Under this Branch, Security Updates, Features and Fixes are automatically applied, and there is no option to delay or customize these updates.Ĭurrent Branch for Business (CBB) is available for Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education. The main difference between Service Branches is the option to defer and manage the installation of the available updates.Ĭurrent Branch is the only option for Windows 10 Home edition. With Windows 10, Microsoft is changing the way it delivers updates to its operating system, introducing the concept of “Service Branch”. Volume Licensing customers with active SA for Windows purchased before August 1 will not automatically get rights to MDOP until your next SA renewal One of the main changes in terms of licensing is that the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is included in SA for Windows, and therefore it is no longer available as a standalone add-on. Windows 10 Enterprise also supports the broadest range of options for operating system deployment and comprehensive device and app management. It provides advanced capabilities to help protect against the ever-growing range of modern security threats targeted at devices, identities, applications and sensitive company information.
Window 10 is available under Volume Licensing in two editions: More customers can now avail of these benefits and organizations need to re-evaluate whether to purchase SA and Windows Enterprise as they plan for Windows 10. Many of the more advanced security features and some of the more granular management features are only available with Enterprise. Some features that were exclusive in Windows 7 are now available in the Windows 10 Pro edition (such as BitLocker and multilingual user interface), but others remain available only as part of the Enterprise (or Education) editions with Windows 10. One of those benefits has been the Windows Enterprise version. Microsoft has been encouraging customers to move toward SA for Windows by including various benefits only available with those agreements. As such, enterprises should still enter into a volume licensing agreement.
The free upgrade limits flexibility with regard to imaging rights and deployment options. While a lot has been made about the free upgrade Microsoft is offering to Windows 7 and 8.1 users, the fact is that Windows 10 Enterprise contains greater benefits for enterprise customers.
Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices, however Windows Enterprise is excluded from this offer, and Windows Enterprise customers will require active Software Assurance (SA) to be able to upgrade. Windows 10 comes with a consistent user experience across all form factors, tighter integration with other elements of the Microsoft Ecosystem, and brand new features like Microsoft Edge browser and the voice activated “personal assistant” Cortana. Microsoft say Windows 10 is the last version of Windows that they will deliver as Windows is moving to an “as-a-Service” model where all new functionality is to be provided via updates, rather than new versions. Windows 10 is now available to Microsoft Volume Licensing customers.