Windows 10 - The final countdown

Why Upgrade to Windows 11 Now?

• Security Concerns - No more updates mean no more security patches. Upgrading to Windows 11 ensures you receive the latest security updates.
• Support - No more support provided by Microsoft.
• Enhanced Performance – Windows 11 is designed to be faster and more efficient. It optimises your hardware thus providing better performance.
• Improved Features -
• A redesigned cleaner UI with centered Start Menu and simplified Taskbar.
• Snap Layouts and Snap Groups help you organise your workspace.
• Virtual Desktops allow you to create different desktops for different tasks.
• Integrated Microsoft Teams, quickly start a chat or video call directly from the taskbar.

These enhancements increase productivity and make your workstation experience.

Hardware Recommendations for Windows 11

Not all current workstations can run Windows 11. Here are the basic hardware requirements:

• A compatible 64-bit processor with at least 1 GHz clock speed and 2 or more cores.
• 4 GB of RAM or more.
• 64 GB of storage or more.
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
• TPM version 2.0.
• DirectX 12 compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver.

To check whether your workstation is Windows 11 compatible, simply run the ‘PC Health Check’ tool from the Search bar. Alternatively, for those customers with workstations covered by a Symetri IT Support contract, Symetri can provide you with an asset list which shows which workstations are Windows 11 compatible, along with their warranty status and hardware EOL and EOSL dates to help make the decision easier. If your workstation doesn’t meet these requirements, then consider upgrading.

The Benefits of Upgrading Your Computer

• An opportunity to modernise – Newer workstations come with better processors, more RAM and faster storage.
• AI-Enabled Workstations – Consider workstations that offer advanced features powered by AI.
• Energy Efficiency – Modern workstations use less power without compromising performance.

What Are the Risks of Waiting to Upgrade?

• Increased Vulnerability – Waiting to upgrade increases your vulnerability. As the end of support date approaches, the risk of security threats grow and updating now minimises the risk.
• Potential Compatibility issues – Applications you may be currently running may not be Windows 11 compatible, so it’s worth checking this ahead of time and to ensure this has been factored into your upgrade plan.
• Business Disruption – Starting a rollout of Windows 11 early ensures a smoother rollout!

Author

Richard Huggins

Richard joined us in 1997 as an apprentice IT engineer conducting on-site installations of CAD workstations and Microsoft and Novell network environments. After a brief spell away to travel the world, he returned to work on our helpdesk supporting our CAD customers. In 2007, Richard was promoted to Support Services Manager and worked in this role until 2016 when he decided to acquire new skills and widen his IT industry knowledge and left to work as an Operational Manager for one of the UK’s Top 20 leading Information Security companies. In 2019 Richard once again returned to Symetri as Head of Support and Customer Success to further improve the Symetri customer support experience and is now responsible for the IT Solutions division.