A shock announcement has come to a lot of businesses recently as Microsoft have recently unveiled the next generation of Windows; Windows 11. With this latest addition to the Windows operating system family, there are some welcome new features that your business will be able to use to increase productivity, user experience, and workflow throughout your organisation. Crydent have gained an insight into Windows 11, and after using extensively, can provide you an update on the latest features, user experience, and information surrounding the upgrade and how it may affect your business.
User Experience and Intuitive Design
Here are some of the biggest changes included within Windows 11:
Central Taskbar and User Interface
Aimed at touch orientated devices, this big visual change is easy on the eyes, bringing the start menu, pinned taskbar items and new settings menu within easy reach. Some key UI changes have been implemented too, with the addition of rounded corner application windows, the user interface has a softer, less abrasive feel than earlier versions of Windows that have traditionally stuck to the hard and sharp edges.
We appreciate that this new centralised taskbar may not be the experience everyone is after. Worry not, for the taskbar can be changed back to the usual left corner layouts that we have all grown accustomed to but after extensive use, the centralised taskbar has become a welcome part of the new UI and we encourage our customers to try it. Crydent are here to help make sure that your users feel comfortable with these changes and will be supplying full training and guidance materials upon the official release of Windows 11 free within our support portal for all customers.
Smart Snap Layouts
Another long-awaited feature bundled into Windows 11, is the snap layouts. These convenient snap locations make multitasking even easier, remembering windows locations when undocking and redocking workstations, ensuring you can easily pick up where you left off when leaving and returning to your desk.
In the age of laptops and portable devices, this is a huge quality of life feature and one that I am sure every employee will appreciate once they use it. For those of you that utilise portrait monitors for productivity reasons, you will be extremely pleased to know that portrait monitors now have full snap support. No more resizing windows manually and struggling to get that perfect ratio.
Multi-Desktop | Improved Productivity
Multiple Desktops are another welcome addition to the UI. With a way to separate multiple working environments, it has never been easier for users to switch between different workloads. Organisations that allow users to bring their own devices will be able to take advantage of Multiple desktop environments and switch between their work desktop and their personal desktop with the click of a button!
Microsoft Teams
Quite possibly the most welcomed update for businesses is the native integration of teams directly into Windows 11. This makes it even easier for you to stay connected with colleagues via instant messaging, work collaboratively within each department/team, and improve overall productivity. Gone are the days of sending long email chains, duplicating documents, and having 5 apps to run your day-to-day activities.
If your business is still utilising Skype for Business or an alternative communications client, this Windows release will provide your business with a fantastic opportunity to make the switch to Microsoft Teams and to make it even easier, Crydent is here to aid you with the full planning, deployment, and support you will need to make that switch.
Built with Security as the Priority
Statistically, 84% of all businesses experience some kind of firmware attack each year. Microsoft’s solution with Windows 11 is the addition of the TPM2 chip or Trusted Platform Module. Each laptop shipped with Windows 11 preinstalled will come with this new TPM module and will help to protect user credentials, encryption keys and other sensitive data through tools such as Bit locker drive encryption. All stored behind physical hardware.
So what does this mean for businesses? It means a password-less, biometric first approach to security. Tools such as Windows Hello, Fingerprint, and smart cards can be leveraged by businesses to remove the frustrations and security concerns around forgotten or poorly stored passwords.
Microsoft Azure Attestation will also ensure that the TPM module remains secure and will help maintain the integrity of the stored encryption keys.
Compatibility and Upgrade Process
Microsoft will soon be releasing a compatibility checker to ensure that your PCs can run Windows 11 at its best, but until then, you can find the minimum system requirements below. If you find that your current computers are currently not within the minimum speak, reach out to us below and we will help you identify your upgrade path and provide you with full end-to-end support surrounding purchasing, building and delivery.
Is Windows 11 Right for Your Business?
Windows 11 is due to be released around October/November 2021, and Crydent will be supporting the new OS on release. We recommend that our customers wait until early 2022 before upgrading to this, just to ensure there are no bugs, and to allow for relevant testing to be performed. Whatever your need with the upgrade to Windows 11, Crydent is here to help. Look at what we offer under the “our services” tab at the top of the screen, and if you cannot find what you are looking for, contact us via email, phone, or our live chat services, as we would be happy to tailor the installs/upgrades to your company’s needs.
Minimum system requirements
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHZ) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device
System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
Display resolution: >9” with HD Resolution (720p)