Why government will care about Windows 10
The reviews are in. Since the release of Windows 10 earlier this year, members of the media have been completing their write-ups, and the verdict is that Microsoft’s new operating system has a lot to offer government agencies.
Enhanced security and mobility. Increased productivity. Better ease of use. These are just a few of the benefits that Windows 10 has to offer, according to media reviews. And with many government workers still using older operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows 7, the consensus is that Windows 10 offers a familiar, effective operating system that represents a large technological advance. As CNN Money puts it, ““Are you a Windows 8 user? Still using Windows 7? Either way, you’ll love Windows 10.”
Already, millions of users have been implementing Windows 10. To date, there have been more than 110 million activations of our new operating system, including 12 million business PCs.
Enhanced Security
So what exactly does the media have to say about Windows 10? Many government publications are emphasizing the security improvements. For example, Greg Otto of FedScoop points out that Device Guard allows businesses to lock down devices so they only run applications from trusted developers. He also mentions Current Branch for Business, which businesses can use to customize which security updates, fixes, and features are applied, and when. “These enhanced security and quality control features are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s available,’” he writes.
Government Computer News highlights the new Enterprise Data Protection feature that will go into preview in 2016, which enables government employees to use both enterprise and personal data on the same devices, while reducing the likelihood that enterprise data will be compromised. And Ankit Gupta of TWCN Tech News takes note of new security features such as data loss prevention, automatic encryption for government and corporate data, encryption of corporate apps, and built-in multifactor authentication, concluding that such features make Windows 10 “more suitable for the government IT sector.”
A “Hugely Exciting” Release
The government publication coverage comes in addition to numerous articles in the mainstream press citing the value of Windows 10. In his review, “Microsoft Gets It Right,” for example, Nate Ralph of C/Net writes that, “After living with Windows 10 for months – I can say it’s a winner. It’s flexible, adaptable and customizable. And it’s been battle-tested by an army of beta testers for the better part of a year, making it one of the most robust operating system rollouts in recent memory.”
The sentiment echoes that of Tom Warren of The Verge, who calls Windows 10 “hugely exciting.” “I rarely touch my MacBook Air anymore as I find the combination of some good hardware (like the Dell XPS 13) and Windows 10 is a joy to use,” he writes. “I like the direction Microsoft is taking with Windows 10, accepting feedback and ideas from its customers along the way. It feels like the best way to shape Windows into something people enjoy using, rather than something they have to use.“
Modern, Yet Familiar and Easy to Use
Perhaps it’s the receptiveness to customer feedback that has made Windows 10 the best Windows yet. Blair Hanley Frank of PC World focuses on several features that businesses will find valuable including Windows Hello, which allows users to log on with biometric information such as fingerprints and facial recognition. He also notes the lengths that Microsoft went so that the transition to Windows 10 would be easy for businesses
Others in the media have been focusing on Cortana, the Windows 10 personal digital assistant that helps users find things on their PC, manages their calendars, sets appointment reminders, searches the Internet, and even tells jokes. CNN Money calls Cortana “a search box on steroids.” Chris Velazco of Engadget says Cortana is “surprisingly useful, and even a little thrilling.” And Kelly Sheridan of Information Week notes that “even in a crowded mall, the assistant understood my inquiries.”
Still others in the media are emphasizing Microsoft’s new Edge browser as well as Continuum, which allows users to type with their keyboard when they choose or to optimize their screen for touch. For instance, in his article, “With Windows 10, Microsoft Has the Right Stuff,” Hiawatha Bray of The Boston Globe calls out the seamless transition of Windows 10 between laptop and tablet mode: “It’s hybrid computing done right.” He also notes that Edge can launch “almost instantly and serves up web pages fast,” saying that when Microsoft adds extensions, “it looks like I’ll have a new favorite browser.”
Perhaps David Goldman of CNN Money sums up the Windows 10 experience best in his article, “Windows 10 Is Seriously Great.” He writes, “Windows 10 is … everything a PC operating system should be: familiar, beautiful, easy to use and helpful in unexpected ways.”
If your government organization is considering a move to Windows 10, now’s the time to start planning your migration. To learn more about what Windows 10 has to offer, please see our blog post, “Windows 10: A New Operating System for Government IT.”
