Enterprises Still Only Halfway to Windows 11 Switch

Simon Townsend
ControlUp

Microsoft's Windows 10 end of support is only several months away but new data shows enterprises still aren't feeling the urgency to migrate to Windows 11. The latest study data from ControlUp shows 50% of enterprise Windows endpoints still haven't completed Windows 11 migration. Although statistics indicate an improvement from last year's 82% of non-migrated endpoints, it suggests that enterprises will continue to incur expenses for Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to utilize Windows 10. The per user cost is expected to be $61 for year one, doubling to year two and rising to $244 year three.

Large enterprises may pay the steepest price for lagging on migration. ControlUp's analysis of more than one million endpoints indicates organizations with more than 10,000 Windows devices are at 42% migration. More complex IT environments, extensive legacy hardware and delays in assessments and planning are contributors.

There are a few bright lights in migration. ControlUp found technology (73%) and education sectors have already moved to Windows 11.

Getting to Windows 11

Lower adoption statistics point to the need to face legacy hardware issues earlier on, to avoid costly interim fixes like ESUs. Besides large enterprises, healthcare (41%) and finance (45%) also lag behind. Healthcare data shows 19% of endpoints need replacement to be able to run Windows 11. About 3% of finance endpoints will need replacement.

Although some sectors are yet to approach the 50% mark, the reality is many have migration-ready devices. The study indicates that 88% of enterprise Windows endpoint devices that are yet to migrate can support Windows 11. Another 1% will meet requirements with upgrades, and 11% need full replacement.

To encourage migration, Microsoft publishes useful documentation for a quick check on Windows 11 compatibility.  Organizations can use the PC Health Check app and be aware that, to migrate, devices must be running Windows 11, version 2004 or later.

For a thorough assessment into Windows 11 readiness, it's important to review, in detail, devices and software in use. Device battery health, whether the device can meet minimum requirements like 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster speed, 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 64 GB or more storage, and if the device already has TPM2.0 (Trusted Platform Module). All are elements that determine how easy a lift Windows 11 will be.

There is technology available now to help organizations more easily assess device readiness and accelerate migration. Enterprises with thousands of devices can leverage digital employee experience (DEX) tools that use automation to analyze Windows 11 device compatibility and software usage. These tools save IT considerable assessment time and flag underutilized applications that are adding to overall costs.

To support large scale migration, managed services providers (MSPs) and technology partners can help with device assessment. They can take the time burden off IT and deliver a ready-to-go migration strategy, then using their technical expertise, help IT manage the migration and solve issues related to device and application compatibility. Post migration they can provide insights into performance, and if needed, MSPs can continue to manage deployment.

The AI Question

AI-PCs are on the horizon, but at this point, enterprises should complete Windows 11 migration and make AI device capabilities a separate planning issue. Windows 11 offers security and application enhancements enterprises can benefit from now, while AI devices are still in the early adoption phase. If new devices are being purchased, it makes sense to determine if they are AI capable, to prepare for eventual applications.

No Time to Waste

Given that 88% of the non-migrated endpoint devices can support Windows 11, enterprises are encouraged to make the switch to gain Windows 11 benefits. They include support for Hyper-V, Firewall, Wi-Fi6, WPA3, and an encrypted DNS protocol, and support for more Bluetooth connections including Secure Simple Pairing, Secure Connections, and Core Spec compliance up through version 5.3. Another security enhancement is Smart App Control which vets apps before allowing them to be installed on a Windows 11 PC. Performance enhancements include Snap assist which helps multitasking by arranging open windows on one screen for easier viewing and remembering the layout; enhanced Microsoft Edge for better browsing speed, and seamless redocking in which Windows 11 remembers how you like things arranged when you connect to an external display or monitor, then reconnect later.

The long-term benefits of Windows 11 outweigh the expense of ESUs and through assessment tools and provider assists, enterprises can migrate more quickly, gaining both an economic and productivity advantage.

Simon Townsend is Head of the Office of the CTO at ControlUp

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Enterprises Still Only Halfway to Windows 11 Switch

Simon Townsend
ControlUp

Microsoft's Windows 10 end of support is only several months away but new data shows enterprises still aren't feeling the urgency to migrate to Windows 11. The latest study data from ControlUp shows 50% of enterprise Windows endpoints still haven't completed Windows 11 migration. Although statistics indicate an improvement from last year's 82% of non-migrated endpoints, it suggests that enterprises will continue to incur expenses for Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to utilize Windows 10. The per user cost is expected to be $61 for year one, doubling to year two and rising to $244 year three.

Large enterprises may pay the steepest price for lagging on migration. ControlUp's analysis of more than one million endpoints indicates organizations with more than 10,000 Windows devices are at 42% migration. More complex IT environments, extensive legacy hardware and delays in assessments and planning are contributors.

There are a few bright lights in migration. ControlUp found technology (73%) and education sectors have already moved to Windows 11.

Getting to Windows 11

Lower adoption statistics point to the need to face legacy hardware issues earlier on, to avoid costly interim fixes like ESUs. Besides large enterprises, healthcare (41%) and finance (45%) also lag behind. Healthcare data shows 19% of endpoints need replacement to be able to run Windows 11. About 3% of finance endpoints will need replacement.

Although some sectors are yet to approach the 50% mark, the reality is many have migration-ready devices. The study indicates that 88% of enterprise Windows endpoint devices that are yet to migrate can support Windows 11. Another 1% will meet requirements with upgrades, and 11% need full replacement.

To encourage migration, Microsoft publishes useful documentation for a quick check on Windows 11 compatibility.  Organizations can use the PC Health Check app and be aware that, to migrate, devices must be running Windows 11, version 2004 or later.

For a thorough assessment into Windows 11 readiness, it's important to review, in detail, devices and software in use. Device battery health, whether the device can meet minimum requirements like 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster speed, 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 64 GB or more storage, and if the device already has TPM2.0 (Trusted Platform Module). All are elements that determine how easy a lift Windows 11 will be.

There is technology available now to help organizations more easily assess device readiness and accelerate migration. Enterprises with thousands of devices can leverage digital employee experience (DEX) tools that use automation to analyze Windows 11 device compatibility and software usage. These tools save IT considerable assessment time and flag underutilized applications that are adding to overall costs.

To support large scale migration, managed services providers (MSPs) and technology partners can help with device assessment. They can take the time burden off IT and deliver a ready-to-go migration strategy, then using their technical expertise, help IT manage the migration and solve issues related to device and application compatibility. Post migration they can provide insights into performance, and if needed, MSPs can continue to manage deployment.

The AI Question

AI-PCs are on the horizon, but at this point, enterprises should complete Windows 11 migration and make AI device capabilities a separate planning issue. Windows 11 offers security and application enhancements enterprises can benefit from now, while AI devices are still in the early adoption phase. If new devices are being purchased, it makes sense to determine if they are AI capable, to prepare for eventual applications.

No Time to Waste

Given that 88% of the non-migrated endpoint devices can support Windows 11, enterprises are encouraged to make the switch to gain Windows 11 benefits. They include support for Hyper-V, Firewall, Wi-Fi6, WPA3, and an encrypted DNS protocol, and support for more Bluetooth connections including Secure Simple Pairing, Secure Connections, and Core Spec compliance up through version 5.3. Another security enhancement is Smart App Control which vets apps before allowing them to be installed on a Windows 11 PC. Performance enhancements include Snap assist which helps multitasking by arranging open windows on one screen for easier viewing and remembering the layout; enhanced Microsoft Edge for better browsing speed, and seamless redocking in which Windows 11 remembers how you like things arranged when you connect to an external display or monitor, then reconnect later.

The long-term benefits of Windows 11 outweigh the expense of ESUs and through assessment tools and provider assists, enterprises can migrate more quickly, gaining both an economic and productivity advantage.

Simon Townsend is Head of the Office of the CTO at ControlUp

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In 2026, the cost of downtime or an outage is no longer just a technical inconvenience; it's a $600 billion wake up call for global businesses. As our digital ecosystems become  more interconnected, each touchpoint introduces new risks and multiplies the consequences when things go wrong. And the data is clear: aggregate downtime costs  for Global 2,000 companies have surged 50% since 2024, reaching a staggering $600 billion ...

Breaking Down Agentic AI Fragmentation and Complexity with Governance

Deloitte found that 74% of enterprises expect to deploy agentic AI solutions in the next 24 months. However, the rush to deployment is outpacing foundational work, though. Only 21% of enterprises have fully formed agent governance models in place. The result? AI agents deployed without guidance or governance begin to function as fragmented islands of complexity ...

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