Windows 11 Enterprise vs Pro: the differences
Choosing the right operating system for your business’ devices is key to smooth IT support of your operations. Since the release of Windows 11 in October 2021, many businesses consider updating their operating systems to the latest version. Windows 11 comes in several versions, each with its specific features and capabilities, including the Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise licenses. Whether to choose the Enterprise or the Pro license comes down the specific IT needs of one company. In order to help you in your license choice, this article explores the differences between Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise, their key features, and their operational benefits. The hardware requirement and support capabilities of Windows 11, both in its Enterprise and Pro versions, will be detailed as well.
Windows 11: Be up to date
With the release of Windows 11 in 2021, Microsoft added lots of features and improvements to the Windows work environment. It can be seen through the replacement of Skype by Microsoft Teams as principal communication tool, some general performance improvements for devices, as well as an updated user experience. There is also a lot of improvements in terms of productivity with features such as the single screen multitasking, or ‘snap lay-outs’, which allows to have multiple applications displayed for simultaneous use. With these new features, Microsoft Windows 11, in its Professional or Enterprise version, is ready to accommodate all your current and future business needs.
Be up to date! Take a look at our second-hand Windows 11 licenses to gain access for a fraction of their original price.
Professional vs Enterprise: the differences
Windows 11 Professional and Enterprise have a lot in common as the Enterprise licenses offer the same base features as the Pro license, but adds unique functionalities that larger businesses might need. That being said both versions have a lot to offer depending on your business’ needs. First, this article will go over general information about both version, then dive deeper into the additional features of Enterprise, and highlight some technical differences between both versions.
About Windows 11 Professional
Windows 11 Pro is the standard option for businesses from Microsoft, which is already quite extensive and complete. It supports features such as Windows Hello for Business, BitLocker, or Remote Desktop, making Windows 11 Professional a very capable and operational solution for your business’ devices. Windows 11 Pro is also more accessible than its Enterprise counterpart. It can be found pre-installed in many desktops and laptops, or can be installed by upgrading from a Windows 11 Home license.
Interested in Windows 11 Professional? Contact us for more information about affordable second-hand Microsoft licenses!
About Windows 11 Enterprise
Windows 11 Enterprise includes all features that can be found in the Professional license, which is already quite complete. The added value of Enterprise licenses can be found in their unique advanced features, which are mainly designed to answer the needs of larger corporations with lots of devices to manage. For example, this can be illustrated with Windows Autopatch, which is an update automation service that can be found within Windows 11 Enterprise. This tool is especially relevant to larger businesses, as keeping a large number of devices up to date can be challenging without appropriate tools. As the focus of the Enterprise version of Windows 11 is mainly on larger corporations, Enterprise licenses are available through Microsoft on quote only, contrary to Professional licenses. Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise comes in three different declinations: Windows Enterprise E3, Enterprise E5, and Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan. The E5 version adds to Enterprise complete Endpoint security solutions with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Interested in Windows 11 Enterprise for your corporation? Gain access to second-hand Enterprise licenses for a fraction of their original price with Softtrader! Contact us now!
Additional features of Windows 11 Enterprise
As mentioned above, Windows 11 Enterprise includes all the features that can be found in a Windows 11 Professional license. That being said, Enterprise has a lot of extra features to offer.
Azure virtual desktop
Want to create virtual desktops to be able to access your applications anywhere? It is possible to do so internally with the help of the Azure Virtual Desktop service as it allows corporations to manage Windows instances from a distance, while keeping the management of such network internal to the organization.
Credential guard
This feature of Windows 11 Enterprise is designed to prevent credentials theft. It carefully combine hardware and visualization-based security to keep your most important users credentials safe at all time.
Universal print
Having trouble sorting out printers within your company’s office? Microsoft Universal Print aims to solution this complex issue by offering cloud-based print management running on the above-mentioned Azure Desktop. It alleviates the compatibility and connection issues by centralizing the printers’ management.
Secure score
Windows Secure Score is a security assessment tool that can be deployed at large in an organization. It scores the security posture of a company and indicate the required security actions in order to keep all data safe at any time. It also provide security benchmarks and allow for the establishment of security KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), which help large organizations monitor security matters
Defender for Endpoint (Enterprise E5 Only)
Included in the E5 declination of Windows 11 Enterprise, Defender for Endpoint offers holistic security solutions for cloud-delivered endpoint security. It allows for large corporations to have consistent security processes across their whole organization, harmonizing security in connecting to applications such as Office applications, or to email servers. Overall, Defender for Endpoint allow secured traffic control within an organization’s systems.
Windows Autopatch
As mentioned above, Windows Autopatch is a service helping towards update automation to keep devices up to date across an organization. This is applicable both to Microsoft applications update such as Office apps, but also to security threat, for which Autopatch automatically ensures protection by keeping up with the latest security standard. Overall, Autopatch allows for IT personnel within an organization to save lots of time on keeping devices up to date.
Windows Experience Configuration
In addition to the new features it offers, Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise allows full customization of Windows for end users within a company, allowing or disabling access to certain features depending on business needs. This features can both serve the users’ interests with user-friendly personalization of windows, as well as security concerns with the option to disable screen or audio recordings for example.
Technical differences
Windows 11 comes with technical differences between its Professional and Enterprise versions. The main differences can be found in their support capabilities, as well in their installation.
Hardware requirements
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 Professional and Enterprise are the following:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device
- System firmware : UEFI, Secure Boot compliant
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0
- Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Support capabilities
Windows 11 Professional and Enterprise have different support capabilities both in terms of software support from Microsoft as well as hardware support capabilities.
The professional version of Microsoft Windows 11 has a base software support period of 24 months, at the end of which features updates become mandatory to continue operating. In its Enterprise counterpart, the base support period is of 36 months. For longer support periods, LTSC licenses (long-term service channel) can provide support up to 10 years without any important feature update required. Read more about the End of Life of Windows 11.
Regarding hardware support capabilities, the Professional version of Windows 11 is capable of supporting up to 2TB of RAM and 2 CPU sockets. The Enterprise version, with its large scale focus, is offering up to 6TB of RAM support, as well as up to 4 CPU sockets, making it a lot more capable than its Professional counterpart when it comes to managing large systems.
Installation
Windows 11 Professional, as mentioned before, can be found pre-installed in many devices, or can be installed by upgrading for free from a Windows 10 Pro Retail license. Upgrading from Windows 10 Pro OLP (volume licenses) will require purchasing access to Windows 11.
Windows 11 Enterprise on the other hand, can only be upgraded from devices already equipped with Windows 11 Professional. Microsoft now offers Enterprise licenses through E3, E5, or 365 Enterprise subscriptions exclusively which can prove to be expensive. Also, Licensed users with Windows 11 Enterprise can install and use Enterprise on up to 5 compatible devices.
Want life-long access to Enterprise for a fraction of its original price? Contact-us for a quote on second-hand Windows 11 Enterprise licenses.
Conclusion/summary:
- Compared to Windows 10, Windows 11 includes Microsoft Teams instead of Skype as main communication tool, brings performance improvements, as well as an updated user interface.
- Windows 11 Enterprise has more features than Windows 11 Pro, such Autopatch and Azure desktop
- If you need the basic features of Windows 11, Windows 11 Professional version is very capable of meetings present and future business needs.
- For larger corporations, or organizations with heavier IT needs, Windows 11 Enterprise offers advanced features to answer all complex IT needs.
Purchase the Windows 11 license that fits your needs
At Softtrader, we offer second-hand licenses, both for Windows 11 Professional and Windows 11 Enterprise, for a fraction of their original prices. Request for a quote now!
Do you have questions? Contact us!
For more information about which Microsoft software and licenses are best for you, please contact us. We are available from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.