Security, cloud spurring Windows 10 deployments; creating fastest OS adoption

Windows 10 deployments will be underway in 85% of enterprises by the end of this year, according to a new survey which shows security improvements and cloud capabilities are driving the migrations.

Forty-nine percent of respondents in the Gartner survey – which was conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, India and Brazil – highlighted security improvements as the main reason for the migration.

Highlighting the increasing move to cloud, the survey shows Windows 10's cloud integration capabilities was a key driver for migration for 38% of respondents.

The rate of migrations, with 85% of enterprises saying they will have started Windows 10 deployments by the end of 2017, means Windows 10 will outpace previous operating system upgrades, Gartner says.

Ranjit Atwal, Gartner research director, says organisations recognise the need to move to Windows 10.

"Large businesses are either already engaged in Windows 10 upgrades or have delayed upgrading until 2018," Atwal says.

"This likely reflects the transition of legacy applications to Windows 10 or replacing those legacy applications before Windows 10 migration takes place," he adds.

However, he notes that budgetary approval for the Windows 10 deployments, aren't straightforward, with the migration not seen as an immediate business-critical project.

"It is not surprising that one in four respondents expect issues with budgeting," Atwal says.

Meike Escherich, Gartner principal research analyst, adds that device buying intentions are also increasing significantly' as organisations see third- and fourth-generation products optimised for Windows 10 with longer battery life, touchscreens and other Windows 10 features.

"The intention to purchase convertible notebooks increased as organisations shifted from the testing and pilots phases into the buying and deployment phases," Escherich says.