Windows* 10, the latest operating system (OS) from Microsoft, takes an evergreen approach to IT, as outlined in a recent Intel article. And while migrating to Windows* 10 can be a challenge, the benefits are huge – and are already being felt across all sectors, including the Financial Services Industry (FSI). Because major feature updates are rolled out periodically, businesses can remain agile while cutting down on upgrade disruption. Windows* 10 also enables businesses of all sizes to create a firm foundation for the adoption of cloud-friendly IT services and to manage their IT infrastructure more efficiently. But while the benefits of upgrading to Windows* 10 are clear, having a solid hardware foundation to build on is also vital.
“From increasing productivity, to enhancing security and lowering costs, the Windows* 10 boosts offered by Intel’s 8th Gen technology make it clear that when it comes to migrating to Microsoft’s latest OS, silicon really does matter”
Older PCs can lead to lost productivity, thanks to slower boot-up times and lagging running times. What’s more, they can cause companies to incur significant repair costs as well as lost productivity. And with support for Windows* 7 scheduled to end on 14 January 2020, now is the time for enterprises to refresh their PCs to prepare for Windows* 10.
The 8th Generation Intel® Core™ vPro® processor family was designed specifically to complement Windows* 10. Engineered to provide the backbone for digital transformation, Intel’s 8th-Gen powered PCs can help businesses across all sectors to optimise workforce productivity while using Windows* 10 at the same time as protecting company assets and managing costs.
The combination of 8th Gen-powered devices and Windows* 10 unlocks a number of productivity advantages. New PCs with Windows* 10 and 8th Gen processors offer up to 2.1x faster multitasking and up to 80 percent better performance compared to Windows* 10 running on a four-year old laptop.1 What’s more, the combination enables businesses to analyse data from leading Windows 10 apps 40 percent faster than four-year old PCs.2 In addition, Microsoft’s OS running with Intel’s latest processors offers an impressive 10-hour battery life on laptops, enabling reliable remote working.
The security offered by Windows* 10 can be further enhanced by the built-in hardware protection features offered by 8th Gen devices. For example, Intel® Authenticate Technology enables advanced identity protection by verifying identities in the hardware. It also enables Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and now includes support for facial recognition with Windows* 10.
And when it comes to cost, new Intel 8th Gen-powered PCs provide a hardware backbone to efficiently support the regular cadence of Windows* 10 updates. Running Microsoft’s evergreen OS, these machines can also help IT to cut down on PC maintenance, save on desk-side support and reduce overall downtime. The latest processors support Intel® Active Management Technology for remote out-of band management. This enables IT managers to remotely control each computer as if they're were sitting in front of it.
Intel has already begun its own strategic switch to Windows* 10, deploying a self-service upgrade process that saves valuable time both for the employees having their machines upgraded, and for the IT technicians that are no longer needed to service them. So far, Intel has completed upgrades on more than 100,000 devices with the aim of having its entire fleet running Windows* 10 by the end of 2019. During this migration, Intel also used the opportunity to give refresh-eligible users a new machine alongside the new OS.
With the support cutoff deadline for Windows* 7 looming, upgrading to Windows* 10 is rapidly becoming a necessity for businesses to thrive in the cloud-based era. And when powered by Intel’s latest processor technology, Windows* 10 enables the best experience possible, empowering today’s workforce. From increasing productivity, to enhancing security and lowering costs, the Windows* 10 boosts offered by Intel’s 8th Gen technology make it clear that when it comes to migrating to Microsoft’s latest OS, silicon really does matter.