Technology Record - Issue 23: Winter 21/22

39 engagement, applications, productivity solutions and suites,” says Clark. “For businesses looking to minimise expenses, retaining existing PCs is an option, assuming their devices meet the minimum hardware and chip requirements for Windows 11. We continue to add device compatibility for Windows 11, so you will see more new devices come online in the coming months. “We have learned from years of releasing Windows 10 updates to over one billion devices worldwide that a phased and measured roll-out ensures a more reliable and quality experience for customers. So, in some cases, this will mean businesses waiting or planning phased deployments for Windows 11 upgrades.” While business continuity has been top of mind for organisations worldwide of late, the other key buzzword of 2021 is sustainability. Research has shown that a greater focus on sustainable practices would benefit the planet as well as business. For example, a study by Cone Communications found that 92 per cent of respondents weremore likely to trust a company that supports social or environmental issues, and Harvard University research showed that overall sales revenue can increase up to 20 per cent due to corporate responsibility practices. The business case is clear, and Microsoft is leading by example. “Microsoft is committed to being carbon negative by 2030 and, by 2050, we aim to remove all the carbon the company has emitted to the environment since it was founded in 1975,” says Clark. “Most recently, we’ve announced initiatives to support the path to net zero for our customers as well as for ourselves.” This news includes the public preview of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability which aims to empower Microsoft’s customers and partners to drive their sustainability progress through vertical and industry solutions. “This new cloud offering is designed to help companies take control of their environmental initiatives, offering a set of comprehensive, integrated and automated insights for organisations to accelerate each stage of their sustainability journey. “Windows 11 offers deeper integration with Microsoft Teams for more efficient collaboration and communication” Windows 11 could transform enterprise security and hybrid working with a range of new features

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