Windows 10 Professional doesn’t take anything away from Home users; it simply adds more sophisticated features.

All of them have some relevance for power users and more traditional businesses alike. Here are five key aspects of Windows 10 Professional will help you decide whether the upgrade is worth it for you.

Remote Desktop Connection

Windows 10 Professional machines can initiate Remote Desktop Connections, such that the “master” machine controls the slave machine and all of its resources.

The upshot is that work machines can be accessed from home, but home machines can be controlled only from work. If you run a small business, Remote Desktop Connection is another reason to consider Windows 10 Professional.

BitLocker

Microsoft’s encryption software has been developed and updated since Windows Vista, and it’s been built into Windows 10 as well. BitLocker has offered the option to encrypt the Windows boot drive and other fixed drives within the system, as well as USB keys and external drives.

BitLocker is especially handy for travelling. Locking down your data isn’t 100-percent foolproof, but it’s a start. If a drive is encrypted, BitLocker will encrypt other files that are added to it. You also have the option to suspend encryption or remove it entirely. Files moved from a BitLocker encrypted drive to another drive are automatically decrypted.

Of course, you’ll need a password to make it all work, at Eurieka.ie we have previously mentioned a key tip for this…    

A cloud storage solution like OneDrive can be a great way to store your files, but a USB key encrypted with Bitlocker and clipped to a keychain can provide an additional layer of security and keep precious files close at hand.

Client Hyper-V

Virtualization creates a secure operating environment within your PC that allows you to run different operating systems, including Linux, future builds of Windows 10, and even older versions of Windows. (Just make sure you still have valid license keys for the operating system and a PC processor that supports virtualization—not all older models do.

Once you have Windows 10 Professional, you’ll still have to install Hyper-V manually. You can begin typing “Hyper-V” in the Search box. Windows will suggest that you install some optional features. You’ll be given a list of options, where you can install Hyper-V.

Microsoft Update for Business

Updates will be applied. If you’re a conservative type, Windows 10 Professional lets you defer updates for up to several months (security updates excepted). That chance to wait and see if anything blows up might add an extra layer of peace of mind.

Features for businesses first

Several features in Windows 10 Professional are aimed squarely at the business market. Domain join, allows you to bring in your own PC and connect it to the office domain. Group policy management allows an IT admin to control which PCs do what. Likewise, if your business needs specialized enterprise apps, an admin can lock down the Windows Store to make sure employees get those, and nothing else. There’s also the ability to join Azure Active Directory, with single sign-on capabilities.

Summary – Get it for the flexibility

Moving to Windows 10 Professional makes sense for people who could use its more advanced features. It costs money, though, so don’t feel compelled to upgrade unless you really need them. Windows 10 Home will suffice for the majority of individual or family users.

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