Keeping up with software releases is important, especially when the software is Microsoft Windows and it’s the foundation of your entire information technology infrastructure. Windows 10 has had frequent updates, every six months, with new versions supported only for 18 months. For many companies, this has meant the process of certifying and deploying updates never ends.

New changes to the Windows 10 lifecycle for Enterprise customers will give organizations a break from this unending rat race. Deploying the Enterprise edition will gain users an additional year of support, giving companies a chance to catch up on their deployments. This will also help companies that are working towards upgrading devices still running Windows 7, as that product will be retired within the next year and a half.

As a result of this change, all Windows 10 versions that are still supported will remain supported for a full 30 months from the release date. In addition, there will be distinct lifecycles for the twice-per-year Windows releases. Updates released in March will remain supported for 18 months. Updates released in September will be supported for 18 months in Windows 10 Pro versions, while they’ll receive 30 months of support in Enterprise and Education versions.

If you don’t have the Enterprise version currently, it’s important to note that version 1703 of Windows Pro 10 will reach end of support in October 2018, and version 1709 will end support in April 2019. It’s worth considering upgrading to Windows 10 Enterprise to extend the support lifecycle even if you aren’t a large business, as the extended support cycle can reduce the constant churn of deployment work and reduce the production problems that result from new versions.

Prescient Solutions IT management services helps Chicago area businesses stay on top of their IT needs. Contact us to learn how our IT consulting and managed services can help you remain current with your patches and upgrades.