• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • Latest News
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure, News

Most Devices Aren’t Ready for A Windows 11 Upgrade, But You Don’t Need a Full Device Refresh

Fewer than 39% of devices have meet hardware requirements and are ready for Windows 11, which Microsoft deems ready for broad deployment.

May 19, 2022 Zachary Comeau Leave a Comment

Microsoft Windows 11, Windows Autopatch
diy13/stock.adobe.com

Microsoft now says Windows 11 is ready for all new, compatible PCs to be upgraded to the company’s shiny new version of its longtime Windows operating system, with the OS being recently designated for broad deployment.

However, the problem is that most Windows devices just aren’t ready for the Windows 11 migration, according to digital employee experience management software company Nexthink, which analyzed more than 3 million devices across 457 organizations and found that fewer than 39% of devices meet hardware requirements and are ready for Windows 11.

According to the company’s report, just 38.94% of devices have a compatible CPU and a supported version of Windows 10—version 2004 or later. Upgrading these devices will require little resources and cost, outside of educating employees about the migration.

Meanwhile, about a quarter (25.87%) of devices meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11, but just need to upgrade their operating system to a supported version of Windows 10 and then upgrade to Windows 11. Essentially, this requires upgrading operating systems twice.  

However, just over 35% of devices have neither the hardware requirements nor operating system requirements necessary to upgrade to Windows 11. For this group, IT will likely need to purchase new devices that may already have Windows 11 pre-installed.

Read Next: How Microsoft Rolled Out Windows 11 to its Own Employees

According to Microsoft, devices need:

  • A processer of at least 1 GHz with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC
  • 4 GB of RAM
  • Storage of 64GB or more
  • UEFI, Secure Boot capabilities
  • Trusted Platform Module 2.0
  • Compatibility with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
  • A High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
  • An internet connection

Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 by Oct. 14, 2025, so organizations have three-and-a-half years to make the move to Windows 11, but some organizations may want to ride it out with Windows 10, which is generally well-liked by end users. Rather than pushing through a migration, organizations should instead think about making the upgrade in line with the organization’s hardware refresh plans, says Yassine Zaied, chief strategy officer at Nexthink.

“I would not recommend we just through away devices and replace them,” Zaied says. “The majority of the devices we analyzed are fine. They are delivering great performance and they are working very well.”

Instead of a full replacement, organizations can look at simply upgrading the hardware in the individual devices to meet Windows 11’s requirements to bridge the gap between a full device refresh and opening the organization’s wallet for a purchase of that magnitude. That essentially describes the dilemma faced by all IT teams, according to Zaied.

“On one hand, I’m required to deliver the best satisfaction to users,” Zaied says. “I am required to innovate and transform, and then at the same time, be cost efficient.”

Like with many other IT issues, the solution starts with visibility, including a detailed inventory of the organization’s endpoint devices and which are compatible for Windows 11 without any further upgrades, and which devices fall short on the hardware upgrades.

“The most important thing is to be aware and that you know what needs to be done on each device,” Zaied says.

Tagged With: Microsoft, Windows 11

Related Content:

  • Google Password Manager Google Updates Password Manager For Unified Experience
  • VMware vSphere+ vSAN+ VMware Releases vSphere+ and vSAN+ to Enhance On…
  • Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert Microsoft Adds New Expert-level Cybersecurity Architect Certification
  • Microsoft Basic Auth Prepare: Microsoft Begins Disabling Basic Auth in Exchange…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Uber Advanced Technologies Group Drives its Business Forward

    The guiding principle for the new Uber meeting room redesign was “invisible comfort” to ensure that everyone could maximize productivity.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

Uber Advanced Technologies Group Drives its Business Forward

The guiding principle for the new Uber meeting room redesign was “invisible comfort” to ensure that everyone could maximize productivity.

Windows 11
Blueprint Series: Upgrading to Windows 11

Upgrading end users to Windows 11 could be one of the most challenging tasks IT has to face in the coming years. Although the new version is touted...

The State of the IT Department in 2022

The role of the IT professional has shifted from one that supports the business to one that is deserving of a seat at the table when it comes to ma...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!
Sharp Microsoft Collaboration HQ Logo

Learn More About the
Windows Collaboration Display

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Media Solutions & Advertising
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2022 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.