Ready to Update to Windows 11? What You Need to Know

Microsoft is rolling out its latest update to its operating system, Windows 10. Sooner or later you will be asked whether or not you want to upgrade to the latest version, Windows 11. Do you know if your PC is ready for Windows 11, or should you stay with Windows 10?

For now, you won’t be forced to update, and installation is not automatic. Before agreeing and installing the update, you should be aware of the differences between Windows 10 and 11, and what challenges you could face if you update on an older PC.

With each new update, Microsoft adds in new features and improves performance issues. The biggest change you will see is related to how the operating systems differ visually, and how those changes impact productivity.

Highlights on the latest update include:

• Start Menu and Task Bar: The biggest notable difference with Windows 11 is the Start Menu and Task Bar. In Windows 11, the Start Menu and Task Bar are centered in the middle, much like you’d see on a MacOS. If this new layout isn’t appealing, you do have the option to move it to the left.
  The Start Menu in Windows 11 does look different than Windows 10. It’s a bit simpler and shows a static list of apps and your frequently accessed documents. You can expand and scroll through the app list and pin your favorites. This is like Windows 10, however, if you are accustomed to using the Live Tiles, you will be disappointed. The Live Tiles feature goes away with Windows 11. 
• Snap Layouts for Multitasking: If you are a multitasker, you will like a new feature of Windows 11 – snap layouts that group your windows and save them to the taskbar. Snap layouts replace the drag-and-drop snap assist feature of Windows 10 and allow you to arrange your apps neatly on your desktop.
• Performance: With Windows 11, Microsoft has made some notable performance improvements that could speed up your PC. The new operating system does a lot of work in memory management, giving the apps that are opened and running more CPU power than closed, dormant apps.
  An additional performance change is the way Windows 11 resumes from sleep mode and handles standby time. Compared to Windows 10, with Windows 11, your RAM will stay energized in sleep mode and will help your PC unsnooze up top 25% faster.

With any new software update, there are potential challenges and bugs. The release of Windows 11 is no exception. Many experts believe the release was a bit rushed, even with the clear improvements on some features related to productivity and performance.

If you are considering updating your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, here are some potential challenges you could face:

• Hardware May Not Support Update: If you have a new PC, chances are this will not be an issue. For older PCs and laptops, this is the biggest challenge of the new operating system. To run Windows 11, you’ll need an Intel Core 8th-gen processor or newer, or an AMD Ryzen 2000 processor or newer.
  This hardware requirement will be frustrating for users with PCs older than 4 years old. Still working on that laptop from 2016 or 2017? There’s a good chance you cannot update to Windows 11 without a workaround. Although you CAN install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, Microsoft has hinted those unsupported users will not receive critical security updates.
• You May Lose Some of Your Favorite Features: Die-hard Windows 10 fans may be disappointed to learn some of their favorite features went to the wayside in Windows 11. The S Mode feature, which restricts administrators and users from installing apps from outside the Microsoft Store, is now only available in the home edition. The voice helper Cortana is also being retired, and RIP to Internet Explorer.
• Critical Hardware and Software May Not Be Compatible: Most devices and apps will continue to work – but “most” is not “all.” Before updating to Windows 11, it’s best to test compatibility on a separate device. Not sure how to make that happen? Drop us a note – we can help. Trying to troubleshoot a post-upgrade compatibility issue can be time-consuming and frustrating.
• Windows 11 Bugs: An expected annoyance with any new update is some level of instability and bugs. Even with beta-testing, Windows 11 still may experience some bugs that could interfere with productivity. If you are concerned with any of the known issues with Windows 11, but are otherwise eager to move to the new operating system, you may want to wait until it is more mature.

Unsure if you can – or should – update your PCs and laptops to Windows 11? Don’t fret – Everound can help! We offer a free IT infrastructure assessment and can develop a plan for you to keep your IT assets working at peak performance. We have decades of experience working with Microsoft products including operating systems, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Teams, and the entire Microsoft suite. Let us take a look to see if your computers have the minimum system requirements to move to Microsoft 11.

As a managed IT services provider, our team supports business owners with their information technology needs. We can serve as your IT department without the overhead of hiring staff in-house or can work with your existing IT teams as an additional support or resource. We specialize in cybersecurity, IT planning and strategy, network administration and monitoring, help desk support, hardware and software configuration and installation, and backup and disaster recovery. Reach out today for your free IT assessment. We focus on your IT, so you can focus on your business.

MSP, IoT, VPN, Oh My! Your Complete Guide to IT Acronyms

Do information technology acronyms seem confusing? In our industry, we love to abbreviate technical terms to acronyms. No worries – we are here to help with the alphabet soup! Some of these acronyms may be familiar to you and you may hear them every day. Others are specific to information technology systems and challenges.

Here are the most frequently used IT acronyms you may come across in your day-to-day life or as a business owner:

Have you ever asked “Alexa, how is the weather today?,” or “Siri, what is the best recipe for baked ziti?” This is an example of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.

Speech recognition, visual perception, and even decision-making are all examples of how artificial intelligence is changing the way we communicate and perform daily tasks.

An application programmer interface, or API, is software that allows for two separate applications to “talk” to each other. You likely use an API nearly every day but never thought about it. When looking for the best deals on a travel site, an API lets the travel site quickly collect flight and hotel availabilities from providers before showing you your options. Without an API in place, the travel site would have to manually reach out to the provider to find pricing and availability.

AWS, or Amazon Web Services, is a cloud-services platform that offers its users database storage, content delivery, and other services. Individuals, businesses, and even government agencies rely on AWS to obtain large-scale computing services without having to build their own IT infrastructure.

Big brands like Netflix, Twitch, Turner Broadcasting, BBC, LinkedIn, Facebook, ESPN, and Twitter use AWS for storage. If you’re binge-watching your favorite new show online, chances are you are watching content stored with AWS.

FTP, or file transfer protocol, is one of many ways of transferring a file over the internet. While this is less common now that companies rely on the cloud to share files, some businesses still use FTP. With FTP, the files are hosted on an on-premises server and employees can upload files to share via a link, like you would do when sharing a link on Google Drive.

Hardware as a Service, or HaaS, is a procurement model that is similar to leasing or renting equipment. In the HaaS model, businesses essentially “borrow” their IT hardware from a managed service provider (MSP). The MSP owns the hardware and is responsible for maintenance and upkeep.

The IoT, or the Internet of Things, describes all the physical objects that are interconnected over the internet or other communication networks. It’s literally the billions of devices around the world that are connected to the internet.

A good example of IoT in action is a wearable device like an Apple Watch or Fitbit. Wearables give users data about their lifestyle using the internet to collect and share the data. Other real-world examples of IoT include home security systems with cameras that are accessible online, smart appliances (think thermostats you can turn on or off from an app on your phone), and even medical devices that document health data through a wireless connection.

Internet Protocol, or IP, is the set of rules by which data is sent from one computer to another over the internet. Every computer has a unique IP address – do you know how to find yours? Go to Google and type in “What’s my IP address?” That is your unique identifier when you are communicating online.

IP addresses are useful to trace a device’s location or an origin of an email and to troubleshoot network errors or identify cyber intruders.

With the increase in cyber threats over the last decade, MFA, or multi-factor authentication, has become a best practice to access private data or sensitive information. MFA requires a user to submit at least two different identifiers to log in to a website or to access files on a server.

A common example of MFA is when you have to enter a password AND a code sent to your smartphone to authenticate yourself. The banking industry uses MFA frequently, as well as websites and apps such as Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, and Apple ID.

Another common IT acronym is MSP. A managed service provider, or MSP, is a term used to describe an organization that provides an outsourced specialized service to a business. While there are MSPs in several industries, the most common are outsourced IT services.

An IT MSP provides specialized IT support through services including technical support, cybersecurity, hardware and software installation and maintenance, help desk, network and server administration, network monitoring, and computer patching and software updates, to name a few.

Software as a Service, or SaaS, allows users to access applications and software over the internet. While the terminology may seem unfamiliar to you, you likely are already using SaaS daily. Cloud-based apps like email, calendars, and even Microsoft Office 365 are all examples of SaaS.

With SaaS, businesses do not need to install and maintain software on their own. Applications are updated and maintained through an internet connection.

Voice over internet protocol, more commonly known as voice over IP or VoIP, allows users to make phone calls over broadband internet. Unlike traditional phone systems, a VoIP system works by converting sound into digital voice communication and transferring it through Internet broadband.

VoIP also allows users to conduct video meetings and conference calls and is often a more cost-effective means of business communications.

A VPN, or virtual private network, gives you online privacy by creating a private network on a public internet connection. A VPN essentially protects your data from unwanted eyes by creating an encrypted tunnel for your data. A VPN also hides your IP address and allows you to access public Wi-Fi safely.

Traveling abroad and want to access your favorite Netflix show that is only streaming in the U.S.? You can use a VPN to hide your IP address and binge-watch away!

At Everound, we partner with small and medium businesses in Central Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and the Baltimore/DC metro region and take care of their IT infrastructure and needs. We provide managed information technology services designed to help companies become more efficient, boost productivity, reduce risk, improve operations, and promote digital security.

We support national organizations and local businesses by solving IT challenges with customized information technology solutions. Our team of network engineers and technology specialists has been helping clients for more than 30 years.

When you choose to work with Everound, you are more than a ‘client,’ you are our partner. We are relationship-focused and work hard to understand your unique challenges. From day one, we will integrate seamlessly into your organization and treat your team as our team with respect and transparency; communicate with clarity; and above all, implement solutions to help your business be successful.

Let us take on your IT challenges so you can focus on your business. Reach out today for a free IT infrastructure and cybersecurity assessment.