What Is Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows xi Pro vs. Enterprise: What Is the Difference?

Feb 9, 2022 10 min read

With the rollout of Windows 11 terminal fall, now'due south the fourth dimension for organizations to evaluate whether to drift to the latest version of Microsoft's operating system.

But before investing fourth dimension, personnel, and equipment to deploying the latest OS version, tech leaders need to decide on the correct fit for their organizations. To kickstart this procedure, here's what you need to know about Windows 11 and its business organisation licensing options.

"Windows is the leading desktop operating arrangement, with more than 72% of the marketplace share worldwide." Statista

Windows eleven vs. Windows 10: What's New?

Although Windows 11 has given the OS a facelift, there are no major changes nether the surface.

"Windows 11 brings a new user experience, but for now it is mostly withal Windows x code, allowing for upgrades without any major client investment in resources or new equipment," according to Stephen Kleynhans in a Gartner blog post.^one

When comparing Windows x vs. Windows 11, however, users will notice:

Refreshed user experience
Improved performance
Increased focus on aught-trust security
The replacement of Skype by Microsoft Teams as the standard collaboration tool
Removal of Net Explorer and replacement with Edge as the internet browser

Before planning a migration, It administrators volition have to verify that devices encounter the minimum hardware requirements and choose among the different editions of the operating system.

Windows 11 requirements include:

Processor: 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores on a uniform 64-chip processor or SoC
RAM: iv GB
Storage: 64 GB or larger
Arrangement firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
Graphic cards: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 commuter
Display: High-definition (720p) display that is greater than ix inches diagonally, 8 $.25 per color aqueduct

The listing of Windows operating systems includes:

Windows 11 Habitation
Windows 11 for Education
Windows 11 Pro
Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
Windows xi Enterprise

But what about the fundamental differences between Windows 11 Pro and Windows xi Enterprise — two popular business-oriented editions? Here are a few things to consider when comparing Windows Pro vs. Enterprise:

Additional Windows 11 Features

The principal deviation among Windows editions is the number of features that come with the platform. Some editions have extra features targeting specific employ cases. For example:

Windows Pro is designed for professionals and businesses environments and, for this reason, has features not included in the Home edition.
Windows Pro for Workstations targets professionals with advanced computing needs, such as data scientists, media editors, and graphic designers.
In addition to the Pro features,Windows Enterprise has features designed for Information technology organizations.

Licensing

Another major difference between Pro and Enterprise editions has to do with licensing:

Windows eleven Pro can come pre-installed with the purchase of a new PC. Microsoft is also offering a costless upgrade to Windows eleven for devices that see the hardware requirements.
Windows 11 Enterprise is part of Microsoft 365 Enterprise, which provides productivity and collaboration apps, device direction, and security services. This edition of Windows requires the purchase of a book-licensing agreement.

The Difference between Windows Enterprise E3 and E5

There are 2 singled-out license editions with the Windows operating organisation:

Windows Enterprise E3 is designed for mid-size and large companies with comprehensive management and avant-garde security requirements.
Windows Enterprise E5 targets organizations interested in having the benefits of a holistic, deject-delivered endpoint security solution.

Windows Enterprise vs. Pro: Central Features

Here'southward a quick rundown of features you tin can notice in Windows Pro and Enterprise editions:

	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Enterprise E3	Enterprise E3 Windows 11 Enterprise E5
Mobile Device Direction	✔️	✔️	✔️
Mobile Application Management	✔️	✔️	✔️
Cortana Management		✔️	✔️
Azure Active Directory	✔️	✔️	✔️
Azure Virtual Desktop		✔️	✔️
Universal Print		✔️	✔️
Remote Desktop	✔️	✔️	✔️
Secure Score		✔️	✔️
Microsoft 365 Defender Threat Protection (Antimalware, Firewall, Exploit Guard, Credential Baby-sit)		✔️	✔️
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint			✔️
Microsoft 365 apps on Windows	✔️	✔️	✔️
BitLocker and BitLocker to Go	✔️	✔️	✔️
Windows Information Protection	✔️	✔️	✔️
DirectAccess		✔️	✔️
Windows Hello for Business concern	✔️	✔️	✔️
Microsoft Store	✔️	✔️	✔️

And here's a closer await at these features:

Mobile Device Management (MDM) helps to monitor all enterprise mobile devices at once. Admins can configure devices and apply security policies.
Mobile Application Direction (MAM) helps to protect an organization'due south data within an application. IT can monitor, configure, update, and secure mobile apps for users.
Cortanais the virtual assistant loaded in Windows 11. Cortana is compatible with multiple languages and uses phonation commands to assist in daily tasks, such as web searches. Cortana enterprise services meet organizations' compliance and security needs. Admins can configure Cortana and set group policies.
Back up for Azure Active Directory enables single login across Windows 11 and other Microsoft services, making it easier to manage passwords.
Azure Virtual Desktop is a desktop and application virtualization service managed by Microsoft.
Universal Print is a cloud-based solution that allows Information technology teams to manage printers via a centralized hub. Users tin print securely from anywhere.
Remote Desktop lets users unlock and access files, folders, and apps merely the way they left them, anywhere and from virtually any device.
Secure Score is a measurement of a company'south security posture.
Microsoft 365 Defender is an enterprise security suite with applications that take automatic measures to prevent or stop attacks.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint helps find, investigate, and mitigate advanced threats in enterprise networks.
Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows are productivity software (such equally Word and Excel) available for users, families, and businesses nether different plans.
BitLocker is an encryption feature available in some editions of Windows.Bitlocker to Become is used for removable devices such as USB retentiveness sticks and external drivers.
Windows Information Protection helps to prevent accidental or intentional data leaks.
DirectAccess allows remote access to virtual environments without the demand for a traditional virtual private network (VPN).
Windows Hello enables biometric authentication (such every bit face or fingerprint recognition) to unlock compatible Windows devices.
Microsoft Shop offers applications for download. Microsoft Shop for Business concern — which enables admins to control which apps users download in their arrangement — will be retired in 2023. Microsoft has linked the Microsoft Shop for Business organisation to Intune cloud services.

How to Programme a Large-Scale Windows Upgrade

When migrating to any new operating system or license tier, in that location are some vital questions to answer:

Is this a good fit for our users?
How many users will need to be migrated?
What kind of devices do we have now and what are their specifications? Are upgrades needed?

The problem is finding the correct answers speedily and efficiently to avoid deployment complications, unnecessary costs, and other headaches. With a digital experience management platform such as Lakeside Software'due south Digital Experience Cloud, powered past SysTrack, however, IT teams can appraise their digital environments and plan a large-calibration Windows migration without a lot of guesswork. (In fact, Lakeside will release a kit in Q1 2022 to aid organizations fully assess their Windows 11 readiness and streamline the migration procedure, but more on that in a dissimilar mail.)

By expanding IT visibility with endpoint information, IT teams can inventory their hardware and software licenses, place equipment limitations, brand procurement decisions based on users' actual needs, programme rollouts by personas or user groups, and monitor and manage deployments.

Then no matter where yous are in your Windows journey — or in any other migration project — you take the information to make more informed, cost-effective decisions that motion your IT organization forrard.

^{one. Gartner, "Positioning Windows xi and Preparing to Deploy," Stephen Kleynhans, nine September 2021 ↩}

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, production or service depicted in its research publications, and does non advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner enquiry publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed equally statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, limited or implied, with respect to this research, including whatever warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Ryan Purvis

Ryan Purvis is Head of Solutions at Lakeside Software and focused on helping Lakeside customers to solve complex problems and transform their businesses through the strategic application of our technology. In his more than xx-year career, Ryan has led cross-functional teams in multiple roles, including Main Information Officer for HiLo Maritime Risk Management, Manager for Cyber Defence at UBS, and Technology Pb for JP Morgan Hunt. Ryan divides his time between the U.k. and S Africa.