01 April 2019
The real-world benefits of upgrading to Windows 10
Still wondering if you should upgrade to Windows 10?
Microsoft's latest operating system is a solid product, with significant improvements under the hood that have made it the most secure and productive Windows ever. Business users have voted with their cash and adopted it faster than any previous version.
They were promised that it was easier to manage, and that productivity of employees and IT departments would rise. Market research company Forrester explored these claims and found that desktop management takes 15% less time with Windows 10. It also found a 33% reduction in security issues with Windows 10. With that in mind, a move to Windows 10 is a good idea, whether as an upgrade to existing machines or as the OS installed on new hardware.
Little training required
Windows users will feel right at home with Windows 10. There's some expansion of familiar features – like the Start button – but it doesn't feel like starting all over again. That's especially true if they use Windows on multiple devices. The transition from tablet to desktop to laptop is easy.
Forrester also found that Windows 10 is easy to use, partly because it comes with more self-service help functions. Moreover, it is easier for IT to manage – taking much less time to install and support. The combination of these qualities is estimated to result in 15% cost savings annually.
Windows 10 is more secure
Security threats are on the rise, regardless of which operating system you use. Windows 10 makes it harder for employees to pass data onto the wrong people – accidentally or maliciously. It also incorporates an additional layer of protection that employs containers and data separation at the application and file level, so your data is protected wherever it goes, from PC to tablet to USB drive to email to the cloud.
Forrester found that new features such as Credential Guard and Device Guard, together with the improvement of existing features, meant that security events requiring IT remediation were reduced or avoided altogether.
Improve employee productivity
A 75% reduction in machine boot for Windows 10 up time was recognised by Forrester as a significant improvement to productivity. Skype is baked into the Windows 10 experience, allowing for instant messaging, video conferencing, and better collaboration. Other Windows 10 improvements allow for easy document sharing—so no more rifling through email archives to find that document.
Security and productivity are paramount in all organisations today, which means the features found in Windows 10 should please employees, business owners and IT staff - and have a significant impact on your bottom line.