After six years of service, Windows 10 has a successor. Microsoft announced its latest operating system, Windows 11, earlier this summer. It is slated to run over the holiday season until 2022. As that time frame approaches, you may start to wonder whether your business should upgrade or not.
Like its predecessor, Windows 11 will be a free update for all current Windows users. However, just because there are no upfront financial costs does not mean that the transition will be smooth. Sometimes upgrades can be disruptive and require a few updates before they perform as they should.
Considering these concerns, you may wonder whether you should upgrade now or wait until Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10. Here is a closer look at the new operating system to help you make a decision.
Windows 11 features
The most noticeable difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11 is the user interface. The taskbar and Start menu are now in the center of the screen, although users can move them to the side if they wish. Overall, the user interface is more simplistic, similar to macOS, aimed at facilitating higher productivity.
Windows 11 also comes with some useful upgrades under the hood. The operating system has improved multitasking support, allowing you to group windows and tile them according to your preferences. It will also remember how you configured your windows between multiple monitors.
Tablet mode also gets an upgrade with Windows 11, with new gestures and making things easier to touch while in it. The Windows 11 App Store will also support Android apps, which tablet users may find useful. The new operating system also offers security upgrades such as built-in encryption, hardware isolation, and malware prevention.
You should note that a few features also remain in Windows 11. Cortana, Windows Timeline, Internet Explorer, and the Math Input Panel will all be compatible with Windows 10. Skype, OneNote, Paint3D, and the 3D Viewer will no longer be preinstalled, although you can always get them from the app store.
Hardware requirements for Windows 11
A crucial consideration when deciding to upgrade now is the hardware requirements for Windows 11. The update has some unusual minimum requirements that may require a hardware upgrade for some companies before it can be used.
Specifically, Windows 11 requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, a hardware cryptoprocessor. Since many companies use legacy hardware, motherboards in many companies may not have this functionality. Your computers should also have hardware isolation, secure boot, and hypervisor code integrity built in and enabled by default.
Apart from these features, the system requirements for Windows 11 are quite simple and not too demanding. You should have at least 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, and a 1 GHz dual-core processor. Most modern businesses should be able to meet these requirements, but the TPM 2.0 requirement can be a problem.
Benefits of upgrading
Considering all of these factors, a few benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 emerge. TPM 2.0 and hardware isolation requirements, while unusual, indicate a greater emphasis on security. If the first signs are true, Windows 11 should be a more secure operating system than Windows 10, although companies should always take extra precautions.
UI improvements should also make using Windows 11 a more responsive and smooth experience. If employees often use tablets or multiple monitors, the new features should be especially helpful. It may take a little while to adjust to the new system, but it could help businesses become more productive down the road.
From an IT perspective, Windows 11 can streamline operations. New tools and apps should make app creation faster and easier. Windows 11 will also only be updated once a year instead of Windows 10’s more frequent and less predictable schedule, making it easier to update.
Potential problems
Of course, there are a few lingering issues with upgrading to Windows 11. Any update of this magnitude will have a few bugs at the start that could make adapting to the new user interface difficult. Depending on their importance, this could negate the productivity benefits of new Windows 11 features for your employees.
Hardware is another issue that some businesses may encounter. Many businesses may need to upgrade their equipment to support Windows 11, which can result in high costs and significant disruption. Companies that increase their IT spending in 2021, however, could help offset this problem.
Some apps may not be compatible with Windows 11, at least not for a while. These issues can cause difficulties for some businesses using legacy software. If your team is using apps that Microsoft doesn’t support in Windows 11, that will be a problem as well.
The final verdict
Most, if not all, concerns about Windows 11 apply to software upgrades in their early stages. At the same time, Windows 11 may make some useful changes, but those changes probably won’t change a thing. Therefore, it may be best to wait until the initial release is complete to upgrade.
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 in 2025, when you absolutely must upgrade. You don’t have to wait that long, but it can be worth waiting around a year after release before switching. This way you have time to prepare and can enjoy its benefits without the first bugs and glitches.
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