В чем разница windows 10 pro и enterprise

In conversations with customers like you, one-on-one or at events, we’re often asked to help you choose between Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Pro. Specifically, we’re asked to help clarify the differences between the two editions, and the impact those differences might have to your organization. With that in mind, we decided to take a closer look at these conversations—and the key considerations when it comes to deciding between Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Pro for your organization—by talking with two Technology Solutions Professionals specializing in Windows deployments who talk to and help customers on a regular basis.

Nick Moseley focuses on all things deployment, management, productivity, and, especially, security. He helps organizations see the vision for Windows as a service, develop strategies, and build out the necessary architecture to support it. He has over 15 years of experience in IT, ranging from corporate IT to consulting, primarily around systems management and desktop engineering. That background provides great perspective, enabling him to collaborate and build the right vision, businesses cases, and strategy for his customers.

Shawn Porter has more than 25 years of industry experience, helping customers realize a strategy to modernize in their organizations. He previously held enterprise architecture roles for a large educational provider in Canada, working across more than 200 sites with greater than 140,000 units. He also has more than 10 years of experience in corporate IT as a systems management consultant, working with organizations on Configuration Manager and OS deployments. As a Technology Solutions Professional, he notes, «I’ve been doing Modern Workplace type stuff before it was even considered modern!»

In your travels with customers vis-a-vis Windows 10, where does the discussion around Windows 10 Pro versus Enterprise usually come in? Is it rooted in the organization’s migration from Windows 7 to Windows 10? When is it that customers become most interested?

Nick: In my experience, it most often isn’t customer-initiated; instead, it’s more often when we review the value and benefits of Windows 10 as a whole and when the customer is in a good position to deploy—as well as when they’re ready to manage devices in a modern way with regards to security implementation. When I engage with customers, I collaborate with them to uncover areas where they might struggle, and discuss how they might overcome challenges by harnessing capabilities in Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise. It’s through this discovery of their business challenges that we can collaborate to help find the right solution.

Shawn: It’s rare that a customer will come forward with a desire for one or the other unless they’ve done some extensive discovery themselves. It may occur when we’re engaging in security conversations and the customer shares how they’ve seen attempts to compromise their environment. There may also be scenarios where they’re moving forward with the Microsoft 365 suite of products, at which point we’ll educate them on how Windows 10 Enterprise management tools and capabilities may benefit them in ways they didn’t previously consider. Further, if they’re evaluating costs, we can work with them to find the right fit, making them aware of what’s fully included in their choice.

A key differentiation between Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise comes down to security. Do customers really understand the differences between offerings?

Nick: The thing that can confuse customers is that they believe that Windows 10 is simply a new interface with just a few new «bells and whistles» without fully understanding the differences. In Windows 7, there were only a handful of differences update over update. With Windows 10, we now have all kinds of scenarios for security and/or management needs and a Pro versus Enterprise discussion provides substantive value. We have features that span across Pro and Enterprise, but that can be leveraged further when you consider use of Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (Microsoft Defender ATP). To your point, we talk about Windows Defender Exploit Guard, which is made up of 5-6 key components that span Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise E3.

Shawn: Over the last several months, we’ve seen some of our key security features made available with Windows 10 Pro to ensure all our customers have great capabilities when it comes to security. The management of those features, though, is better realized with Windows 10 Enterprise and, ultimately, Microsoft Defender ATP for all-in-one management.

Do you think customers realize the intrinsic value necessary to determine whether or not to purchase Windows 10 Enterprise?

Nick: For me, that value is recognized when we start discussing an organization’s business needs and/or challenges. Once we have a clearer picture through assessment and analysis, we’re often able to tie their needs to functionality that may only be available in Windows 10 Enterprise. As they move forward and flesh out business use cases, they can see how the Enterprise edition can provide some real benefits to their organization.

Shawn: The organizations that have kept with Pro don’t necessarily believe they are looking at a lower security posture. Many of them leverage third-party security solutions based on the security capabilities that were available in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. They’ve built teams around servicing these older products and third-party solutions, so it’s where they’re comfortable. These third-party security solutions often have agents that need to be installed and managed, which may reduce performance on the systems and add complexity and increase user impact during feature setup updates as they typically require the use of task sequences to support the deployment. Even if we have a comparable product in Windows 10 Enterprise, the opportunity shifts, as the teams responsible for servicing aren’t the security teams and, while they may work together, their efforts are often separate. This includes purchasing discussions, and it makes it so that both desktop and security teams need to be present to recognize performance improvements from using built-in products that are designed to work efficiently together and the cost benefits that span those efforts.

One thing we’ve seen with customers is that security can profoundly impact environmental performance. As the security and servicing teams function independently, they don’t often fully understand the performance impact of, say, boot times. How do you build the opportunity for both teams to join the conversation?

Shawn: From my perspective, it often ends up being two conversations, one for those managing endpoints, where we’ll work on the security value, and another with a deeper dive workshop to comprehensively discuss security capabilities.

Nick: Having security teams included in the conversation is a critical success factor. There are still quite a few companies developing their cybersecurity strategies, often with the endpoint teams coming to the party last. Therein lies a great educational opportunity for everyone (myself included) to inclusively discuss capabilities they already have, and what is contained with Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. We can help them chart a roadmap towards adoption, rollout, and implementation in such a way that it ultimately gets them on a modern deployment and management path. For example, there’s security enhancements that can be accomplished (in a simplified deployment) using Microsoft Intune and Azure AD Premium to provide those services, as opposed to setting up on-prem services to secure their environments.

Would you say that a prerequisite for organizations to embrace and adopt Windows 10 Enterprise would be to get modern management in place first?

Nick: While not necessarily a prerequisite, I would say getting modern management in place in parallel with upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 will be advantageous. In fact, some of my customers are just beginning their Windows 10 upgrades and they’re often going back to traditional modes of trying to understand how they can use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), or integrate MDT with System Center Configuration Manager. I often have them pause and reflect that they might instead be in a good place to begin considering modern deployment scenarios such as Windows Autopilot, which can, thus, enable them to be more secure.

Shawn: Moving to modern management can mean many things to different organizations. I think it’s important that, as customers are looking at modern approaches, those approaches can be obtained by using what they already have in place today – like Configuration Manager. Moving to co-management using Configuration Manager as your jumping off point is a great place to start.

When CIOs ask you if Windows 10 Enterprise is really worth the cost, what do you tell them?

Nick: When a CIO asks about cost benefits, it’s not simply a straightforward yes or no; instead, we need to evaluate transparently against the needs and goals of their business. Microsoft has a cost calculation tool that customers can use themselves to vet what’s right for them. There’s also analysis from Gartner and the Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact tool to help in the cost assessment.

Shawn: From a security perspective, there are great tools in Windows 10 Enterprise that organizations can harness. It does depend on business need, but organizations should also consider the focus on management features. Having Group Policies and MDM policies to help manage end user experiences in a way that suits the business is a tremendous benefit. 

Based on your conversations with your customers, what are the key considerations you run into most often when it comes to Windows 10 Enterprise vs. Windows 10 Pro?

Shawn: Access to the long-term servicing channel (LTSC) for specialized systems or use cases, as well as MBAM (Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring)…

Nick: …and of course security and management Group Policies! A big focus for most customers is being able to enhance the end user experience. Customers looking at virtualization and Device Health can gain a greater sense of depth in their environments, and learn how they can advance the experience to boost satisfaction, while reducing support calls. This also includes reducing the time necessary to provision devices with solutions like Windows Autopilot or offloading the deployment workload to Microsoft with the use of Windows Update for Business!

When it comes to staying current with the feature sets, do you think customers fully understand the value proposition for every feature update so that IT pros and their users can get the most out of them?

Shawn: We run a number of workshops to show IT pros firsthand the key benefits for their organizations. Customers move at varying cadences and, thus, require attention at different times, but I try to spend time with them and have roadmap meetings, to share the new bits with them as often as I can.

For end users, are there key differentiators for their road warriors and those working at home when we’re talking about Windows 10 Pro vs. Enterprise?

Nick: Absolutely. There are two key factors, firstly that of modern management capabilities and co-management of Configuration Manager with Intune, as well as Configuration Manager’s capabilities for the cloud management gateway. This certainly allows road warriors to remain patched, up-to-date, and compliant even though they may rarely connect to their corporate network, where the updates are delivered via the Internet. Secondly, Microsoft Defender ATP capabilities in Windows 10 Enterprise E5 can sense and protect devices around the world, even those not on the local network.

For those organizations focused on staying current, we’re making significant improvements to servicing so that it gets easier over time. Is this a key driver for your customers?

Shawn: Yes! My most current customers have adopted Upgrade Readiness and once they see that app compat really isn’t the challenge, it gives them more time to evaluate new features and how they might take advantage of them in their own environments.

Are you seeing customers that have embraced Windows 10 Pro, but are making the shift to Windows 10 Enterprise?

Nick: I often see customers on Windows 10 Pro that want the Windows 10 Enterprise experience. Their engineers may be able to create some processes that work, but they quickly find that those processes have a shelf life and that a later fix may impact what they spent time on, and how much. It causes challenges in staying current. We at Microsoft neither support or condone this type of approach as customers quickly find the management overhead, complexity, and inherent risk to the estate far outweigh the benefits of not moving to Windows 10 Enterprise from the start.

Shawn: We saw a customer that was moving forward with Windows 10 Pro, but over time had acquired a few hacks to move them forward. At each update, this created more challenges, like to that of stability and the user experience, which ultimately resulted in conversations about how to move forward more effectively with modern management solutions. For IT to be viewed as an enabler for the business and to contribute to the bottom line, IT needs to deliver a world class service. Delivering a sub-par user experience, fraught with risk, only reinforces the traditional thinking that IT is a necessary overhead.

Spending all that resource-dedicated time on workarounds must prove challenging for customers?

Shawn: Ultimately, we’re all still people, doing the best with what we know and what we have. It’s hard: you’re doing the best you can for your organization with the tools you’ve been given, but if processes change, IT pros may have a fear about continuing to provide that same level of service. That’s understandable. But if you take a moment to pause and evaluate better methods, there’s real benefit for both the IT professional and their organizations. I’m seeing that reflection more often now, looking at what processes are changing, why they’re happening, and reasons to adopt them. This allows organizations to focus on bigger and better things around service management, change management, and security.

Nick: It’s really about three things: First, there’s the education aspect, learning about the new features. Second, and particularly around the desktop, while many are moving to the cloud as the future, those managing the desktop are more and more task-oriented towards maintaining an image. This creates an opportunity for us to get them excited about improvements in this area. Third, it’s about outreach, and sharing some of the great features that we have.

Any last gems you might have in engaging in Windows 10 Pro versus Enterprise conversations?

Shawn: Instead of focusing on products, focus on the required solution, figure out what you’re trying to accomplish as an IT professional for your organization. Nick hit head the nail on the head earlier: map to solutions that address the organization’s pain points. Microsoft 365 really does provide a wealth of tools which in turn enables broader conversations across organizations, rather than an endpoint solution.

Nick: I’d also add that there are a lot of stakeholders in an endpoint experience. Everyone from corporate IT, to security teams, to line-of-business owners. Depending on your vertical, that experience can and often does vary. Assessing and understanding each of their needs, then bringing them together, is key to deciding the right product for your environment.

To learn more about the differences between Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Pro when it comes to intelligent security, simplified updates, flexible management and enhanced productivity, be sure to check out this informative comparison chart. To learn more about Windows as a service, be sure to check out our Windows as a service gateway, as well as the Desktop Deployment Center. You can get the very latest on servicing and delivery by following @WindowsUpdate on Twitter.

Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as Enterprise and Education are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.

Baseline editions

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Baseline editions are the only editions available as standalone purchases in retail outlets. PCs often come pre-installed with one of these editions.

Home

Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. It includes all features directed at consumers.^[1][2][3]

Pro

Windows 10 Pro includes all features of Windows 10 Home, with additional capabilities that are oriented towards professionals and business environments, such as Active Directory, Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Defender Device Guard.^[1][2][3]

Pro for Workstations

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is designed for high-end hardware for intensive computing tasks and supports Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and the latest AMD Epyc processors; up to 4 CPUs; up to 256 cores; up to 6 TB RAM; the ReFS file system; Non-Volatile Dual In-line Memory Module (NVDIMM); and remote direct memory access (RDMA).^[4][5][6]

Organizational editions

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These editions add features to facilitate centralized control of many installations of the OS within an organization. The main avenue of acquiring them is a volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

Education

Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was based on Windows 10 Enterprise and initially reported to have the same feature set.^[1][2][3] As of version 1709, however, this edition has fewer features. See § Comparison chart for details.

Pro Education

This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license. It was based on the Pro edition of Windows 10 and contains mostly the same features as Windows 10 Pro with different options disabled by default, and adds options for setup and deployment in an education environment. It also features a «Set Up School PCs» app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight.^[7][8][9]

Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations.^[1][2][3] Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, Semi-Annual Channel and Windows Insider Program.^[10]

Enterprise LTSC

Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receive no feature updates.^[11] Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition.^[12][1][3] This edition was first released as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (Long-Term Servicing Branch).^[13] There are currently 4 releases of LTSC: one in 2015 (version 1507), one in 2016 (version 1607), one in 2018 (labeled as 2019, version 1809), and one in 2021 (version 21H2).^[14][15]

S mode

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Since 2018, OEMs can ship Windows 10 Home and Pro in a feature-limited variation named S mode which evolved from the discontinued Windows 10 S. Organizations employing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education can make use of S mode too.^[16] S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. It has a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the «Set Up School PCs» app.

Changes

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With the exception of the Microsoft Teams desktop client which was made available for S mode in April 2019,^{[citation needed]} the installation of software (both Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Windows API apps) is only possible through the Microsoft Store, and built-in and Microsoft Store-obtained command line programs or shells cannot be run in this mode.^{[17][18][19][20]} System settings are locked to allow only Microsoft Edge as the default web browser with Bing as its search engine.^[21] The operating system may be switched out of S mode using the Microsoft Store for free. However, once S Mode is turned off, it cannot be re-enabled.^[22][23] All Windows 10 devices in S mode include a free one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition.^{[citation needed]} Critics have compared the edition to Windows RT, and have considered it to be an alternative to ChromeOS.^{[22][24][25][26][27]}

Device-specific editions

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These editions are licensed to OEMs only, and are primarily obtained via the purchase of hardware that includes it:

Holographic

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses.^[28][29]

IoT Enterprise

A rebranded variant of Microsoft’s earlier embedded operating systems, Windows Embedded. Designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios.^[30][31] IoT Core was discontinued on 10 November 2020,^[32][33] while IoT Core LTSC is supported up through 9 January 2029.^[34]

Team

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s Surface Hub interactive whiteboard.^[35]

Discontinued editions

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The following editions of Windows 10 were discontinued (as of Windows 10 version 21H2). For both Mobile and Mobile Enterprise, Microsoft confirmed it was exiting the consumer mobile devices market, so no successor product is available.^[36]

Mobile

Windows 10 Mobile was designed for smartphones and small tablets. It included all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It was the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.^[1][2]

Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provided all of the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.^[1][2]

IoT Mobile

A binary equivalent of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise licensed for IoT applications. Also known as IoT Mobile Enterprise.^[37][38]

S

Windows 10 S was an edition released in 2017 which ultimately evolved into the so-called S mode of Windows 10. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out Windows 10 S, citing confusion among manufacturers and end-users.^[39][40]

10X

Originally announced for use on dual-screen devices such as the Surface Neo and other potential form factors, 10X featured a modified user interface designed around context specific interactions or «postures» on such devices, including a redesigned Start menu with no tiles, and use of container technology to run Win32 software.^[41][42] The platform was described as a more direct competitor to ChromeOS.^[43][44] On May 4, 2020, Microsoft announced that Windows 10X would first be used on single-screen devices, and that they would «continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market».^[45] Microsoft also added anti-theft protection to Windows 10X, just like how Apple’s Activation Lock and anti-theft protection on Android devices and Chromebooks work.^[46] On May 18, 2021, Head of Windows Servicing and Delivery John Cable stated that Windows 10X had been cancelled, and that its foundational technologies would be leveraged for future Microsoft products.^[47] Several design changes in 10X, notably the centered taskbar and redesigned start menu, would be later introduced in Windows 11.^[48]

Regional variations

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N/KN

As with previous versions of Windows since Windows XP, all Windows 10 editions for PC hardware have «N» and «KN» variations in Europe and South Korea that exclude multimedia functionality, in compliance with antitrust rulings.^[49] According to details that Microsoft has published, any app that relies on Microsoft multimedia technologies experiences impaired functionality on these editions, unable to even play audio notification tones.^[50] Restoring the missing functionality to these editions entails installing the «Media Feature Pack», followed by Skype, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Voice Recorder, and four codecs.^[50] The variation cannot be changed without a clean install, and keys for one variation will not work on other variations.

Home with Bing

As with Windows 8.1, a reduced-price «Windows 10 with Bing» SKU is available to OEMs; it is subsidized by having Microsoft’s Bing search engine set as default, which cannot be changed to a different search engine by OEMs. It is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home.^[51]

Home Single Language

In some emerging markets,^{[citation needed]} OEMs preinstall a variation of Windows 10 Home called Single Language without the ability to switch the display language. It is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home. To change display language, the user will need to upgrade to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

China Government Edition

In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, created a specially-modified variant of Windows 10 Enterprise («G») designed for use within branches of the Chinese government. This variant is pre-configured to «remove features that are not needed by Chinese government employees», and allow the use of its internal encryption algorithms.^[52][53]

Comparison chart

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Guide

Item	Meaning
Yes	Feature is present in the given edition
Yes, since [update]	Feature is present in the given edition after installing a certain update
No	Feature is absent from the given edition
No, since [update]	Feature is absent from the given edition after installing a certain update (It might have been fully or partly present prior to that update)
[Explanation]	Feature is partly present in the given edition
[Explanation], since [update]	Feature is partly present in the given edition, after installing a certain update (It might have been fully present prior to that update, or not present at all)

Microsoft OEM licensing formula takes display size, RAM capacity and storage capacity into account. In mid-2015, devices with 4 GB RAM were expected to be $20 more expensive than devices with 2 GB RAM.^[75]

Upgrade path

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Free upgrade

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At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1) and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade took place within one year of Windows 10’s initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.^[76]

Windows 10 free upgrade matrix

Windows version and edition	Windows 10 edition
Windows 7 Starter SP1	Home
Windows 7 Home Basic SP1
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
Windows 8.1 with Bing
Windows 8.1
Windows 7 Professional SP1	Pro
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows Phone 8.1	Mobile

Transition paths

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The following table summarizes possible transition paths (upgrade, downgrade, or migration) that can be taken, provided that proper licenses are purchased.

Windows RT does not appear in this table because it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.

On September 28, 2023, Microsoft disabled the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.x, although upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 are still supported.^[77][78]

Guide

Transition path	Meaning
Upgrade	Constitutes replacing the OS while preserving apps, their settings, and user data
Repair	Constitutes fixing a damaged OS by «upgrading» from one edition to the same
Downgrade	Similar to upgrade, but deliberately removes some features
Migration	Constitutes replacing the operating system, reinstalling the apps, restoring their settings via backup, and safeguarding user data against accidental deletion.
None	It is impossible to replace the OS with the intended target because of platform incompatibility

Supported transition targets^[79]

Windows version	Windows edition	Transition target
Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro for Workstations	Windows 10 Pro (Education)	Windows 10 Education	Windows 10 Enterprise	Windows 10 Mobile
Windows 7	Starter	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Home Basic	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Home Premium	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Professional	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Ultimate	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	Migration	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Windows 8.1	(Core)	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
with Bing	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Pro	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro for Students	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro with Media Center	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Embedded Industry	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	None
Phone 8.1	None	None	None	None	None	None	Upgrade
Windows 10	Home	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro	Downgrade	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro for Workstations	Downgrade	Downgrade	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro Education	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Repair	Migration	Migration	None
Education	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Repair	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Downgrade	Repair	None
Mobile	None	None	None	None	None	None	None

Release channels

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Microsoft releases minor versions of Windows 10 through the free feature updates.^[12] Originally, Microsoft released feature updates semiannually. They contained new features as well as changes.^[80] With the release of Windows 11, however, Microsoft has changed the release schedule to annual. These feature updates do not contain any noticeable changes.

The pace at which a system receives feature updates depends on the «release channel» (originally, «release branch») from which the system downloads its updates.^[12]

Insider Channel

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Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows access to pre-release builds of Windows 10, enabling power users, developers, and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates to Windows 10 as they are developed. Windows Insider itself consists of four «rings.»

• The «Fast» ring distributes new builds as they are released
• The «Slow» ring distributes new builds with a delay following their availability on the Fast ring
• The «Release Preview» ring distributes release candidate
• The «Skip Ahead» ring distributes builds of the next feature update while a current release is being finished

General Availability Channel

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Since 2022, the General Availability Channel (GAC) distributes feature updates annually. To receive these updates, users must either request them manually or wait for their version of Windows 10 to go out of support.

Originally, however, Microsoft distributed feature updates through two distinct channels, the «Current Branch» (CB) an the «Current Branch for Business» (CBB).

• The «Current Branch» (CB) distributed all feature updates as they graduated from the Windows Insider program. Microsoft only supported the latest build. Windows would automatically install the latest feature update from CB. Users could defer the CB feature update for up to 365 days.^{[81][82][83][84]} Microsoft renamed CB to «Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)» in version 1709.
• The «Current Branch for Business» (CBB), which was not available in the Home edition, distributed feature updates with a four-month delay. This allowed customers and vendors to evaluate and perform additional testing on new builds before broader deployments. Devices could be switched back to the Current Branch at any time.^[12][85] Microsoft renamed CBB to «Semi-Annual Channel» in version 1709.

Since version 1903, Microsoft dismantled the two-channel scheme in favor of a unified «Semi-Annual Channel» (SAC). Microsoft supports each SAC version of Windows for 30 months. Windows no longer installs new feature updates automatically before the expiry of the 30-months support period. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft changed the release schedule to annual, and change the channel’s name to «General Availability Channel» (GAC).

Long-Term Servicing Channel

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LTSC exclusively distributes the «Enterprise LTSC», «IoT Core», and «IoT Enterprise LTSC» editions of Windows 10. Microsoft releases a new minor version of these editions every 2–3 years. LTSC builds adhere to Microsoft’s traditional support policy which was in effect before Windows 10, including:

• Five years of mainstream support
• Critical and security updates for ten years after their release
• No feature updates from Windows Update

Microsoft discourages the use of LTSC editions outside of «special-purpose devices» that perform a fixed function and thus do not require new user experience features. As a result, these editions do not come with Microsoft Store, most Cortana features, and most bundled apps.^[12][1][3] LTSC was originally called the «Long-Term Servicing Branch» (LTSB) until 2016.^[13]

See also

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• Windows Server 2016, based on Windows 10 version 1607^[86]
• Windows Server 2019, based on Windows 10 version 1809
• Xbox system software, an operating system now based on the Windows 10 core, designed to run on consoles
• Windows 10 version history

Notes

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References

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as Enterprise and Education are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.

Baseline editions[edit]

Baseline editions are the only editions available as standalone purchases in retail outlets. PCs often come pre-installed with one of these editions.

Home

Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. It includes all features directed at consumers.^[1][2][3]

Pro

Windows 10 Pro includes all features of Windows 10 Home, with additional capabilities that are oriented towards professionals and business environments, such as Active Directory, Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Defender Device Guard.^[1][2][3]

Pro for Workstations

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is designed for high-end hardware for intensive computing tasks and supports Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and the latest AMD Epyc processors; up to 4 CPUs; up to 256 cores; up to 6 TB RAM; the ReFS file system; Non-Volatile Dual In-line Memory Module (NVDIMM); and remote direct memory access (RDMA).^[4][5][6]

Organizational editions[edit]

These editions add features to facilitate centralized control of many installations of the OS within an organization. The main avenue of acquiring them is a volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

Education

Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was based on Windows 10 Enterprise and initially reported to have the same feature set.^[1][2][3] As of version 1709, however, this edition has fewer features. See § Comparison chart for details.

Pro Education

This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license. It was based on the Pro edition of Windows 10 and contains mostly the same features as Windows 10 Pro with different options disabled by default, and adds options for setup and deployment in an education environment. It also features a «Set Up School PCs» app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight.^[7][8][9]

Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations.^[1][2][3] Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, Semi-Annual Channel and Windows Insider Program.^[10]

Enterprise LTSC

Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receive no feature updates.^[11] Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition.^[12][1][3] This edition was first released as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (Long-Term Servicing Branch).^[13] There are currently 4 releases of LTSC: one in 2015 (version 1507), one in 2016 (version 1607), one in 2018 (labeled as 2019, version 1809), and one in 2021 (version 21H2).^[14][15]

S mode[edit]

Since 2018, OEMs can ship Windows 10 Home and Pro in a feature-limited variation named S mode which evolved from the discontinued Windows 10 S. Organizations employing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education can make use of S mode too.^[16] S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. It has a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the «Set Up School PCs» app.

Changes[edit]

With the exception of the Microsoft Teams desktop client which was made available for S mode in April 2019,^{[citation needed]} the installation of software (both Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Windows API apps) is only possible through the Microsoft Store, and built-in and Microsoft Store-obtained command line programs or shells cannot be run in this mode.^{[17][18][19][20]} System settings are locked to allow only Microsoft Edge as the default web browser with Bing as its search engine.^[21] The operating system may be switched out of S mode using the Microsoft Store for free. However, once S Mode is turned off, it cannot be re-enabled.^[22][23] All Windows 10 devices in S mode include a free one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition.^{[citation needed]} Critics have compared the edition to Windows RT, and have considered it to be an alternative to ChromeOS.^{[22][24][25][26][27]}

Device-specific editions[edit]

These editions are licensed to OEMs only, and are primarily obtained via the purchase of hardware that includes it:

Holographic

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses.^[28][29]

IoT Enterprise

A rebranded variant of Microsoft’s earlier embedded operating systems, Windows Embedded. Designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios.^[30][31] IoT Core was discontinued on 10 November 2020,^[32][33] while IoT Core LTSC is supported up through 9 January 2029.^[34]

Team

A specific edition used by Microsoft’s Surface Hub interactive whiteboard.^[35]

Discontinued editions[edit]

The following editions of Windows 10 were discontinued (as of Windows 10 version 21H2). For both Mobile and Mobile Enterprise, Microsoft confirmed it was exiting the consumer mobile devices market, so no successor product is available.^[36]

Mobile

Windows 10 Mobile was designed for smartphones and small tablets. It included all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It was the de facto successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.^[1][2]

Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provided all of the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.^[1][2]

IoT Mobile

A binary equivalent of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise licensed for IoT applications. Also known as IoT Mobile Enterprise.^[37][38]

S

Windows 10 S was an edition released in 2017 which ultimately evolved into the so-called S mode of Windows 10. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out Windows 10 S, citing confusion among manufacturers and end-users.^[39][40]

10X

Originally announced for use on dual-screen devices such as the Surface Neo and other potential form factors, 10X featured a modified user interface designed around context specific interactions or «postures» on such devices, including a redesigned Start menu with no tiles, and use of container technology to run Win32 software.^[41][42] The platform was described as a more direct competitor to ChromeOS.^[43][44] On May 4, 2020, Microsoft announced that Windows 10X would first be used on single-screen devices, and that they would «continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market».^[45] Microsoft also added anti-theft protection to Windows 10X, just like how Apple’s Activation Lock and anti-theft protection on Android devices and Chromebooks work.^[46] On May 18, 2021, Head of Windows Servicing and Delivery John Cable stated that Windows 10X had been cancelled, and that its foundational technologies would be leveraged for future Microsoft products.^[47] Several design changes in 10X, notably the centered taskbar and redesigned start menu, would be later introduced in Windows 11.^[48]

Regional variations[edit]

N/KN

As with previous versions of Windows since Windows XP, all Windows 10 editions for PC hardware have «N» and «KN» variations in Europe and South Korea that exclude multimedia functionality, in compliance with antitrust rulings.^[49] According to details that Microsoft has published, any app that relies on Microsoft multimedia technologies experiences impaired functionality on these editions, unable to even play audio notification tones.^[50] Restoring the missing functionality to these editions entails installing the «Media Feature Pack», followed by Skype, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Voice Recorder, and four codecs.^[50] The variation cannot be changed without a clean install, and keys for one variation will not work on other variations.

Home with Bing

As with Windows 8.1, a reduced-price «Windows 10 with Bing» SKU is available to OEMs; it is subsidized by having Microsoft’s Bing search engine set as default, which cannot be changed to a different search engine by OEMs. It is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home.^[51]

Home Single Language

In some emerging markets,^{[citation needed]} OEMs preinstall a variation of Windows 10 Home called Single Language without the ability to switch the display language. It is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home. To change display language, the user will need to upgrade to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

China Government Edition

In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, created a specially-modified variant of Windows 10 Enterprise («G») designed for use within branches of the Chinese government. This variant is pre-configured to «remove features that are not needed by Chinese government employees», and allow the use of its internal encryption algorithms.^[52][53]

Comparison chart[edit]

Guide

Item	Meaning
Yes	Feature is present in the given edition
Yes, since [update]	Feature is present in the given edition after installing a certain update
No	Feature is absent from the given edition
No, since [update]	Feature is absent from the given edition after installing a certain update (It might have been fully or partly present prior to that update)
[Explanation]	Feature is partly present in the given edition
[Explanation], since [update]	Feature is partly present in the given edition, after installing a certain update (It might have been fully present prior to that update, or not present at all)

Microsoft OEM licensing formula takes display size, RAM capacity and storage capacity into account. In mid-2015, devices with 4 GB RAM were expected to be $20 more expensive than devices with 2 GB RAM.^[75]

Upgrade path[edit]

Free upgrade[edit]

At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1) and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade took place within one year of Windows 10’s initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.^[76]

Windows 10 free upgrade matrix

Windows version and edition	Windows 10 edition
Windows 7 Starter SP1	Home
Windows 7 Home Basic SP1
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
Windows 8.1 with Bing
Windows 8.1
Windows 7 Professional SP1	Pro
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows Phone 8.1	Mobile

Transition paths[edit]

The following table summarizes possible transition paths (upgrade, downgrade, or migration) that can be taken, provided that proper licenses are purchased.

Windows RT does not appear in this table because it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.

On September 28, 2023, Microsoft disabled the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.x, although upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 are still supported.^[77][78]

Guide

Transition path	Meaning
Upgrade	Constitutes replacing the OS while preserving apps, their settings, and user data
Repair	Constitutes fixing a damaged OS by «upgrading» from one edition to the same
Downgrade	Similar to upgrade, but deliberately removes some features
Migration	Constitutes replacing the operating system, reinstalling the apps, restoring their settings via backup, and safeguarding user data against accidental deletion.
None	It is impossible to replace the OS with the intended target because of platform incompatibility

Supported transition targets^[79]

Windows version	Windows edition	Transition target
Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro for Workstations	Windows 10 Pro (Education)	Windows 10 Education	Windows 10 Enterprise	Windows 10 Mobile
Windows 7	Starter	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Home Basic	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Home Premium	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Professional	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Ultimate	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	Migration	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Windows 8.1	(Core)	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
with Bing	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Migration	None
Pro	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro for Students	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro with Media Center	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Embedded Industry	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Upgrade	None
Phone 8.1	None	None	None	None	None	None	Upgrade
Windows 10	Home	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro	Downgrade	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro for Workstations	Downgrade	Downgrade	Repair	Upgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	None
Pro Education	Downgrade	Upgrade	Upgrade	Repair	Migration	Migration	None
Education	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Repair	Upgrade	None
Enterprise	Migration	Migration	Migration	Migration	Downgrade	Repair	None
Mobile	None	None	None	None	None	None	None

Release channels[edit]

Microsoft releases minor versions of Windows 10 through the free feature updates.^[12] Originally, Microsoft released feature updates semiannually. They contained new features as well as changes.^[80] With the release of Windows 11, however, Microsoft has changed the release schedule to annual. These feature updates do not contain any noticeable changes.

The pace at which a system receives feature updates depends on the «release channel» (originally, «release branch») from which the system downloads its updates.^[12]

Insider Channel[edit]

Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows access to pre-release builds of Windows 10, enabling power users, developers, and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates to Windows 10 as they are developed. Windows Insider itself consists of four «rings.»

• The «Fast» ring distributes new builds as they are released
• The «Slow» ring distributes new builds with a delay following their availability on the Fast ring
• The «Release Preview» ring distributes release candidate
• The «Skip Ahead» ring distributes builds of the next feature update while a current release is being finished

General Availability Channel[edit]

Since 2022, the General Availability Channel (GAC) distributes feature updates annually. To receive these updates, users must either request them manually or wait for their version of Windows 10 to go out of support.

Originally, however, Microsoft distributed feature updates through two distinct channels, the «Current Branch» (CB) an the «Current Branch for Business» (CBB).

• The «Current Branch» (CB) distributed all feature updates as they graduated from the Windows Insider program. Microsoft only supported the latest build. Windows would automatically install the latest feature update from CB. Users could defer the CB feature update for up to 365 days.^{[81][82][83][84]} Microsoft renamed CB to «Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)» in version 1709.
• The «Current Branch for Business» (CBB), which was not available in the Home edition, distributed feature updates with a four-month delay. This allowed customers and vendors to evaluate and perform additional testing on new builds before broader deployments. Devices could be switched back to the Current Branch at any time.^[12][85] Microsoft renamed CBB to «Semi-Annual Channel» in version 1709.

Since version 1903, Microsoft dismantled the two-channel scheme in favor of a unified «Semi-Annual Channel» (SAC). Microsoft supports each SAC version of Windows for 30 months. Windows no longer installs new feature updates automatically before the expiry of the 30-months support period. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft changed the release schedule to annual, and change the channel’s name to «General Availability Channel» (GAC).

Long-Term Servicing Channel[edit]

LTSC exclusively distributes the «Enterprise LTSC», «IoT Core», and «IoT Enterprise LTSC» editions of Windows 10. Microsoft releases a new minor version of these editions every 2–3 years. LTSC builds adhere to Microsoft’s traditional support policy which was in effect before Windows 10, including:

• Five years of mainstream support
• Critical and security updates for ten years after their release
• No feature updates from Windows Update

Microsoft discourages the use of LTSC editions outside of «special-purpose devices» that perform a fixed function and thus do not require new user experience features. As a result, these editions do not come with Microsoft Store, most Cortana features, and most bundled apps.^[12][1][3] LTSC was originally called the «Long-Term Servicing Branch» (LTSB) until 2016.^[13]

See also[edit]

• Windows Server 2016, based on Windows 10 version 1607^[86]
• Windows Server 2019, based on Windows 10 version 1809
• Xbox system software, an operating system now based on the Windows 10 core, designed to run on consoles
• Windows 10 version history

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Независимо от того, хотите вы обновиться до Windows 10, приобрести новый компьютер или просто переустановить систему, вам понадобится выбрать редакцию. У этой ОС есть четыре главные редакции и ещё пара побочных. Разбираемся, чем они отличаются и кому подходят.

Выбор разрядности системы

Прежде чем выбирать редакцию Windows, нужно определить разрядность системы. Microsoft предоставляет 32-разрядную версию Windows 10 для старых процессоров и 64-разрядную — для новых.

Грубо говоря, если ваш компьютер был создан после 2007 года, он скорее всего оснащён 64-разрядным процессором. Полное руководство по определению разрядности процессора вы можете посмотреть здесь.

Выбор подходящей редакции

Windows 10 Home

Начальная редакция Windows 10, предустановленная на большинстве компьютеров и ноутбуков, которые можно найти в продаже. Эта версия не имеет продвинутых инструментов для обеспечения безопасности бизнес-данных, как в старших редакциях, но они не особенно-то и нужны домашним пользователям.

В Home Edition есть все универсальные приложения от Microsoft, такие как «Календарь», «Почта», «Карты», «Фильмы» и «Фотографии».

Основной недостаток Windows 10 Home Edition — наличие рекламных приложений, которые время от времени автоматически устанавливаются в ваше меню «Пуск». Впрочем, при желании их можно удалить.

Лицензия на Домашнюю версию Windows 10 стоит 9 499 рублей.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Home Edition подойдёт большинству обычных пользователей. Да, в ней нет встроенных инструментов для шифрования, но при желании вы можете установить самостоятельно сторонние программы.

Windows 10 Home в Microsoft Store →

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro — более продвинутая редакция ОС от Microsoft. Она содержит все те же инструменты и приложения, что и Home Edition, плюс несколько дополнительных функций:

• Инструмент Microsoft Hyper-V. Используется для запуска операционных систем семейств Windows и Linux в виртуальных машинах. Полезен для разработчиков и системных администраторов, которые занимаются тестированием ПО. Обычные пользователи предпочтут применять для экспериментов более понятный VirtualBox.
• Центр обновления Windows Update for Business. Предоставляет некоторые дополнительные обновления вдобавок к тем, что доступны в редакции Home. Кроме того, позволяет откладывать установку обновлений.
• Средства безопасности Device Guard и Secure Boot. Device Guard предназначен для защиты от атак нулевого дня и полиморфных вирусов. Secure Boot защищает от буткитов, которые могут запуститься вместе с системой во время включения компьютера.
• BitLocker. Инструмент для шифрования данных. При желании можно зашифровать хоть всю систему целиком. Полезно для тех, кто хранит на компьютере важные рабочие файлы и опасается, что они окажутся не в тех руках.
• Управление групповыми политиками. Используется для работы с настройками множества компьютеров через локальную сеть. Необходимо системным администраторам.

Лицензия на Профессиональную версию Windows 10 стоит 14 199 рублей.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Pro ориентирована на малые предприятия. Но и обычные пользователи могут приобрести эту редакцию, если нуждаются в продвинутых инструментах безопасности и шифрования.

Windows 10 Pro в Microsoft Store →

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise рассчитана на корпоративное применение. Она включает в себя тот же набор инструментов, что и Windows Pro. Но, помимо этого, редакция Enterprise предоставляет доступ к обновлениям Long-Term Service Branch (LTSB). Это означает, что на ваш компьютер будут устанавливаться только проверенные и самые стабильные обновления, к тому же вы сможете откладывать их получение.

В Windows 10 Enterprise отсутствуют универсальные приложения вроде «Почты», «Календаря», «Карт» и других. Кроме того, на устройства с такой операционной системой не устанавливаются рекламные приложения.

Цена на Windows 10 Enterprise зависит от количества копий, которые вы желаете приобрести. Сначала вам придётся установить на свои компьютеры Windows 10 Pro, а уж потом обновить её до Windows 10 Enterprise. Найти сертифицированных поставщиков и уточнить цены можно на сайте Microsoft или по телефону в Центре лицензирования Microsoft.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 Enterprise разработана специально для средних и крупных предприятий и организаций. Для обычных пользователей её возможностей будет многовато.

Windows 10 Enterprise на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 Education

Это редакция Windows 10 для образовательных учреждений. В общем и целом она похожа на Windows 10 Enterprise, но в ней отсутствует возможность присоединиться к каналу обновлений LTSB. Упор в этой редакции Windows делается на предоставление инструментов для студентов и преподавателей.

Здесь есть приложение для настройки учебных компьютеров и инструмент для проведения тестов и экзаменов. Кроме того, пользователи Windows 10 Education получают доступ к образовательному разделу магазина Microsoft Store.

Версия доступна только через академическое лицензирование. Вам придётся сначала установить Windows 10 Home или Pro, а затем обновиться до Education.

Кому выбрать: владельцам академических учреждений. Ориентация на образовательные приложения обычным пользователям точно ни к чему.

Windows 10 Education на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 S

Строго говоря, Windows 10 S — это не редакция, а особый режим для Windows 10 Home или Pro, который вы можете включить, если у вас вдруг возникнет такое желание. Он доступен также в редакциях Enterprise и Education.

В Windows 10 S ограничен набор доступных приложений. Вы можете использовать только те варианты, которые устанавливаются из Microsoft Store. Просматривать страницы в интернете здесь можно только через браузер Edge. Благодаря таким ограничениям Windows 10 S значительно легче и быстрее полноценных версий ОС, но вам придётся работать только с теми инструментами, что предлагает в своём магазине Microsoft.

Этот режим чаще всего применяется на планшетах и ноутбуках-трансформерах.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 S используют те, на чьих устройствах она уже установлена. Конечно, вы можете установить её где захотите, но приготовьтесь столкнуться с рядом ограничений.

Windows 10 S на сайте Microsoft →

Windows 10 IoT Core

Windows 10 IoT Core (IoT означает Internet of Things, «Интернет вещей») предназначена для установки на разнообразные устройства и гаджеты. Хотите запрограммировать какого-нибудь робота, собранного вами, переоборудовать своё старое радио, обеспечив ему доступ в интернет, установить Windows на свой медиацентр или собственноручно создать устройство на базе Arduino? Воспользуйтесь Windows 10 IoT Core. Версия подходит и для различных однопалатных компьютеров, таких как Arrow DragonBoard 410c и Raspberry Pi 3.

Кому выбрать: Windows 10 IoT Core предназначена для опытных пользователей, которые увлекаются электроникой. Кроме того, она пригодится, если вы создаёте какой-нибудь высокотехнологичный стартап.

Windows 10 IoT Core на сайте Microsoft →

Over four years have passed since the release of Windows 10. With Windows 7 support ending in January 2020, many organizations are overseeing a complete transition to Windows 10. Here we will break down the differences between two business-oriented editions of Windows 10: Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise.

For those considering making the switch to Windows 10 from older versions, this overview will outline key differences between each edition so you can choose the one that will best fit your company’s needs.

Windows 10 Pro vs. Enterprise

One major difference between the editions is licensing. While Windows 10 Pro can come preinstalled or through an OEM, Windows 10 Enterprise requires the purchase of a volume-licensing agreement. There are also two distinct license editions with Enterprise: Windows 10 Enterprise E3 and Windows 10 Enterprise E5. As the chart below shows, E5 offers comparatively more security features than E3. You can find more information on how these editions compare on Microsoft’s website (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsforbusiness/compare).

Management and Deployment

	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Enterprise E3	Windows 10 Enterprise E5
MDM (Mobile Device Management)	✓	✓	✓
AAD (Azure Active Directory) Join	✓	✓	✓
Domain Join	✓	✓	✓
MAM (Mobile Application Management)	✓	✓	✓
Shared PC Mode	✓	✓	✓
Microsoft Store for Business	✓	✓	✓
Windows Hello Management	✓	✓	✓
Kiosk Mode	✓	✓	✓
Windows Store Access Management		✓	✓
CEM (Customer Experience Management)		✓	✓
Cortana Management		✓	✓
Microsoft Dynamic Management		✓	✓
App-V (Microsoft Application Virtualization)		✓	✓
UE-V (Microsoft User Environment Virtualization)		✓	✓

Security and Identity Information

	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Enterprise E3	Windows 10 Enterprise E5
Conditional Access	✓	✓	✓
Windows Hello	✓	✓	✓
BitLocker and BitLocker To GO	✓	✓	✓
Windows Information Protection	✓	✓	✓
Direct Access		✓	✓
Direct Guard		✓	✓
Credential Guard		✓	✓
Windows Defender Threat Protection			✓

Analysis and Service Support

	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Enterprise E3	Windows 10 Enterprise E5
Windows Analytics	✓	✓	✓
Windows Update for Business	✓	✓	✓

Windows Basic Features

	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Enterprise E3	Windows 10 Enterprise E5
Remote Desktop	✓	✓	✓
Windows To GO		✓	✓
BranchCache		✓	✓
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack		✓	✓

Feature Overview

To understand the above charts a bit better, let’s overview some of these key features.

MDM (Mobile Device Management)

In today’s increasingly mobile business environments, improper use of mobile devices often leads to costly security incidents. Central management of enterprise mobile devices is crucial in subverting these security incidents. MDM is able to monitor all enterprise mobile devices at once, analyze usage data for individual users, and apply appropriate security policies.

Shared PC Mode

This feature allows for the configuration of shared environments for multiple clients.

Microsoft Store for Business

A private store for organizations to manage application configuration, distribution, and creation.

Windows Hello

Offers password-less sign-in using biometric authentication, including facial, retinal, and fingerprint recognition. This feature has become increasingly important as cases of unauthorized third-party use of devices continue to rise.

Cortana

The virtual assistant loaded in Windows 10. Compatible with multiple languages, Cortana uses voice commands to assist in daily business tasks, including function calls and web searches.

AppLocker

Utilizes unique identities of files to create rules that permit or deny the running of select applications. These rules can be specified at the group or user level. This feature is vital in restricting access to important files and applications and improving security.

App-V (Microsoft Application Virtualization)

Allows for the virtualization of application execution environments. Separating the application environment from the client operating system greatly improves security and management efficiency.

UE-V (Microsoft User Environment Virtualization)

Captures, saves, and manages Windows 10 OS and application settings.

Direct Access

Allows for remote access to virtual environments.

Windows Information Protection

Prevents data leaks via email, etc. and improves security. This feature helps to maintain corporate confidentiality, as data leaks via emails sent in error are exceedingly common.

Credential Guard

Allows for virtualization-based security where access is granted to only privileged systems.

Remote Desktop

Allows users of one Windows 10 device to connect to another Windows 10 device on the same network or internet connection.

Windows To GO

Allows users to create an imaged version of the corporate Windows 10 environment on a USB flash drive and run it from their personal Windows 10-compatible device.

BranchCache

Allows for access to content on remote servers for branch office workers, reducing WAN bandwidth usage and improving application response time.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack

A suite of functions that allow for application virtualization, group policy management, reduction of downtime, and monitoring of rule compliance.

Licensing and Subscriptions

Here we will go over the licensing options for Windows 10 Enterprise.

While Windows typically comes preinstalled with the purchase of a PC, Windows 10 Enterprise OEM has to be purchased and added separately. This additional license is a subscription-based fixed term contract, and assumes that the purchasing PC has an active Windows OEM license. Please note that white box PCs are ineligible for this volume licensing.

Also note that this license includes not only Windows 10 Enterprise privileges, but also that for connection to VDI environments. VDI can provide significant advantages in migrating to Windows 10, as well as in ensuring application compatibility.

Windows 10 Enterprise is loaded with the most widely-used Windows features in corporate environments. At the same time, update policies are subject to change, and enterprises should consider their own use cases regardless of the edition. In migrating from an older version of Windows, carefully compare the features of each edition to determine which is most appropriate for your company’s needs.

Free Windows 10 Migration Assessment

Before selecting a Windows 10 edition, the first step in any migration plan is an assessment of your IT environment. With Lakeside Software’s SysTrack, you can quickly and accurately collect data on your users’ PC environment to better inform your Windows 10 migration plan. SysTrack addresses hardware and software inventory migration concerns ahead of time, like whether your devices meet the hardware requirements for Windows 10, or whether certain applications or software versions will pose compatibility issues with migration. This allows enterprises to determine the necessary costs and scheduling of the migration process.

In selecting an assessment tool, get the most out of your investment by choosing a tool that can still be utilized after the migration is completed. Lakeside SysTrack is an assessment solution with an intuitive interface for managing desktop and application performance information.

Visit our Windows 10 assessment page to learn more about getting started with a free trial.