Microsoft recently announced Windows 11, its first operating system overhaul in more than six years. The free upgrade, available to users in late 2021, comes on the heels of Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trend Index, which asserts that hybrid work is here to stay.

With Windows 11, Microsoft aims to support businesses as they usher in a new era of work. But what exactly does this look like? Let’s dive into the OS’s new and enhanced offerings, as well as the benefits for enterprises and end-users.

Heightened security requirements

Remote work has exposed organizations to increased security risks, with 74% of security leaders reporting more attacks since the start of the pandemic.

In an effort to be proactive about protection, Windows 11 will require devices to have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chips. Microsoft already required equipment manufacturers to ship devices with support for TPM chips, but in order for Windows 11 to run, the user must have the TPM turned on.

TPMs are hardware components that store encryption keys specific to the device and network. They provide an added layer of security at the firmware level, beyond the baseline username and password. Though TPMs are useful, enterprises should keep in mind these tools only protect devices locally. Organizations should still leverage other security technologies such as firewalls, antivirus software, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and security monitoring to keep their organizations fully protected.

The TPM 2.0 mandate will encourage organizations to revisit their device inventory. Microsoft has powered the Windows OS for over 30 years and many companies still use its legacy operating systems on old devices — even after support for the OS has ended. For some organ