Adopting Windows 11: Managed Desktop vs On-site IT

While it’s true that support for Windows 10 doesn’t end until October 2025, many companies are still dragging their feet when it comes to upgrading to Windows 11. However, by putting off upgrading, you could not only be endangering your Cyber Essentials certification – but by not making use of the many benefits that the new OS provides, you’re also allowing competitors to gain significant advantage over you.  

These benefits include 25% faster deployment speeds, 15% increased productivity with use of features, and 50% faster workflows for boosted performance; as well as greater security measures for hybrid workers. Considering how competitive the modern landscape has become, these are benefits that no business can afford to ignore.

However, according to current data from gs.statcounter.com, only 31.62% of users are actually using Windows 11 – with 64.17% still on Windows 10, and the remaining percentage comprised of users of Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and even Windows XP, which stopped being supported in 2014.

This paints quite the disturbing picture: not only reflecting how many businesses are allowing competitors to gain a significant competitive advantage over them, but highlighting how many are leaving themselves open to a potentially disastrous cyberattack. If we want our industries to thrive, and do so safely, it’s time for businesses to pick up the pace when it comes to implementing Windows 11 into their practices.

Now, before you start planning your companywide upgrade, it’s worth weighing up your options. Though it may seem to be a given that this will fall under the remit of your on-site IT team, this isn’t the only option available to you – and outsourcing a Managed Desktop Service could save a lot of time, effort, and costs in the long-run. For instance:

Greater Security

With 70% of successful breaches infiltrating from endpoints such as laptops, you are risking a debilitating cyberattack by remaining on with Windows 10 - since, without support, each of your existing vulnerabilities will never be addressed. Windows 11, on the other hand, will be subject to ongoing security patches; which is crucial for protecting your hybrid workers.

Windows 11 also allows your on-site IT teams to manage assets more effectively – though this is yet another task that distracts your teams from key strategic IT development, which can easily be coordinated through a Managed Desktop Service instead.

Another key advantage to aligning with a Managed Services provider is having easy access to supporting services delivered at a consistently high standard, which can be co-ordinated through a single convenient contact. Cyber Security Services, for example, allow you to address key gaps in your cyber security posture – and helps you ensure that your devices are secure, even when your staff are working remotely.

Ease & Effectiveness

While it’s true that your on-site IT team could handle a mass upgrade to Windows 11, the effectiveness of this – coupled with how long it will take – is very much a question of their available bandwidth.  Upgrading your employees’ devices one-at-a-time will also result in you having a mixed fleet throughout the transitional period, putting unnecessary strain on your teams’ capacity to provide effective support whilst this is in progress.

By outsourcing this through a Managed Desktop Service, however, new technology can be provisioned to your specifications, transported, and installed companywide – even to remote locations – over a significantly shorter time frame. This also means your entire workforce can benefit from Windows 11’s productivity features from the word ‘go’, but without taking resources away from your on-site teams.

Cost Efficiencies

Cost-efficiencies are a key reason to align with a Managed Service provider. For instance, an upgrade of this size would essentially pause other strategic development tasks that your on-site IT teams would also be tasked with; an obstacle which would only grow when coupled with their day-to-day technical support tasks - meaning less value for your employee hours.

However, a Managed Desktop Service means this sizable upgrade to Windows 11 is completely taken care of behind the scenes – allowing your IT team to continue working on valuable development tasks while it’s being carried out. Additionally, their output is further boosted by ongoing device support from the provider, which effectively removes sudden interruptions from your IT team’s day-to-day to ensure that you’re getting maximum value for your money.

For more on how we can help you transition to Windows 11, contact us by using the form below.