Windows 10 has been with us for almost a year, which means we are very close to the Windows 10 anniversary update. It is hard to believe that time moves so fast, especially when you’re in the tech industry. Announced on its own blog, pulled, then republished, the announcement is a welcome one. Even if Windows 10 itself works pretty well, we all like to new things to play with.
The update arrives just after the free upgrade period runs out, on the 2nd of August. Whether that’s a coincidence or not, we don’t know, but it is an important date to add to your calendar. If you haven’t taken the plunge and upgraded your company systems, time really is running out before you will actually have to pay for it.
Windows 10 Anniversary Update
The big news for enterprise are three new security options being offered with the update. The first is the opening up of Windows Hello, which allows biometric security for both the hardware and software. It has the potential to do away with passwords altogether. This update will also allow third-party hardware to interact with Windows Hello, allowing them to unlock Windows.
The second security benefit is an improvement of Windows Defender. While it is unlikely many businesses rely solely on Defender to protect them, any improvement in its effectiveness is welcome. Improvements this time round include scheduled scanning, something other security solutions have had for years. A new series of notifications and summaries will also be included.
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection is an enterprise-level improvement that takes it a step further. Designed to provide more in-depth analysis, detection and reporting, it is designed specifically for enterprise.
The third security improvement being offered in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is Windows Information Protection. Designed to prevent data loss, this facility allows you to label data as personal or organizational and sets increased protections on sensitive data.
Other improvements within the update include Windows Ink, a pen-based tool that works with stylus to allow freehand within Windows. Cortana gets more improvements, Edge is edging closer to completion and gets plugin support. Other improvements include educational interactivity and further Xbox integration.
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update security updates could be the difference between a company accepting Windows 10 as a viable operating system at long last. Microsoft has said quite often that they take security seriously and there are elements of it within Windows 10. However, this update, with its concentration on adding extra layers of protection, is demonstrating that they mean what they say.
If you’re considering upgrading your business to Windows 10, contact Excalibur today. We have the experience and expertise to help.
