CDW And Dell Team Up To Offer Optimal Windows 10 Migration

it managers from around the world are migrating to microsoft Windows 10, which is projected to have 1 billion users by 2018. Why the popularity? Windows 7 and 8 both are facing end-of-support horizons in the next few years, but there’s more: “Windows 10 represents a leap in security, management and productivity,” explains Ben Hodges, senior category manager at CDW, a leading technology solutions provider to business, government, education and healthcare. CDW sees a particularly valuable opportunity to fully leverage these advantages with Dell’s 2-in-1 line of convertible notebook/tablets, which are tightly integrated with the new os and offer outstanding flexibility for collaboration, creative, sales and other functions.

LEVERAGING SECURITY

“Windows 10’s embedded security enhancements make it the most secure out-of-the-box microsoft operating system ever,” explains Pete Arado, CDW’S solution specialist for product and partner management. “one enhancement is Windows Hello, which supports two-factor authentication, requiring biometric authentication — facial, iris or fingerprint — and a simple Pin. Plus, deeper features such as secure booting, advanced encryption and an underlying architecture addition known as virtualization based security have boosted security deep into the os,” he adds. Dell 2-in-1 leverages this advantage with removable solid-state hard drives, Control vault (isolated credential authentication), a Trusted Platform module (TPM) cryptographic controller, and other built-in features that can be augmented with a broad range of Dell and CDW security solutions.

BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY

in addition to bringing back the user-friendly Start menu, Windows 10 now includes Cortana, a digital assistant dedicated to streamlining searches; the faster, sleeker microsoft Edge browser; Windows Hello; and more. Dell 2-in-1 models augment productivity further with detachable keyboards and screens, wireless charging, high-resolution displays, extended battery life and other advantages.

“Dell 2-in-1’s touch functionality and tablet form factors allow you to use a stylus and take notes immediately on a PDF, or mark up a Powerpoint presentation,” says Hodges. “Being able to pre– sent something really quickly in presentation mode is really pushing the boundaries of ease and impact.”

SIMPLIFYING MANAGEABILITY

Windows 10 includes support for mobile device management (mdm), allowing it pros to share management processes between desktops, laptops and tablets, Windows Phone and other mobile devices; the ability for users to log in to Windows with Azure Active Directory accounts; and automatic sign-in to cloud-based services like office 365, microsoft intune and the Windows Store.

“When you take an operating system like this, and then you also put it on a device like the Latitude 7285, the thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 with the seventh-generation intel processor, you’re pairing cutting-edge hardware with a great new secure os before you’re even adding your internal apps — a big management advantage with generally lower deployment costs,” says Hodges.

AMPLIFYING VALUE WITH IT ORCHESTRATION

CDW sees numerous customers migrating to Windows 10 via Dell’s 2-in-1 products, avoiding separate os and hardware upgrades while immediately gaining productivity and lower total cost of ownership.

“Windows 10 is optimized for these devices running with newer processors, higher ram, solid-state hard drives and touch screens — all of which come together in the Dell 2-in-1 line,” says Arado. “i think that from a performance, productivity, reliability and collaboration standpoint, these units are as good as it gets. Plus, you get CDW’S end-to-end service and expertise. Put all of those factors together, and it’s a great solution.”