Al Kingsley MBE is CEO of NetSupport, Chair of a multi-academy trust in the U.K, tech writer, speaker & author of multiple education books.
Technology change can be challenging. If you’re a small- and medium-sized business (SMB), you can soon find the costs spiraling out of control. It can be oh-so-tempting to put in extra workarounds to delay the inevitable outlay, but we all know that treading that path can be risky.
Take the transition to Windows 11. Microsoft will officially end its technical support for Windows 10 on October 14, meaning there won’t be any further security updates or fixes. The simple solution is to bite the bullet and do the migration. However, it’s easy to see things are not that clear cut if your hardware doesn’t meet the requirements for the transition, and your SMB faces having to buy new devices despite your existing ones working perfectly well.
In this sense, an imposed change like this brings “unnecessary” costs on businesses in an environment where profits are hard fought for.
Using Change As A Power-Up
Let’s consider it from a different angle. Most businesses are IT-based, so staying updated with mainstream developments is critical. Significant changes like this offer you the chance to revisit and review your current digital strategy and infrastructure—and modernize them, strengthening your cybersecurity defenses and adapting and streamlining processes.
This review could, ultimately, help you work more efficiently and benefit your bottom line.
No company can afford to be complacent about device and data security—and we know that cybercriminals are constantly thinking of new ways to attack businesses. In its Digital Defense Report 2024, Microsoft confirms this, saying, “The pace of change has been astounding.” All the more reason to ensure that your business has a well-researched strategy supported by secure and capable solutions. So, how do you do it?
Cybersecurity Central
First, think about cybersecurity in general. It should be a key consideration of your strategy at any point. Adopting best practices to protect your devices and data—and, critically, your customers’ personally identifiable information (PII)—is essential.
These are the fundamentals of any cybersecurity strategy:
• Multifactor Authentication (MFA): This well-known mechanism helps prevent unauthorized access to your systems. Implementing MFA as a layer of your security measures helps to safeguard sensitive accounts and data. It also helps to reduce the risk of weak (or compromised) passwords, which, despite all the encouragement for people to be savvier when they set them, are still frequently used in the workplace.
• Regular Updates: If you stay on your current operating system, your automatic security updates will also stay there, eventually creating a hole in your cybersecurity armor. Transitioning to the latest release is a no-brainer despite the cost.
• Endpoint Protection: As work operations become more mobile, flexible and dispersed, endpoint detection and response tools are essential to give IT teams better visibility of their company devices to identify, contain and prevent potential threats.
• Employee Training: It’s a fact: Human error is one of the biggest cybersecurity risks. As a business, you’ll need to ensure that staff not only have time to do the training but also that you have a method of tracking whether they have completed it. If they are alert to risks like phishing attempts, that’s a vital first line in your cybersecurity defenses.
Practical Steps For Upgrading
Let’s return to Windows 11. Its security features—zero trust, Secure Boot, Windows Hello for Business and more—are designed to protect you against cybersecurity threats and help you operate a digitally secure business.
If your SMB hasn’t needed to manage this kind of transition before and you don’t feel equipped to do so, then you could consider working with a managed service provider (MSP) who can simplify it; they will handle everything from compatibility checks to system configuration. You will learn much in the process and be able to take that knowledge forward for the next time.
On the other hand, if you’re confident you have the expertise, following a structured approach—audit, plan, backup, test and train—breaks things down into easily manageable steps and will ensure you cover all bases.
First, audit your technology and evaluate your hardware. Windows 11 has specific hardware requirements, and you may find that some of your existing machines will no longer be compatible. Getting rid of computers that work perfectly well is never easy, but in business, security comes first.
Next, draw up your transition plans. Work with your IT team to define your upgrade strategy. What is the timeline? How will resources be allocated throughout the company? With the answers to these questions, draw up contingency plans in case any issues arise.
Now that you’ve done the groundwork, it’s on to the practicalities. The first task before any major change or upgrade to your technology is to back up your critical data—and ensure it is easily recoverable should you need to do so quickly.
Before rolling out a company-wide update, it’s also wise to test first. Set up a controlled environment with several Windows 11 devices and employees, explain what you’re looking for and ask for feedback. This way, you can nip any usability or compatibility issues in the bud and be better prepared for your full rollout.
Finally, training is a major part of getting the most out of company technology. If employees aren’t aware of its possibilities, your business won’t reap the rewards. Be sure to factor in time to give your staff guidance and ongoing support so they can build their skills and use the tools creatively to help maximize productivity.
Moving Forward
Transitioning to Windows 11 is a major undertaking for any business; that’s why we’re talking about it now, months before the October 14 deadline. It represents more than just an upgrade—it’s a fundamental shift needed to stay in line with wider technology developments, streamline your productivity and strengthen your cybersecurity measures.
With a well-defined plan, plenty of expert support and time on your side, making the move might be a whole lot easier than you think.
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