Windows 10 Runs On 1.5 Million Business PCs

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Microsoft has stated that Windows 10 Enterprise is running on 1.5 million enterprise PCs.

The statistic is the latest in a series of milestones since the public launch of Windows 10 on July 29. At one month of general availability, the OS had been downloaded on 75 million PCs and had claimed 5% of the PC market.

Let's put that number in perspective: Windows 8 garnered 40 million sales during its first month of availability and took about six months to reach the current popularity of Windows 10. Windows 7 sold a little over 60 million units in its first ten weeks.

[Blast from the past: Windows 95 just turned 20.]

The numbers have been encouraging and point to the success of myriad changes Microsoft made in developing and launching its new OS. Windows 10 was developed with the help of users. It is free to download on devices running Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.

Corporate VP Jim Alkove discussed Windows 10 Enterprise adoption and hinted at future updates during a press event held last week on the Redmond campus. The enterprise edition is limited to customers holding Software Assurance licenses. It can be downloaded from Microsoft's Volume Licensing website.

While 1.5 million is a small fraction of the total number of PC upgrades, it is no less significant. Compared with everyday consumers, enterprise customers generally wait before deploying major OS upgrades because of the time and effort required for such projects and the risk associated with new system adoption.

In an effort to generate interest among corporations, Microsoft has enhanced the business edition of Windows 10 with features that boost security and simplify management for IT administrators. Passport, Device Guard, Windows Hello, and Enterprise Data Protection were built to better protect business devices and the identities of employees who use them.

Windows 10 is "the best enterprise edition of Windows we've ever delivered," said Alkove. It seems business are starting to take note, with major customers, including Bank of America, already looking towards companywide upgrades.

Alkove also briefly discussed Microsoft's plans for Windows Update for Business -- the servicing model that will deliver OS features and security updates to enterprise devices. With this model, Microsoft is taking the responsibility for distributing updates, but will continue to give customers the same control they currently have.

One of the key problems for Windows 10 Enterprise customers is a lack of insight on the contents of each patch. Microsoft's initial intention was to withhold the details of each update, which proved a major point of contention with security-conscious organizations.

After hearing feedback from business users, the company has decided it will be more upfront in sharing the details of Windows 10 updates. Officials are currently in the process of deciding the best way to convey this information to businesses, said Alkove.

Enterprise members of the Windows Insider program will see a working version of Windows Update for Business in the near future, he continued. A full version will be made generally available later this year.