Windows 11 Adoption in Enterprises: A 2023 Overview
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Current State of Windows 11 in Enterprises
A recent report from Lansweeper, an asset management service provider, sheds light on the adoption of Windows 11 in enterprise environments. According to IDC, Windows 11 is projected to have promising growth prospects for the PC sector in the coming year, as many businesses contemplate upgrading their outdated systems. Typically, firms will wait about 18 months post-release before implementing an update.
As of now, data from StatCounter and Lansweeper indicates that while Windows 11 usage has increased, the growth has been minimal. StatCounter's statistics reveal that although Windows 11 has recently surpassed Windows 7 in usage rates, Windows 10 users still outnumber Windows 11 users by nearly a factor of five.
Lansweeper's survey shows that since April 2022, the number of Windows 11 users has risen by only 1.17%, bringing the total to 2.61%. In stark contrast, Windows 10 remains dominant with an 81.87% share. Although Windows 11 has surpassed Windows XP (1.27%) in adoption, it still trails behind Windows 7 (3.38%).
In a significant announcement, Microsoft stated that it would cease updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. This transition will render Windows 10 akin to an obsolete OS like Windows 7, lacking ongoing bug fixes, security updates, and new feature enhancements, thereby increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Consequently, Windows 11 is positioned as the essential upgrade path for both individual users and enterprises.
As indicated in the survey results, for organizations managing thousands of Windows devices, the installation of Windows 11 could prove problematic if their machines do not meet the necessary hardware specifications for an automatic update. Although Microsoft has provided a PC Health Check tool to assess hardware compatibility, the lack of comprehensive visibility across the IT landscape can lead to significant time and budget expenditures as businesses attempt to manually verify their machines.
User Restrictions on Windows 11
Currently, only 57.26% of PCs qualify for automatic Windows 11 updates, leaving over 40% of devices ineligible.
What does it mean to be "ineligible"? Since the announcement of Windows 11 over a year ago, the industry has been vocal about the strict hardware requirements set by Microsoft. To install Windows 11, the minimum specifications include:
- System firmware that supports UEFI Secure Boot
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
- A compatible CPU and a minimum of 64GB of hard drive space
Despite attempts by developers to create scripts that bypass these restrictions, such solutions are not sustainable. The complexity of the installation process also makes it challenging for less tech-savvy users.
In August of the previous year, Microsoft disclosed to The Verge that machines failing to meet these requirements can still manually install Windows 11, albeit without automatic updates through Windows Update. Users would need to download updates manually, which, while not significantly impacting daily usage, complicates the process of maintaining up-to-date systems.
Notably, automatic updates will only be issued to devices that fully meet the CPU, memory, and TPM requirements established by Microsoft.
While some may argue that manual installation suffices, this approach poses a substantial burden for IT teams in large enterprises. With each new version released by Microsoft, the workload could escalate to thousands of devices needing manual updates.
According to Lansweeper’s latest survey, only 57.26% of workstations examined have CPUs that satisfy the upgrade requirements for Windows 11, while 42.74% do not meet the necessary specifications. Additionally, while 92.85% of devices passed the memory test, only about 65% of tested PCs met the TPM configuration requirements; nearly 15% failed, and 20% were either TPM-incompatible or not enabled.
Challenges in Virtual Server Adoption
Lansweeper's analysis extends to workstations and servers. The adoption of Windows 11 on virtual servers appears less promising, with only 55.7% of virtual server CPUs being compatible, and just 67.1% meeting memory requirements. The compliance rate for TPM 2.0 is notably low, with only 1.33% of virtual workstations equipped with TPM 2.0 enabled.
For physical servers, the compliance rate for TPM stands at just 2.35%. This raises concerns that if Microsoft were to establish similar requirements for a server operating system in the future, approximately 97% of current setups might not qualify for an upgrade.
Despite these challenges, the data shows improvement compared to 2021. The percentage of devices meeting CPU and TPM requirements has risen by 12%, while those meeting memory requirements increased by 1.8%. If this trend persists, it is anticipated that by 2026, a majority of devices will be compatible with Windows 11.
Roel Decneut, Lansweeper's chief strategy officer, noted, "Those who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 will likely continue using Windows 10." He emphasized that even as companies prepare to modernize their PC fleets, broader issues outside of Microsoft's control, such as global supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainties, are impacting adoption rates.
Conclusion
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In the video titled WINDOWS 11 (still) sucks, more than two years later! [RANT], the host discusses ongoing frustrations with Windows 11 and its impact on users.
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