Windows 10 for Enterprise: With new features, Microsoft hopes to attract business users

Microsoft has announced the availability of the first major update to Windows 10. As part of Windows as a service, the update delivers significant updates for business customers, including Windows Update for Business, Windows Store for Business, Mobile Device Management, Azure Active Directory and new security features.

The November update enables performance in everyday tasks, such as boot time to be nearly 30 percent faster than Windows 7 on the same device**.**

Windows Update for Business provides IT controls over the deployment of updates within their organizations, while ensuring their devices are kept current and their security needs are met, at reduced management cost. Features include setting up device groups with staggered deployments and scaling deployments with network optimisations.

Windows Store for Business provides IT a flexible way to find, acquire, manage and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices – both Windows Store apps and custom line of business apps. Organizations can choose their preferred distribution method by directly assigning apps, publishing apps to a private store, or connecting with management solutions.

Mobile Device Management empowers IT to use the full power of enterprise mobility management to manage the entire family of Windows devices, including PCs, tablets, phones, and IoT.

Azure Active Directory Join empowers IT to maintain one directory, enabling people to have one login and securely roam their Windows settings and data across all of their Windows 10 devices. It also enables any machine to become enterprise ready with a few simple clicks by anyone in the organization.

Windows 10 also includes some security features including: Credential Guard safeguards credentials inside a hardware-based virtualized environment and breaks the popular “pass the hash” used in many major breaches; Device Guard uses Trusted Boot to prevent intruders from installing malware, helping to keep company devices secure; Windows Hello enables people to say goodbye to passwords with enterprise-grade biometrics including fingerprint and facial recognition; and Windows Defender free anti-malware service protecting almost 300 million Windows devices every day.

“Windows 10, currently, is running on more than 110 million devices including 12 million business PCs. The operating platform now includes new innovations like Cortana Inking and expansion to new markets, improvements to Microsoft Edge and support for better photo viewing from Explorer,” the company said.