Microsoft says about four million PCs in Australia are not ready for the move which means many organisations may be left with a fleet of PCs that don’t receive software fixes or critical security updates unless they are prepared to pay a per user/per month premium. Besides the Windows 11 update offering myriad productivity benefits, the cost of not upgrading and adding risk to a business needs to be carefully considered.
Kirat Khara, the Director of Distribution and Commercial for Lenovo ANZ, says that there are compliance risks of not upgrading that must be taken into consideration alongside the potential benefits.
“When a new operating system comes, it naturally brings a series of new features. And while they are important, there’s also a compliance issue to be taken into account. Beyond technology teams, company directors and business leaders are liable for security incidents, ensuring you use supported software can be a critical step to mitigate risks,” says Khara.
When the pandemic was declared, many businesses purchased new hardware during the shift to remote work. With current economic conditions, many organisations have held on to devices longer than planned. However, those machines are now at least four years old and some of them might not be able to run Windows 11.
“Many of those devices were purchased in a hurry as the way of most companies worked completely changed from one day to the other.” explains Khara. “While those computers have been serviceable, the case for upgrading hardware is now strong as many older devices will not be able to run Windows 11, missing out on great new productivity features as well as the security updates that will make a lot of difference for most businesses.”
But organisations also need to treat this moment strategically. Before choosing new devices, Khara says they need to think ahead, particularly when it comes to how and when they will be embracing AI in their operations. If AI is an important tool, or you foresee that it will be, now is the time to prepare.
“Not all machines that can run Windows 11 will be ready for AI. Neural Processing Units (NPUs) are a relatively new innovation in PC processors and chips and it’s unlikely any machine that is more than a year old will be truly AI-ready. Organisations will need to make platform decisions about Copilot+ PCs, AI PCs with NPUs and other computing platforms,” Khara says.
No major platform change or technology project comes without risks. Service interruption, lost productivity as staff adapt to new systems, and other challenges must be considered. But security should come above it all.
“Not upgrading to Windows 11 brings its own risks,” says Khara. “To have access to the right security features and support will add operational costs to Windows 10 on top of the lost opportunities with the new features as competitors leapfrog you as they adopt AI to deliver faster services at a lower cost.”
It’s easy to see the shift to Windows 11 as a technology project. But Khara says the transition must start with a services-led approach, commencing with a detailed assessment of the current environment to understand what hardware is in place, what legacy apps need to be supported and software licensing.
A Windows 11 Proof of Concept is then carried out to determine how to best manage the existing fleet. This may include repurposing hardware, upgrading some devices in place, or decommissioning legacy equipment. Then organisations need to choose a procurement model that works best for their business. This may be a CAPEX based process, financing over a period or an ‘as a Service’ procurement model.
“The transition to Windows 11 is critical. In Australia, the IT ecosystem of distributors, channel partners, resellers and vendors all have vital roles to play in ensuring the upgrade is smooth and delivers the greatest possible value and prepares users for the future,” says Khara.
All upgrades carry some level of risk. But, as Khara says, there is a greater risk in not upgrading. Lenovo is working closely with its entire IT ecosystem to ensure there is a rigorous process that minimises the challenges and maximises the return on investment for the shift to Windows 11.