Microsoft Boosts Windows 10 Enterprise Offerings With Advanced Threat Protection

Microsoft has upped its security offerings for Windows enterprise customers, but only for those that upgrade to Windows 10. “Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection,” announced Tuesday, promises to detect security breaches and pinpoint the source of failure.

Microsoft has tested the software with a large number of businesses. The company claims it’s one of the biggest hi-tech threat protection services in the world, even though it’s not widely available yet. The company has not provided a firm release date, simply stating it'll become available "this year."

The software works in three parts. The first detects hi-tech attacks as they happen, giving a detailed overview of what’s going on. The second helps administrators come up with a response recommendation, providing a wide range of tools to help work out what went wrong. The third is that it works in tangent with other Microsoft services, and its deep integration into Windows 10 means updates will require no deployment effort.

Microsoft is aiming to encourage enterprise customers to jump on board the Windows 10 bandwagon. Unlike consumers, who have until July to get a free copy of Windows 10, enterprise customers will have no such luck. Instead, upgrades will typically work through the company’s licensing agreement.

Windows 10 is expected to prove very popular with enterprises. A November 2015 report from Gartner shows that half of enterprises are set to begin deployments by the beginning of 2017.

What will hold enterprises back is whether Windows 10 is ready and secure enough to start deployments. Gartner sees compatibility of older Windows programs and the end of Windows 7 support as key drivers of upgrades. Microsoft’s new defence software will add to the checklist of reasons for businesses to move their PCs onto the new software.