Why a device refresh is a cornerstone of your Windows 11 strategy

Windows 11 is just an upgrade on Windows 10, needing only a simple set of software upgrades, right? Think again.

Many organisations are well underway with their migrations towards Windows 11 (and with Windows 10 going out-of-support in October 2025, yours should be too if it isn’t already). We’ve found that as organisations have dived deeper into all the requirements of a successful migration, some have hit a major stumbling block with their existing hardware and compatibility.

In this blog, we’ll look at why a device refresh should be addressed alongside a Windows 11 migration, in order to avoid hardware difficulties in the long run.

What’s the situation with legacy hardware and Windows 11?

According to Microsoft, there are 19 million devices in the UK that are unable to run Windows 11 – and another eight million that can technically run it, but won’t be able to do so at the highest levels of performance. This is partly due to Windows 11 requiring CPUs with at least two cores, and speeds of at least 1GHz.

A large quantity of these incompatible devices are those implemented by organisations during their last refresh cycle, typically at the start of the pandemic. They may want to continue using that hardware to the end of its usable lifespan, but a lack of compatibility with Windows 11 renders this impractical or even impossible.

This is putting many organisations in a difficult position with their migration strategy, for a host of different reasons:

• Obsolete hardware: old kit that doesn’t work properly with the new OS (or at all) is a major drag on productivity, security, user experience, and sustainability due to inefficiencies in its manufacture and energy consumption.
  
• Increased costs: whether it’s replacing hardware for Windows 11, or having to fund external support for sticking with Windows 10, firms who don’t plan a smooth migration could face major costs either way.
  
• Lack of agility and innovation: AI is a boardroom conversation and is increasingly important as organisations try to extract the value in so many different areas, but many are still trying to work out how best to apply it. Having the most up-to-date hardware with the latest AI chipsets, and an OS designed with AI in mind from the ground up, is essential for taking full advantage once those opportunities have been properly identified to deliver true competitive advantage.
  
• Supply chain issues: with so many organisations exploring a migration and device refresh, there may be issues in sourcing hardware in a timely manner, especially for those rushing through it at the last minute. In addition, many will be hit by inflated prices for hardware as the supply chain shortages will hike prices up. 

Addressing Windows 11 migration and a device refresh together

According to Dell, 74% of business leaders say a two-year device refresh cycle boosts productivity across their organisations. So with Windows 11 migration increasingly looking like a necessity, now is the time to address a refresh simultaneously. That way, you can:

• Improve performance: connecting employees to fast and reliable devices, replacing older ones that will slow down over time and hold productivity back.
  
• Strengthen security: ensure that your data, systems and applications are both compliant and protected from the latest cyber attacks, not only through the operating system but through hardware, too.
  
• Maintain compatibility: ensure that hardware is compatible with the latest versions of key software, not only for Windows 11 itself, but also for current and future updates of business-specific applications.
  
• Enhance user experiences: deliver modern, streamlined ways of working for users that ensure positive experiences, and reduce frustration caused by slow, faulty devices or outdated interfaces.
  
• Reduce costs long-term: hardware refreshing overcomes the initial investment cost by cutting the expense of long-term maintenance and reducing energy consumption.
  
• Future-proof the IT estate: maximising compatibility with tomorrow’s innovations makes it easier and faster to embrace new opportunities, and drive competitive advantage through agility.

How to approach the joint refresh/migration

Obviously, taking on two major technological changes like this is a substantial undertaking, and it’s vital to get it right through proper planning and implementation. From our experience, that means taking five important factors into account:

• Testing 
• Understanding the size of the project and the challenges 
• Selecting the right devices for the right users
• Adopting AI PCs now to maximise advantage
• Exploring different finance profiles to avoid tech debt and reduce risk 

Given that Microsoft states that the average migration to Windows 11 takes a minimum of 14 months – and the end-of-support date for Windows 10 is now less than 14 months away – it may seem that there isn’t time to do all this properly. But that’s where the support and expertise of SCC can help, with a combination of comprehensive planning and expedited deployment.

We can take care of every part of your Windows 11 migration and device refresh project, including auditing, roadmapping the hardware you need, recycling any obsolete kit through SCC Recyclea, and implementing new devices with Windows 11 ready to go. Not only does this ensure you get an IT estate fit for the needs of today and tomorrow, but you can do so without burdening your IT team, who remain free to focus on strategic projects elsewhere.