Back in July, Microsoft announced its plans to offer new Windows 10 subscriptions for enterprise customers. Today, they"ve officially launched, and are available through the company"s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) network.
Businesses of any size can now begin subscribing to Windows 10 Enterprise E3, priced from $7 per user per month. As Microsoft explained:
Windows 10 Enterprise E3 was designed for businesses that handle sensitive customer data (such as credit card or social security numbers), operate in regulated industries, or create and monetize intellectual property. These businesses need enterprise-grade security and management capabilities found in the Windows 10 Enterprise edition such as Device Guard, Credential Guard and Managed User Experience.
Business customers are not required to transition to a monthly subscription, but doing so does offer some advantages. CSPs can potentially manage their customers" IT needs more efficiently and holistically, from OS to software and services - both on-premises and in the cloud.
Monthly subscriptions per user also offer greater flexibility, allowing organizations to adapt their IT usage and spending as needed, rather than committing to large one-off purchases that might result in unnecessary overspend on IT requirements. Managing these requirements through a single provider can also lead to further savings, rather than the piecemeal approach of acquiring various components of an organization"s IT infrastructure from multiple providers.
While the Windows 10 Enterprise E3 subscriptions are available through Microsoft"s CSP partners from today, E5 plans will launch on October 1, offering the same benefits as E3, along with Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and "advanced IT administration management functionality".
Source: Microsoft