30.06.2011, 17:12:22

Windows for pros

What can the "pro" edition of Windows 7 offer small businesses?

Many Russian users are already familiar with the Windows 7 operating system firsthand. It is used both on home computers - for games, movies, the Internet - and in large companies for much more serious tasks. What benefits can those who are somewhere in the middle in this hierarchy find in Windows 7 - that is, entrepreneurs who manage companies with up to several dozen employees?

A lot can be written and talked about the problems of small businesses in Russia - these include taxes, management difficulties, and relationships with government agencies. Meanwhile, it is often “side” issues not related to the main activity of an entrepreneur that greatly hinder the development of his small business. One such issue is computer infrastructure. Ideally, this is a set of hardware and programs that should ensure the smooth operation of the entire company and meet three main criteria: ease of use, functionality, and security.

What can “professional” Windows 7 offer businessmen? This operating system is far from new to the market. In the year and a half that has passed since the official release, it has managed to gain a share of more than 30 percent and become the second most popular OS in the world. It is expected that this year it will displace the “old woman” Windows XP, which was released ten years ago, from first place in the world ranking of operating systems. This is natural - a new system with new capabilities replaces the old one.

Most operating systems are universal products, which means that they can be used by people with a wide variety of needs - from a student gamer to a top manager of a large company. Such products include Windows 7. Different editions (in other words, versions) of the OS are designed to satisfy the needs of all users. There are six such editions. Four of them are focused on the "home" use case, one - on large enterprises, and one more - "Windows 7 Professional" - on small and medium-sized businesses.

First of all, Windows 7 is a user-friendly interface, the same in all editions of the OS. It turns out that the tools that the user is used to at home can be successfully used at work. Such tools include, for example, the new taskbar in Windows 7 - it allows you to comfortably work with even several dozen windows at the same time, the "jump list" - with its help you can instantly open documents that you work with most often, or "smart" search - it makes it possible to quickly find a document, program or email (to do this, just click the “Start” button and start typing a keyword).

All these functions are available both in the “home” editions of the OS and in editions intended for business users. Now let's talk about the features specific to business editions. One of them is the ability to work in the company's domain. Thanks to it, computers on which Windows 7 Professional is installed can access the corporate network and connect to the internal server. Another important feature is the presence of an advanced backup system. No explanation is required here - it’s scary to imagine what consequences the loss of this or that document at the most crucial moment could have for the organization.

The issue of compatibility also plays an important role in business. Switching to a new OS is always a certain risk: what if the necessary programs do not work under it? For this purpose, the “professional” edition of Windows 7 provides “Windows XP mode”. Essentially, this is a virtual environment in which software written for an older version of the OS runs. This function allows you to insure yourself and your employees against many unpleasant surprises.

Finally, one of the most important issues is the issue of security. Small companies with more than ten computers can use the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus. It provides protection against all known computer threats, including viruses, rootkits, spyware, and malicious applications that steal personal information such as bank account numbers. It is estimated that Microsoft Security Essentials can save you about three hundred dollars a year on the cost of antivirus alone - not such an insignificant amount for many entrepreneurs.

But we must not forget that only licensed software guarantees reliable protection against threats. Programs obtained through "workarounds" - downloaded from the Internet or purchased on disks at a stall down the street - not only do not provide security, but they themselves often contain malicious code. This is proven by research conducted by the Russian company Group-IB. Thus, it was found that more than 12 percent of counterfeit Windows OS disks sold in Russia contain programs to steal passwords or personal data. Viruses can be found on about a quarter of the disks, and almost a third of pirated copies of Windows from the Internet are completely inoperable - the system cannot even be installed on a computer. Often, beta versions and preliminary releases of the OS are distributed on the Internet under the guise of full-fledged copies of Windows 7.

Another aspect of copies of paid software “from a kiosk” or “from the Internet” is the lack of updates. Without them, the computer will be defenseless against threats - viruses, Trojans, spyware applications, new types of which appear every day. In Windows 7, in particular, Firewall and Windows Defender - two programs that are responsible for the security of your computer - are regularly updated.

You can learn more about these and other advantages of the “professional” edition of Windows 7 on the Microsoft website . Of course, it is impossible to say that the operating system can save small businesses from all problems. But it is certainly possible to say that she takes on some of the entrepreneur’s worries.

Microsoft Rus LLC
Legal address: Russia, 121614, Moscow, str. Krylatskaya, 17/1

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