It’s Time to Introduce Your Customers to the Benefits of Windows 11

It’s Time to Introduce Your Customers to the Benefits of Windows 11

Time to read

4 minutes

Date published

April 2025

With support for Windows 10 ending in October this year, businesses continuing to use it are at risk of data breaches, system failures and compliance issues. Upgrading to Windows 11 is the way forward.

Launched in 2021, Windows 11 takes the Microsoft user experience to a new level. Exciting enhancements include AI-powered features, built-in security protections and state of the art creativity.

For users who have been resisting the upgrade for the last four years, the end-of-support (EOS) date of 14 October 2025 is a wake-up call. After this date, users of Windows 10 will no longer receive feature updates, security patches or bug fixes. That means more vulnerability to security threats, not to mention potential issues with running new apps and increased risk of downtime. For businesses which are handling sensitive data, there may also be concerns about compliance and system compatibility.

Why it makes sense to upgrade to Windows 11

Designed for fast, easy deployment and compatibility with mission-critical business apps, Windows 11 delivers a modern, secure and efficient computing experience that meets the needs of today’s business users.

Upgrading enables safer working in an environment with advanced security features such as credential safeguards, malware shields and application protection. Whenever a new programme is run, Smart App Control will check to see if Microsoft’s intelligent cloud-powered security service can make a confident prediction about its safety.

Windows 11 Pro PCs can boost performance, with on average 50% faster workflows and longer battery life (source: Microsoft). In addition, AI-powered features help drive productivity.  Easily accessible from the Windows taskbar, Copilot enables users to engage seamlessly with generative AI, providing answers and inspiration from across the web. AI-enhanced video conferencing on Surface Pro and Surface Laptop enables remote workers to collaborate more effectively via a better online meeting experience.

Will your customers’ devices support Windows 11?

To install or upgrade to Windows 11, devices must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Processor: 1GHz, 2-core, 64-bit processor or SoC (Intel 8th Gen or newer, AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer)
  • RAM: 4GB (8GB+ recommended)
  • Storage: 64GB minimum (128GB+ recommended)
  • TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
  • Secure Boot: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
  • Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 driver

Unfortunately, that means it won’t be possible to upgrade to Windows 11 on many business laptops, particularly pre-2018 models. That includes a number of popular models, such as the Dell Latitude 7000 series and 5000 series (2017 and earlier), Dell Inspiron pre-2018 models, HP EliteBook 840 G5 and earlier, HP ProBook 650 G3 and earlier, Lenovo ThinkPad T480 and earlier, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Gen and earlier, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 and earlier.

Windows 11-compatible laptops are the future

Even if it’s possible to run Windows 10 on their existing laptops, your customers could experience issues with software performance and compatibility. That’s why it makes sense for them to upgrade to new devices which are designed specifically for Windows 11.

Research has shown that users of Windows 11 Pro on new devices report an 80% reduction in IT support issues after upgrading (source: Microsoft). According to research by Forrester in 2022, businesses upgrading to Windows 11 Pro devices experienced a 250% return on investment (ROI) over three years.

The power of AI is also a valuable benefit of upgrading to new Windows 11-compatible devices. Windows 11 is built for game-changing AI and many new laptop models enable users to make the most of AI-powered features, helping them improve productivity and efficiency.

Windows 11 business-ready laptops include Dell’s Latitude 7430 and 9440, XPS 13 Plus and Precision 5470 and 5570, HP’s EliteBook 850 G9, 640 G9, ZBook Firefly G9 and Spectre x360 16, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11, ThinkPad T16 and Yoga 9i (Gen 8), and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 and Surface Studio 2+.

Take action now – start your customers on their upgrade journey

It’s easy to check your customers’ devices for Windows 11 compatibility using the handy Microsoft PC Health Check tool. You can then share the benefits of upgrading their hardware and ensuring their IT provision is future proofed. Ordering new Windows 11-ready laptops is easy via the Giacom Hardware Store.

Windows 11 offers huge benefits for business users and hardware upgrades are the key to harnessing that potential. Act now and boost your hardware sales. Call us on 03304 333 888 or email [email protected].