Should I Upgrade to Windows 10?

By now, most Windows users have received more than their fair share of notifications and reminders regarding the looming Windows 10 deadline.  With July 29^th fast approaching, TSI wanted to provide some insight to the latest Microsoft operating system update.  After the 29^th, Microsoft will begin charging $120-$200 per user, depending on the edition and your existing configuration.

So far, over 300 million machines have chosen to upgrade, while others remain content with their current configuration.  To help understand this limited time offer, we highlighted some of the benefits and considerations you should keep in mind before moving forward.

What if I don’t like it? 

One of the first questions often asked when discussing upgrading is if a user can easily revert back to their old operating system if they don’t like it the new one.  The answer with Windows 10 is a resounding yes, and it is actually quite easy.

The good news is that Windows 10 has had an overall wide reception rate among users.  It is just as user-friendly as Windows 7, mostly due to the fact that it ditches the worst features of Windows 8 while expanding on those users preferred.

Added Security and Management Capabilities 

Windows 10 provides the latest protection against known and emerging security threats across a broad spectrum of cyber-attacks.  Three broad areas of security in Windows 10.

1. Identity authentication and access control have been expanded to enhance user security.
2. Protecting information at rest, in use, and in transit using BitLocker and BitLocker to Go. This software provides file-level encryption using Enterprise Data Protection which separates data and containment.  When combined with Rights Management services it can even keep data encrypted when it leaves your network.
3. Resistance to malware is another key component, allowing for architectural changes which can isolate critical system and security components from threats.

It should be noted however that the improvements to security are not a replacement for proper protection against the onslaught of attacks.  It is merely a compliment to your existing setup.

Virtual Desktop

There are many added features to Windows 10, the neatest of which helps users who have lots of windows open at the same time to remain organized.  The “Task View” feature allows users to create several desktops themed toward specific tasks or places of work.  Now you can easily switch between each workflow with ease.

Considerations

If your business is operating on older hardware and software, you should check with your IT provider first to ensure compatibility and a smooth transition. For example, one challenge we’ve identified is that there have been some bugs detected for machines running on old AMD X600 graphics cards.  While this is often the blame of the manufacturer for using outdated graphics card drivers incapable of supporting anything later than Windows 7, and not Microsoft, it is a known problem that can be easily identified before installing.

For a lot of people, Windows 8 had less than a warm welcome, but Windows 10 has gone a long way to make it right.  The operating system is familiar and more naturally intuitive.  Users can easily understand the interface and can easily navigate through the newer features with greater fluidity. The fact that it is free for most and can be easily reverted to the previous version makes the recommendation to upgrade very easy.