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If you’re gearing up for a Windows 11 migration, you’re probably excited and a little apprehensive. Digital transformation and business agility promise big gains, but let’s be honest: nobody wants to be blindsided by hidden costs. After all, budget surprises are the fastest way to turn excitement into regret. Here’s how you can avoid those pitfalls (and keep your finance team happy) using proven best practices that put your people first, because the best migrations aren’t just technical upgrades, they’re stories of collective achievement. 1. Start with transparent, two-way communication Every successful migration starts with a conversation, not a spreadsheet. Announce the upcoming changes early, using interactive formats, such as Q&A sessions, open forums, and visual updates. Be upfront about goals, timelines, and budget implications. When people know what’s ahead, they’re less likely to inadvertently cause costly delays or last-minute requests. Open communication also means listening; encourage feedback about anticipated needs or concerns. Those “small” worries often become big budget busters if ignored. 2. Tailor training to real needs (and avoid overkill) Training is essential, but it’s easy to overspend by treating every user the same. Not everyone needs full-day workshops or advanced certifications. Map out who needs what: power users may crave deep dives into new features; others might need only a bite-sized tutorial. Use a mix of hands-on workshops, quick-reference guides, and peer-led sessions. By aligning training to actual roles and workflows, you avoid wasted spend while boosting overall adoption—two wins for your bottom line. 3. Empathy-driven support: Invest where it matters Support channels can be a quiet drain on budgets, especially when migration hiccups happen. The trick? Respond swiftly to both the technical issue and the person behind it. Set up robust helpdesks, but also empower peer support groups. Regular feedback and milestone celebrations keep morale high and reduce the panic that leads to unnecessary (and expensive) outside consulting. Recognize adaptability and patience—it’s cheaper to nurture resilience than to fix burnout. 4. Watch out for scope creep—stay agile, not adrift Migrating to Windows 11 isn’t just about installing software. It’s about integrating cloud, mobile, and always-on business capabilities. That’s where scope creep lurks: new features, unexpected compatibility issues, or last-minute “nice-to-have” requests. Keep your eye on the original plan, but build in flexible checkpoints to review priorities. Agility doesn’t mean endless changes; it means adjusting with purpose. Use clear messaging points and break your migration into digestible phases, so everyone stays focused, and budget surprises stay at bay. 5. Measure, learn, and share progress Budget overruns often happen in the dark. Track progress visually, celebrate wins, and share regular financial updates. Don’t just count the dollars, talk about the value delivered: improved workflows, happier teams, and enhanced security. This open approach not only prevents overspending but also makes the migration feel like a shared journey. When everyone sees the impact, enthusiasm and accountability soar. Conclusion: Empower people, control costs Avoiding budget surprises isn’t just about tight controls—it’s about empowering your workforce with clarity, targeted training, and a culture of empathy. By following these steps, you’ll transform your Windows 11 migration from a risky expense into a story of progress and innovation. And if you’re looking for more actionable advice, keep testing new approaches and share your wins, because in digital transformation, the true payoff is collective achievement. To learn more about Tanium, visit here. source

On 14 October 2025, support for Windows 10 will end. No more security updates. No new features. And no margin for avoidable risk. But this isn’t just a deadline story; it’s a chance to give your team faster machines, fewer IT fire drills, and built-in AI superpowers that actually shave time off the workday.  For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), waiting to upgrade rarely pays off; it usually creates costs you can’t predict. Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro Copilot+ PCs with Intel vPro® means you have Intel Core™ Ultra for your power users,whichis the practical way to land on the safe side of security and the fast side of productivity.  The deadline you can’t snooze  Unsupported devices invite problems such as increased attack surface, compliance gaps, and compatibility headaches. The punchline is simple: act before the deadline and you control the schedule (and the story). Act after, and the story might control you.  What are the upsides you will feel when you upgrade, especially as a lean SMB? Speed your people notice: Modern Windows 11 devices with Intel vPro® and Intel Core™ Ultra deliver up to 50% faster workflows and complete demanding workloads about 42% faster on average than typical Windows 10-era machines Fewer security fire drills: Organisations that moved to Windows 11 report a ~62% drop in security incidents versus Windows 10 fleets, good news for small IT teams Deployment without the drama: Reported ~25% faster deployment vs. Windows 10, thanks to familiar tools, broad app compatibility, and cloud provisioning AI when it matters: Copilot+ PCs with Intel vPro® and Intel Core™ Ultra add on device acceleration (NPUs) for lightning quick summarisation, content assists, and image tools—no constant roundtrips to the cloud. They’re up to 5x faster than popular five-year-old Windows 10 PCs still in service.* Two clear device lanes to fit your needs Windows 11 Pro PCs with Intel vPro® The default choice for most roles. You get hardware-backed security, remote manageability, and smooth app compatibility—ideal when you’ve got more priorities than IT headcount. 2. Copilot+ PCs with Intel vPro® and Intel Core Ultra Designed for creators, sellers, analysts, and anyone juggling content and meetings all day. Expect sustained performance, on-device AI features, and battery life that lasts, even off the charger. Even with clear benefits, many small and mid-sized businesses hesitate to upgrade. The most common concerns come down to three factors: downtime, app compatibility, and budget. “We can’t afford downtime.”  The fear of disruption is real, but Windows 11 supports in-place upgrades and ringed deployments. By starting with a 10-user pilot and rolling out in waves, you can avoid a long weekend outage. “What about our apps and gear?” Most businesses rely on a core set of tools. The good news is that over 99% Windows 10 apps are compatible with Windows 11, and common accessories work seamlessly. You can validate edge cases in your pilot, keep fallbacks handy, then scale. “Budgets are tight” Older devices often look cheaper but cost more in the long run. Slow boot times, lagging apps, and recurring security issues drain both time and money. Even small daily wins compound into real savings for small teams. Refreshing your business with Windows 11 devices is simpler than many expect. With modern deployment tools, a small business can complete the transition in about 30 days. Your quick buyer’s checklist Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a checklist to help you. Always remember that it is important to keep it simple. CPU: Latest gen Intel® Core™ with vPro® and Core™ Ultra (look for NPU support for Copilot+). Memory/Storage:16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD for most users (more for creators). Security: TPM 2.0, Windows Hello, BitLocker; favour Secured-core where possible. Connectivity: Intel® Core™ 200V series, which supports Wi-Fi 7—delivering up to 5x faster speed over Wi-Fi 6 and up to 60% lower latency, perfect for Teams calls. Manageability: Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Intel® Active Management Technology (AMT) for secure remote PC management. Need to get your CFO on board? Use these two points: If a device saves just 10 minutes a day, that’s ~40 hours a year per employee—nearly a full work week. Fewer IT incidents and faster deployment translate into tangible savings on both the helpdesk queue and the bottom line. Conclusion The Windows 10 clock is ticking, but the story here isn’t doom; it’s opportunity. Move to Windows 11 Pro with Intel vPro® devices (and Copilot+ PCs with Intel® Core™ Ultra where it counts) and you’ll get faster machines, stronger protection, simpler management, and AI that makes the everyday easier. The smartest SMBs won’t wait for the deadline—they’ll use the weeks before it to bank the upside.  *Performance claims vary by configuration and workload. Always pilot in your environment before scaling.    source

This underscores a shift in strategy from reactive to proactive defense. Rather than waiting for attacks to occur and then scrambling to respond, Agentic AI can potentially identify vulnerabilities, predict attack patterns and implement countermeasures before threats can be exploited. The speed advantage becomes increasingly important in cases like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, an attempt to disrupt normal traffic of a server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic. When nation-state actors launch DDoS attacks to bring down networks, an agentic AI deployed at the network perimeter can potentially identify attack patterns, analyze traffic anomalies and modify firewall rules autonomously, thereby eliminating the response delays that typically allow attacks to succeed. Strategic implementation: Building your agent defense network Successfully deploying Agentic AI moves beyond a traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, organizations should build teams of specialized agents, each designed with its own function that work within coordinated defense networks. This could be like the following: source

Windows 10 support ends on 14 October 2025. But this isn’t just about what’s going away; it’s about what’s possible when you upgrade. For small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), modern devices don’t just run faster. They help your team work smarter, with built-in AI tools that save time, reduce friction, and unlock new ways to get things done. If your business runs lean, every minute matters. Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro PCs with Intel vPro® devices and Copilot+ PCs with Intel® Core™ Ultra for your power users gives your team the speed, battery life, and AI features they need to stay in flow—without waiting on IT. The slowdown you don’t need Older PCs aren’t just slower; they’re holding your team back. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, 64% of employees say they struggle with having enough time or energy to do their job. And when devices lag, meetings drag, and multitasking becomes a mess, productivity takes a hit. What are the upsides you will feel when you upgrade, especially in a busy SMB? Speed your team notices: Windows 11 pro powered by Intel vPro devices deliver up to 50% faster workflows and complete demanding tasks ~42% faster than typical Windows 10-era machines Battery life that lasts: Copilot+ PCs with Intel Core Ultra inside offer up to 22 hours of local video playback and 15 hours of web browsing, ideal for hybrid work AI that actually helps: Built-in tools like Recall (preview), Click to Do, and improved search help users summarise, organise, and find what they need—without constant roundtrips to the cloud Better meetings, less fatigue: Windows Studio Effects improve video calls with automatic framing, natural eye contact, and noise suppression “We’re productive enough” objections, addressed “We don’t need AI”? You might not need it until you try it. 85% of organisations say AI gives them a competitive edge, and 79% report a 3.5x return on AI investments. On the other hand, if you are “already using AI tools” to boost productivity without IT oversight, remember that these are often consumer-grade and unsecured. Transitioning to Microsoft Copilot ensures your team enjoys the benefits of AI with enterprise-grade security, compliance, and integration across Microsoft 365. It’s productivity without the risk. If your team objects to change, saying “we’re used to what we have”, assure them that familiar tools, broad app compatibility, and cloud provisioning mean your team can upgrade without disruption. And if you feel you are “too busy to switch”, start with a pilot group. Windows 11 supports in-place upgrades and ringed deployments, so you don’t need a full shutdown to get started. Still think your “current PCs are still good”? Older PCs are more susceptible to security incidents. Besides, new PCs will increase efficiency gains, especially for security teams. Your quick productivity checklist Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a checklist to help you. Always remember that it is important to keep it simple. CPU: Latest Intel® Core™ with vPro® and Intel® Core™ Ultra (look for NPU support for Copilot+) Memory/Storage: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD for most users. Battery: Long battery life with fast charging. Collaboration: Webcam, dual mics, and Wi-Fi 6E or 7. AI features: Recall, Click to Do, and Windows Studio Effects. Best AI experience: Intel’s CPU, GPU, and NPU provide three engines for Al acceleration, powering Copilot+ experiences; Intel supports 500+ AI models and provides developers with leading tools and AI developer kits, enhancing experiences for commercial customers. Need to get your CFO on board? Lead with these two points: If a device saves just 10 minutes a day, that’s ~40 hours a year per employee—nearly a full work week. Faster workflows and fewer delays mean real savings in time, energy, and output. Bottom line The Windows 10 deadline is coming, but the real story is what comes next. Move to Windows 11 Pro with Intel vPro® (and Copilot+ PCs with Intel® Core™ Ultra where it counts) and you’ll get faster machines, smarter tools, and AI that helps your team do more—with less effort. The smartest SMBs won’t wait for the deadline—they’ll upgrade now and bank the upside. source