Microsoft needed a win after Windows 8/8.1 failed to meet expectations, and Windows 10 proved to be the solution. The operating system, introduced in July 2015, was a welcome change and immediate success, resolving many issues and introducing several innovations. Most importantly, it made upgrading simple for businesses by fixing migration problems, supporting proprietary hardware, and easing up the learning curve. Windows 10 features technology designed to make your business run better. It reduces business costs, and allows admins to run their business applications both in the cloud and onsite.
Different versions of Windows 10 are available in the market, but not all of them have the management and security features required by businesses. The two best choices for a business are Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Professional. But which is better? Find out below.
Windows 10 Professional
The Professional edition of Windows 10 comes with advanced features and functionality, making it the perfect replacement for outdated OS among entrepreneurs and small businesses. Everything, from improved security to easy migration, is offered in Windows 10 Pro. Mobility is key in the small business world, and Windows 10 Pro excels in this department. The new OS can be used across different devices, from laptops and smartphones to hybrids.
Multitasking made easy
The OS simplifies complex tasks like upgrading, deployment, and migration, through the Assessment and Development Kit (ADK) or Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). A domain server and controller enable you to use them as a complete deployment platform, while Windows Imaging allows you to form reference images.
Productivity and management
Businesses can reap rich rewards with the Windows 10 Professional management and productivity features. Of note is the Universal Windows application that supports app access across different devices.
MS Office features
Windows 10 Professional provides access to a browser-based version of Microsoft Office that can be used for simple word processing and spreadsheet tasks. All of these can be shared and accessed across devices, thereby eliminating the need for different user accounts.
Single login access
In Windows 10 Pro, a single login is all it takes to access the Azure Active Directory, Business Store, and Group Policy Management.
Advanced security features
New security features like Visualization Based Security (VBS) await Windows 10 Pro users. They isolate specific parts of the OS to prevent modification by malware or viruses. BitLocker, Microsoft’s popular encryption software, makes it easy to encrypt removable storage devices and hard drives using various authentication modes. Windows 10 Pro also features Hello, which combines a pin code with biometric data to grant user access to the operating system and other applications.
Other security measures available to Windows 10 Pro users include Device Guard, Enterprise Data Protection, and Passport. Device Guard is used to protect scripts and applications, while Passport focuses on single sign-on authentication. Perhaps the most important new feature is Enterprise Data Protection, which provides users with basic rights management and file-level encryption capabilities.
Windows 10 Enterprise
You will hardly notice the difference between the Enterprise version and the Pro version when it comes to features and functionality. Then why is Enterprise marketed toward mid-level and large-sized businesses? Let’s find out.
For starters, Windows 10 Enterprise can only be distributed via Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Program. Moreover, a base installation of the Professional version is a must for Windows 10 Enterprise. This doesn’t mean the Enterprise version is without any merits. In fact, it offers numerous additions that are missing in the Professional version.
DirectAccess
DirectAccess marks a big difference between the Professional version of Windows 10 and Enterprise. This VPN-like technology offers intranet connectivity to client systems via a bi-directional Internet connection.
Credential Guard
Credential Guard is a new feature found only in Windows 10 Enterprise. Using a Hyper-V hypervisor, it can isolate the process – Local Security Authority – in charge of security policies. Credential Guard works by protecting your domain credentials rather than local accounts.
AppLocker
AppLocker is another significant addition to Windows 10 Enterprise, which gives admins the power to revoke access to different apps on as many devices as they want. This is an indispensable feature for businesses that have a mobile workforce. AppLocker makes it easy to blacklist and whitelist applications, as required. When used with Group Policy, this app allows you to restrict any programs that are executable in the Active Directory domain.
Other security capabilities
The Enterprise version includes different security features that add to the existing capabilities of the OS. For example, Managed User Experience promotes easy management of everything, from user accounts to connection settings. The Application Virtualization simplifies streaming and app virtualization. The User Environment Virtualization gives you the chance to migrate virtual devices without changing the OS settings.
The Enterprise version of Windows 10 has excellent security and volume licensing features, which makes it the perfect fit for medium to large business organizations. Standalone systems have no use for this kind of power.
The best option for your business?
Let’s get one thing straight – both Windows 10 Enterprise and Professional can fulfill the requirements of small and medium businesses. The only difference is the extra IT and security features of the Enterprise version. You can use your operating system perfectly well without these additions. Migration and deployment tasks are handled really well by the two Windows 10 versions, and they provide the same functionality as far as management and application is concerned. Moreover, both can be used across multiple devices.
Small businesses are usually less formal. They will find it beneficial to start off with the Pro version. However, in case of larger corporations and companies, most of them rely on big server-based networks. Thus, small businesses should upgrade from the Professional version to Enterprise when they start to grow and develop, and require stronger OS security. The larger the company, the more licenses it needs. Windows 10 Enterprise version becomes the cheaper option here.
The Windows OS comes in a variety of different editions. For many organizations the choice is obvious, but for others it's a more difficult decision.
Organizations should compare Windows 10 OS editions against each other to understand the features and capabilities each one offers.
Organizations that deploy Windows 10 must often choose between two Windows 10 OS editions: Windows 10 Professional and Windows 10 Enterprise.
Windows 10 Professional. This OS edition is the starting level for small and midsize businesses, as well as power users. Organizations with this license can join desktops to an Active Directory Domain, connect to Remote Desktop, encrypt data with BitLocker, provide entry-level virtualization with Hyper-V and use Windows Defender Device Guard that can lock a device down to run only trusted applications.
Windows 10 Pro also supports Microsoft Autopilot, a deployment service that enables organizations to purchase devices with OEMs and automate the configuration process.
Windows 10 Pro contains several features that Windows 10 Home does not include, such as:
- data loss prevention such as application access control, copy and paste protection, removable storage protection and automatic device protection;
- Device Management, including automatic mobile device management (MDM), Active Directory and Azure Active Directory Join, kiosk mode and custom login;
- application management and compatibility features such as mobile application management (MAM), Microsoft Store for Business, local virtualization support and Windows Insider Program for Business;
- deployment and update capabilities including in-place upgrades, delivery optimization, Windows analytics readiness and compliance and Windows Update for Business.
The primary difference between Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise is the amount of security features. These are the security features that Windows 10 Professional offers:
- cloud protection for fast responses to web-based attacks;
- machine learning for virus and malware attacks;
- runtime behavior monitoring;
- integrity enforcement of OS boot up process and sensitive OS components;
- ransomware mitigation;
- host-based firewall;
- advance vulnerability and zero-day exploit mitigations.
Windows 10 Professional also offers identity and access management features such as support for multi-factor and passwordless authentication, biometrics and Active Directory.
Windows 10 Enterprise. Windows 10 Enterprise is only available for volume licensing customers and is intended for large corporate environments. It contains all features from Windows 10 Pro and home, as well as new security upgrades. These are significant features not found in Windows 10 Pro:
- Windows 10 Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Windows 10 Enterprise adds additional ATP features from Pro, including device-based conditional access, customizable allow/deny lists, network protection for web-based threats, advanced machine learning- and AI-based protection for viruses and malware, emergency outbreak protection and advanced cloud protection.
- Endpoint Detection and Response. This includes behavioral-based threat detection, centralized management with Windows Defender Security Center, investigation tools, forensic collection, advanced analytics and reporting, integrated endpoint protection for macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and ISO 27001 compliance.
Windows 10 Enterprise also contains the following management features:
- Windows To Go. This is a carryover feature from Windows 8. IT can install the OS onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive to boot onto any desktop.
- BranchCache facilitates a distributed file system to share and store documents in remote branches, control security and versioning at a central repository and ensure all users in all branches have the correct version update.
- Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V). App-V is a powerful tool for large organizations that want to deliver applications to desktops by streaming from a server or to a virtual environment.
- Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V). Like App-V, UE-V is now included in Windows 10 Enterprise OS. UE-V provides portability of user settings in virtual environments so the user has access to them from one client to another. It allows large organizations to centrally manage user profiles for users that frequently use multiple machines.
- This feature provides a very granular set of policies that can control application access, conditions and security. IT can set AppLocker policies in Pro, but they won't take effect on desktops other than those running Enterprise.
- Windows 10 Long-Term Servicing Channel. Windows 10 has several channels, including Windows Insider for testing of prerelease versions of Windows 10, and the Current Channel, which receives regular releases of updates and features.
- Desktop App Assure. Desktop App Assure is available for organizations that purchase 150 licenses or more. The program provides access to a FastTrack Specialist to offer guidance when installing Windows 10 Enterprise and Office 365 ProPlus. FastTrack advisors can help resolve compatibility issues for in-house developed apps, third-party Windows 10 apps and other issues such as Office macros and add-ins.
Windows 10 Professional for Workstations. This OS edition has similar features to Windows 10 Professional, but it is intended for devices with high-level compute operations that run on top end processors. It includes support for up to four CPUs and up to 6 TB RAM.
Windows 10 Education. This edition is only available to academic institutions with an Academic Volume Licensing agreement. It is essentially equivalent to Enterprise in terms of features. Windows 10 Education allows in-place upgrades from Windows 10 Home or Pro as a simple upgrade. It also comes in E3 and E5 editions, with the E5 license adding Advanced Threat Protection.
Windows 10 Home. This edition of Windows OS is for consumers and runs on PCs, tablets and two-in-one PCs. It has limited networking and security features and cannot join an Active Directory Domain. It does contain parental controls, which other Windows 10 OS editions do not include.