New Training: Windows 10 Deployment Decisions

In this 9-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer James Conrad teaches you how to deploy Windows 10 and perform post-installation configuration. Watch this new Windows 10 training.

Watch the full course: Microsoft Windows 10

This training includes:

• 9 videos

• 58 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Introduction to the MD-100 Windows 10 Course

• Select the Appropriate Windows Edition: Home vs Professional

• Select the Appropriate Windows Edition: Business Editions

• Performing a Clean Installation

• Windows 10 Upgrade Paths

• Windows 10 Upgrade Considerations

• Windows Activation Overview

• Windows 10 Volume Licensing

• Troubleshooting Windows 10 Activation

Windows in The Enterprise: Which Version is Right For You?

Comments from edits: Might be a misconception about Windows Professional Edition in general here. It is its own version and there is also Windows Professional Workstation (see prev paragraph which I edited.) In addition to Professional there is also Enterprise and Education editions. Pro and enterprise editions are intended for the business environment. The education is really the same as enterprise, just has a SKU that is sold to educational institutions.

Purchasing the appropriate version of Windows 10 for organizations may be a complicated task. For instance, there is a version of Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, and Education. The licenses for each of these versions of Windows 10 have different requirements.

Windows 10 Pro offers a host of different features such as enhanced Remote Desktop capabilities, built-in security enhancements through Bitlocker, enhanced malware protection with Trusted Boot, and testing capabilities in Windows Sandbox. Most small businesses will use the full, standard SKU for Windows 10 Professional, though it should be noted, there is a similar version called Professional Workstation that supports HPCs (high-performance computers).

This is easy enough for small businesses, but what do medium-sized businesses or educational institutions purchase? These institutions may need the Enterprise or Education versions instead. These versions are designed for the business environment and contain different features and licensing requirements.

The enterprise and education editions of Windows 10 are essentially the same feature-for-feature, but have different SKUs.

Likewise, the education edition of Windows 10 is a discounted version meant specifically for educational institutions. These types of organizations need to verify with a Microsoft partner that they are indeed an educational institution before being allowed access to this SKU.

Both the Enterprise and Educational versions of Windows 10 qualify for volume licensing but with different restrictions.

Selecting the appropriate version of Windows 10 for a business can be complicated. IT departments will need to understand the variety of SKUs available by Microsoft partners and what limitations each has.