents noted growth of productivity and mobility of employees. After the Windows 10 installation? the staff of the company working far off noted increase in efficiency for 25%.

Saving of a time available for delivery and applications testing – before transition to Windows 10 time spent for a request of applications was estimated by respondents 150 minutes (this indicator is received on the basis of waiting time of the help of IT department and accomplishment of less automated installation process). After migration this indicator was reduced to 15 minutes.

The research is conducted by Forrester Consulting company, on an initiative Microsoft. Authors of a research set before themselves the purpose to provide a technique of assessment of potential economic effect of system implementation.

2016: Sale of Windows of 10 Enterprise Editions on a subscription

On July 12, 2016 Microsoft reported that Windows 10 Enterprise Editions will become available to all companies on a subscription through partners. It it was announced at the WPC 2016 conference in Toronto (Canada).

In the fall of 2016 the Microsoft partners participating in the CSP program (Cloud Solution Provider; allows the companies to resell cloud products of Microsoft and to add to them own solutions), will offer Windows 10 Enterprise E3 (one of two modifications of Windows 10 Enterprise) within subscription model. Clients will be able to update this operating system and also to manage user licenses through a cloud.

Microsoft reported that Windows 10 Enterprise Editions will be available to the companies of any size on a subscription through partners

As notes the Bloomberg agency, for the first time the subscription model of sales Windows Enterprise Edition will be available to the companies of any size. Earlier only large business and only after complete payment and conclusion of an agreement for several years could use such version of OS generally.^[2]

An opportunity to work with a system on a subscription and the low price will make corporate Windows 10 more attractive to the small organizations, the general marketing manager of Windows Mat Barlow (Matt Barlow) specified to the CRN edition.^[3]

The monthly payment for use of Windows 10 of Enterprise E3 will make $7 (or $84 a year) counting on one working computer under control of this software platform. Barlow claims that in this cost profit for partners is already put, but did not begin to open a share. According to the top manager, the companies cooperating with Microsoft will be able to earn from sale of subscriptions to Windows 10 Enterprise in a packet with other cloud solutions, such Office 365 as well as Dynamics CRM and to gain a regular income within one contract for all complex of products.

At the request of TAdviser in Microsoft did not begin to comment on the prices for the Russian market, having reasoned it with the fact that they will be set by partners.

Windows 10 Enterprise E3 will be on sale not only on a subscription, but also through traditional programs of licensing of Microsoft. The cost of such licenses will become known later.

2015: Reflections about Windows 10 from the Chief information officer's position

The release of the Windows 10 system is expected in the summer of 2015 (Microsoft does not give more exact information on terms). The operating system equipped with a lot of necessary improvements of the user interface, increased security in the field of personal data protection and access control, the unified base of the code and API that will allow developers to create the applications working on different devices^[4].

They are the expected improvements taking into account that many enterprises slowly accepted Windows 8 (or did not do it).

Starting Windows 10, 2015 screen

IT heads locate reasons for careful optimism in making decision on transition of users to the next version of Windows. How and when they should take such step?

There are several aspects necessary for IT heads - in understanding of Windows.

In Windows 10 Microsoft plunged into problem solving of the user interface, and, judging by the available preliminary version of OS, it, at last, does everything correctly. The traditional interface of a desktop looks much more similar to Windows 7, and touch optimized user interface became more intuitive. Besides, interaction between two interfaces is considerably improved:

Windows 10 is "adaptive", i.e. it can find out what device is used (the desktop computer, the notebook, the tablet, the big wall monitor, the smartphone) and to adjust the image.

Microsoft promised that updating with Windows 7 and Windows 8 on Windows 10 will be much more smooth and simple.

• Safety features, useful to the enterprises, are added to Windows 10

Microsoft advertizes improvements in such areas as personal data protection and access control, data protection and resistance to threats. For more details see in article Security of Windows

• Platform of universal applications

Windows 10 is the first version of OS with the unified base of the code and API meaning that the applications created for it can work (with minor changes) on the different devices supporting OS: smartphones, tablets, notebooks, desktop PCs, Xbox consoles, devices of Internet of Things. It is good news both to end users, and to commercial and corporate developers, it will be much easier for them to create tools, applications and integration for the operating system, without need to rewrite them from scratch for different devices.

"The platform offers a new class of universal applications Windows — applications which are really written once, with one set of business logic and one interface", - Kevin Gallo, the technical lead of Microsoft company for Windows platforms developers told.

For Microsoft, it is also method to increase the number of the applications available to mobile devices with Windows as mobile developers did not test enthusiasm concerning a waste of time and resources, creating Windows applications of Phone, considering its tiny user base — 2.7% of global market of OS for smartphones in 2014, according to data of IDC.

"The platform of universal applications perhaps, the most important technology included in Windows 10. Demonstrations which I saw show that this real solution which will really improve experience with Windows 10", - Gillen from IDC noted.

• In Windows 10 there are some surprises

While the priority of Microsoft for Windows 10 consisted in correction of shortcomings of Windows 8, and includes achievements in such areas as security, the company also adds some interesting features to new OS. For example, Windows 10 will include:

• • Technology of holograms: Windows 10 provides that Microsoft is called by the "holographic computing platform" with API for developers allowing to create 3D-applications and to use them using HoloLens mounted on the head of the holographic computer for viewing holograms in high resolution and listenings in the mode of volume sounding.

• • Cortana: the reply of Microsoft to Siri from Apple. Cortana is ported with Windows Phone 8.1 now in Windows 10 so users of new OS can interact with the computers and applications using voice commands.

• • Two browsers: Project Spartan debuts the new browser code-named in Windows 10. It will be equipped with the new engine of rendering and will provide what Microsoft calls "more compatible, reliable and available experience". Expanded functions include the summary of web pages, a read mode without noises and Cortana integration.

• • Project Spartan is developed as the "universal" browser which will work on different devices with Windows 10, and will be constantly updated in the direction of strengthening of security and improvement of convenience of using.

• • the New browser has backward compatibility with the existing websites intended for IE, but to be convinced that Windows 10 works well with old websites which require support of old technologies, OS will also be delivered with IE 11.

• Windows 10 looks good so far, but...

While early reviews of preliminary versions of Windows 10 were generally positive, IT heads should have the detailed, strategic plan for OS assessment from within to be convinced that it not only is stable, but also to see how it works in their organization, with specific commercial and user applications, hardware, etc.

"We consider that to study Windows 10 will have the vital value for the IT head. Forrester considers that unlike Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10 will be accepted as the corporate IT standard", - Johnson said from Forrester.

Notes