Feature: How to help customers with their Windows 11 questions

By Iwona Zalewska, Regional Director for UK & Ireland, DRAM Business Manager, EMEA Region, Kingston Technology 

Windows 11 was officially launched on 5 October 2021, as the successor to Windows 10. Despite its modern interface and security enhancements, adoption has been slower than anticipated, particularly among enterprises. Many organisations have delayed upgrades due to hardware compatibility requirements, application readiness concerns, and the stability of existing Windows 10 deployments, which remain widely used as businesses cautiously plan their transition strategies.

However, all eyes are now turning towards the new operating system, as Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on 14 October. This puts organisations at a crossroads. Do they take the plunge and upgrade, or continue with Windows 10, regardless of the limitations in ongoing support? Many businesses seek advice from resellers on how to adapt best to ensure continued security, compliance, and operational efficiency; however, there are multiple approaches to tackling this challenge.

What does Windows 11 offer?

First, let’s look at the benefits of Windows 11 for enterprise customers. It’s undoubtedly a significant update in terms of security, productivity, and manageability, offering compelling improvements for enterprises.

Better security

Security is a cornerstone of Windows 11. It’s designed with a ‘Zero Trust’ approach, integrating features like TPM 2.0, hardware-based isolation, and Secure Boot. These improvements help protect against sophisticated cyber threats, ransomware, and data breaches. Windows 11 also supports advanced identity protection through features like Windows Hello and improved credentials management, reducing the risk of compromised accounts.

Improved productivity and user experience
Windows 11 delivers a streamlined, intuitive interface designed to improve focus and efficiency. The redesigned Start menu, centred taskbar, and enhanced window management tools, such as Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, help users multitask more effectively. Additionally, integration with Microsoft Teams is built directly into the OS, simplifying communication and collaboration across dispersed teams.

Optimised performance and compatibility
The operating system is optimised for performance on newer hardware, resulting in faster boot times, improved battery life, and more efficient resource use. Compatibility with cloud-based tools and applications, including Microsoft 365, ensures seamless integration with existing enterprise workflows.

Simplified IT management
Windows 11 offers robust tools for IT administrators, including improved support for cloud-based management through Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Windows Autopilot. These tools enable easier device deployment, configuration, and ongoing management, reducing overhead and streamlining operations.

Future-readiness and AI integration
With emerging support for AI-driven applications and hardware acceleration through NPUs, Windows 11 is designed to help enterprises leverage next-generation technologies. This future-readiness should allow organisations to remain competitive as AI and machine learning capabilities become more prevalent.

What are the options available?

Given the many new features and benefits that Windows 11 delivers, many organisations will be keen to take advantage. However, resellers must inform their customers of all their options and the various routes they can take.

One route is to simply continue using Windows 10, knowing that systems will become susceptible to vulnerabilities and an increasing risk of data breaches, as well as non-compliance with industry regulations. For some, it will simply not be possible to upgrade immediately. Fortunately, Microsoft will offer an Extended Security Updates programme, which, for a recurring fee, businesses can use to receive critical security patches for Windows 10 beyond its official end date.

While this buys more time, it’s a temporary fix because the ESU programme is time-limited and increasingly expensive, making it a stopgap, rather than a sustainable solution.

Another option is to purchase new hardware preloaded with Windows 11. This ensures full compatibility with the latest features, enhanced security protocols, and optimised performance. Of course, replacing all devices can be capital-intensive, particularly for organisations with large fleets, and resellers may be working with a constrained budget from customers to find a solution.

The deadline puts the focus on whether now is a good time to invest in emerging AI PCs. These come equipped with dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) designed to accelerate AI-driven applications. They promise cutting-edge capabilities, but come at a premium, and resellers may advise customers to look at whether the practical benefits justify the cost. Compatibility challenges also exist, especially for legacy x86 applications running on ARM-based processors, such as Qualcomm Snapdragon, which often require performance-sapping emulation layers.

When making the choice, businesses might think that maintaining their existing non-AI PCs is a safe and cost-effective choice; after all, they offer broad compatibility with current software ecosystems. However, as AI applications gain traction, these devices risk becoming outdated more quickly, potentially requiring additional investment sooner than expected.

The most practical alternative is to upgrade existing devices to Windows 11, provided the hardware meets the minimum specifications. Enhancing machines with additional RAM and SSD upgrades can extend their useful life while granting access to Windows 11’s improved security and productivity features.

This approach also allows organisations to defer large-scale hardware investments until AI PCs and their associated software ecosystems mature. It’s a balanced approach that enhances performance now while maintaining options for future innovations.

Taking the upgrade path

To help resellers best advise customers, we examine the key considerations for upgrading, starting with the system requirements.

CPU

The Windows 11 launch statement has said that users will need a CPU that is 1GHz faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on Chip (SoC). This means that the Intel Core 8^th generation (Coffee Lake, Whisky Lake) and AMD Zen+ (Ryzen 2000, Threadripper 2000, and Ryzen 3000G APU) desktop/laptop CPUs will be compatible. This doesn’t mean earlier CPUs will not be compatible, but the age of a customer’s other components might be a guiding factor.

DRAM

The guidance is to have at least 4GB of RAM/DRAM. As with CPUs, the best approach is to have more than the minimum requirements to ensure a good experience.

Another factor to consider is the industry-wide changes in memory technology. The recent shift from 8 to 16Gbit DRAM and its compatibility with the latest Intel CPUs may provide a clear answer when resellers are considering whether their customers’ devices are suitable for a Windows 11 upgrade. If they are, it will certainly be a cost-effective way to modernise devices and improve Technology Lifecycle Management.

TPM 2.0

The term Trusted Platform Module, or TPM, was little known before the arrival of Windows 11, but it is mandatory for using the new platform. TPM is a crypto processor that secures a computer at the hardware level to prevent it from being attacked. It uses a cryptographic key which will work with other systems and applications within the PC. Its extra level of security comes from being hardware-based, which almost always delivers greater protection than software encryption alone. Businesses must have TPM 2.0 to upgrade to Windows 11, unless a TPM 2.0 module is already installed for desktop users. Resellers can check for TPM 2.0 by searching ‘Windows Security’ from the start menu, selecting ‘Device Security’ and then ‘Security process details’.

SSD

While there has been some buzz around DirectStorage for SSDs, this feature is primarily designed to benefit gaming PCs by improving load times and graphics performance. It has, so far, limited relevance in typical enterprise environments. For business users, the focus should instead be on SSDs with sufficient capacity that are appropriate for the system’s interface—whether that’s SATA or NVMe, depending on the device. Windows 11 alone can consume over 50 GB of storage, so 64 GB SSDs are no longer practical for enterprise deployments. A minimum of 256GB is recommended to allow sufficient space for the OS, applications, and future updates. Going beyond the minimum storage requirements is key to enabling a smooth upgrade process and to benefit from the performance improvements in Windows 11 fully.

If a hardware upgrade seems to be the best immediate choice for enterprise customers, resellers should be aware that technology shifts could introduce complications. DDR3 RAM, for example, is now largely considered end-of-life, and DDR4 is expected to follow suit by early to mid-2026 as the market moves increasingly towards DDR5. Fewer suppliers are manufacturing legacy components, which makes availability and long-term support more uncertain. This is an important consideration when thinking about upgrading versus refreshing.

That said, companies in the mid-stage of a laptop/desktop refresh cycle can lengthen their device lifecycles by upgrading memory and storage, which represents a significantly lower investment compared with the cost of buying new devices.

A necessary, if not straightforward, choice

As the Windows 10 end-of-support date approaches, each option carries trade-offs between cost, security, and future readiness. Whether opting for immediate hardware refreshes, interim extended support, or strategic upgrades, organisations must align their decisions with their long-term IT strategy and budgetary constraints, with the help of their resellers.

Making decisions now will help ensure that enterprise customers remain secure, compliant, and prepared for the evolving technology landscape beyond Windows 10.