
Windows 11 Versions and Editions
Catering to all kinds of users, Windows 11 comes in various editions. But how do you know which edition is right for you? And more importantly, how do you ensure you’re upgrading as safely and as cost-effectively as possible?
What are Windows 11 editions?
Windows 11’s productivity, security, and performance capabilities are present in all five of its main editions – Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise, and Pro for Workstations – but each are specialised in certain ways depending on their audience. Having awareness of these different editions is key to deciding which is right for you:
- Home is the most basic version of Windows 11, intended for general users.
- Pro is catered primarily toward SMBs, with bolstered cyber-protection and the ability to manage security across multiple devices at once.
- Enterprise has a simple IT management system that’s ideal for the sizeable IT fleets of a large organisation, with additional compliance and security measures in place to tackle advanced cyber threats.
- Education is aimed for schools and colleges, with high security as well as additional features for students.
- Pro for Workstations is geared toward specialist talent, who need additional memory and performance capabilities for complex tasks like graphic design, mass data processing, and animation.
Why are there different editions?
While all Windows 11 editions are near-identical at a base level, your SMB will miss out on crucial benefits if, for example, you upgrade to Windows 11 Home instead of Windows 11 Pro. This is because Pro has additional security features, as well as management systems for protecting multiple devices at once - but since these features aren’t a priority for general audiences, you won’t be able to use them if you’ve upgraded to Home.
It’s important to note that it’ll cost you to move from Home to Pro after the fact - so before you upgrade, knowing the difference between these two is vital. Want to play it safe on choosing the correct edition to suit your needs? Contact us now.
Why does it matter which edition we use?
In short, whichever edition of Windows 11 you end up using is important for two big reasons, namely:
- To ensure you have the optimal tech to suit the role.
Different editions of Windows 11 have different strengths - and choosing the wrong Windows 11 edition the first time will result in you having to start the complex process of upgrading all over again. As well as representing a high repeat cost, this can mean frustrating your talent and even endangering the security of your business. - To determine you’re paying the right amount for your upgrade.
If you’re purchasing your new devices outright, you obviously only want to upgrade once. Rather than discovering too late that you’ve sunk time, money, and resources into the wrong editions of Windows 11, seeking guidance from a Managed IT Services supplier means you’ll upgrade effectively the first time – and generate additional cost-efficiencies in the process.
Windows 11 Editions Comparison
- Windows 11 Home
- Windows 11 Pro
- Windows 11 Enterprise
- Windows 11 Education
- Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
Windows 11 Home
As the baseline edition, the benefits of Windows 11 Home are present in each of the specialised editions – which includes ongoing security patches, enhanced battery life, Windows Hello, Microsoft Copilot, Snap Layouts, etc. For detail on the features of Windows 11, refer to this blog.For more information on the different editions of Windows 11, contact us now.
Windows 11 Pro
While Home enhances device security on its own, Pro further reinforces your business security with the advanced encryption measures of BitLocker. Key for data loss prevention, this application allows an administrator to roll out security updates to multiple devices at once; and remotely encrypt, wipe, and deactivate systems that have been lost or stolen.But the security benefits don’t end there: the threat of malware to your team networks, for instance, is hugely mitigated with Pro. In addition to TPM 2.0-based cyber protection, Pro has systems in place to detect and remove potential dangers from inbound emails – with an application called Hyper-V keeping harmful malware contained in virtual machines and away from your business-critical files.
For more information on the different editions of Windows 11, contact us now.
Windows 11 Enterprise
As the highest-end version of Windows 11, Enterprise gives large organisations the tools to easily manage and protect thousands of devices at a time. By extension, large volumes of sensitive data are secured with advanced features like Credential Guard, AppLocker, and Microsoft Endpoint Manager.Having an extensive IT infrastructure no longer needs to be a problem with Enterprise, which makes it easy to scale up your team - since Windows Autopilot transforms tasks like device deployment and configuration into a mostly automatic process.
For more information on the different editions of Windows 11, contact us now.
Windows 11 Education
Sharing Enterprise’s ability to manage the security of a large amount of devices at once, Windows 11 Education also allows eligible institutions to access Microsoft 365 without additional cost. To support a disruption-free learning environment without burdening staff, gaming applications are already stripped out of Education as standard – but with accessibility tools such as Narrator and Voice Typing available for differently-abled students.Some Microsoft 365 applications also help teachers to bridge the gap between them and their students; such as Microsoft Whiteboard, which can be used as part of Teams for teachers to easily communicate ideas, Microsoft Reflect, a self-expression tool for students, and Minecraft Education, which provides students with an interactive digital setting to collaborate within to learn, problem-solve, and create.
For more information on the different editions of Windows 11, contact us now.
Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
When it comes to complex tasks like media production, data science, and graphic design, your specialist talent needs a system that can keep up – and that means Windows 11 Pro for Workstations.Designed to give your specialists everything they need to handle complex tasks and heavy workloads with ease, Pro for Workstations is equipped with powerful processors and top-quality graphics cards; with additional tools for frictionless file sharing, enhanced data protection, and dynamic memory usage for high performance apps.
For more information on the different editions of Windows 11, contact us now.
FAQs
Which Windows 11 edition is best for you?
Not sure which Windows 11 Edition suits your business best? It’s better to be safe than sorry, so for the best results, contact us about your Windows 11 transition now and begin your 5-step process:
- Discover & Define
We’ll assess your current setup and requirements as part of a Tech Audit, then recommend the best Windows 11 Edition to suit you. - Design
The design of your new Windows 11 solution will be handled by us, whether your upgrade will be small and simple, or a large complex operation. - Deploy
The design of your new Windows 11 solution will be handled by us, whether your upgrade will be small and simple, or a large complex operation. - Monitor and Manage
To ensure you’re getting maximum value for money throughout your contract, we’ll actively monitor your device health and asset inventory management. - Support
Don’t let technical problems stop you from accessing the many benefits of Windows 11. Our ongoing support service keeps your people active and effective – and if you find you need additional guidance with Windows 11, you can always contact us by filling in the form below.
Windows 11 Resources
Learn more with our Windows 11 transition FAQ pages:
Getting Ready for Windows 11
End of Life (EOL) Windows 10
Windows 11 Features
How to Upgrade to Windows 11
Windows 10 vs Windows 11
Talk to us now about starting your smoothest transition to Windows 11!
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