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Should Orlando Area Small and Medium Sized Businesses Adopt Windows 10?

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Should Orlando Area Small and Medium Sized Businesses Adopt Windows 10?

Should Orlando Area Small and Medium Sized Businesses Adopt Windows 10?

The Windows 10 operating system is still a hot tech news topic, even though it was released globally almost a year ago on July 29, 2015, to Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users, as well as Windows Insiders.

 

Currently, over 300 million users have installed the operating system, making it the most used operating system in North American and Northern Europe. Still, as Windows 10’s one-year anniversary (and the date the OS can no longer be downloaded for free) approaches, the number of users is nowhere near Microsoft’s ambitious goal of a billion, and many are still clinging to Windows 7 as if it were a close family member they can’t live without.

 

For businesses in the Orlando area and around the globe, the decision to adopt Windows 10 is not an easy one. Security, management, and the upgrade process itself lead the list of concerns as the date at which the upgrade is no longer free to small and medium-sized businesses currently using Windows 7 or 8 quickly approaches.

 

As IT experts with over 30 years’ experience helping organizations like yours make sound IT decisions to impact their successful futures, we have assessed and condensed the issues surrounding Windows 10 adoption and offer these insights.

 

Reasons Why Businesses in Orlando and Around the Globe Should Consider Adopting Windows 10

  • Windows10 is now free for small and medium sized businesses running Windows 7 or 8.1 Pro. The official word on Windows 10 is that Microsoft will continue offering it for free for Windows 7 and 8 users until July 29, 2016. After that, it is supposedly going to cost $199 for the Pro Pack. Granted, free does not always mean good or even usable, but in the case of Windows 10, Microsoft has made significant improvements that are worth considering.

 

  • The new OS offers increased functionality and an improved user interface. The return of the familiar Start menu (not found in Windows 8) and resizable Windows Store apps that act more like traditional Windows applications should appeal to your employees. In addition, the all-new web browser will give them an enhanced web experience across all devices, while Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana, can improve their productivity.

 

  • Windows 10 gives you better security and management tools. The new OS offers new identity management capabilities, enhanced mobile device management capabilities, support for data protection policies, support for managing multiple users, and management of apps from the Windows Store or those built in-house.

 

  • Windows 10 will be updated incrementally. Depending on your business and your end-users, Microsoft’s plan to roll out upgrades incrementally for Windows 10 rather than waiting several years and then selling a completely new operating system could be a benefit. Your IT staff will have greater control over update deployment, and your business can avoid falling behind with software versions by staying up to date with Windows 10.

 

What Businesses Should Consider Before Upgrading to Windows 10

Although there are good reasons to adopt Windows 10, businesses should consider their organizational context, strengths and needs before rushing to upgrade.

 

  • Even free doesn’t mean free when it comes to upgrading your OS. Although Microsoft is offering Windows Pro free to small and medium sized businesses using Windows 7 or 8, your business is sure to incur expenses when upgrading. Introducing the new OS across the organization will require significant IT staff time as well as possible expensive updates to existing systems and application migrations.

 

  • Change is never easy. Although the user interface for Windows 10 should be familiar to Windows 7 users, the OS and the browser are still new, offering challenges to end users and confusing them as they go about their everyday work activities. That’s why in addition to the cost of IT staff time, updates to existing systems and application migrations, you need to consider the cost of staff training.

 

  • Ongoing change presents challenges. While Microsoft’s new continuous delivery of updates has its advantages, ongoing change means ongoing work for your IT staff.

 

Businesses in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Casselberry, Debary, Deland, Deltona, Eustis, Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Orange City, Oviedo, Sanford, Sorrento, Winter Park and Winter Springs Can Rely on the IT Experts at SON Technology.

 

Deciding to upgrade to Windows 10 and deploying the new OS throughout your business can be time-consuming and costly. Rather than overtaxing your IT staff, detracting from your business’ productivity, and facing a difficult rollout, you can partner with the experts at SON Technology. Our top quality managed IT services can save you time and money.

 

Call us today at 407-936-2220 or submit our “How Can We Help You?” form online to schedule your free IT consultation. We can help you think through the issues involved in upgrading to Windows 10 and handle your deployment and ongoing updating issues.

About Joe Grabowski

Joe Grabowski has 30 years of experience in the Information Technology industry, serving the financial, commercial, education and government markets. Always striving for new levels professionally, Joe founded his own company, SON Technology in 2003. At SON, he took on the roles of CEO and Project Manager. As the driving force behind SON Technology, he delivers enterprise-wide solutions to organizations of any size, as well as to state and federal government agencies.

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