What is included in Microsoft Windows 10 Pro? – A Guide
Windows 10 Professional is one of the most popular and commonly used operating systems of this year. It comes with more features than the home version. It does not take anything from the users of the home version but simply adds some sophisticated features.
Windows 10 Pro comes with advanced security and connectivity features such as Group Policy Management, Remote Desktop Utility, Client Hyper-V, BitLocker encryption, and Windows Information Protection. Along with these features, it also comes with various incredible tools such as Domain Join, Assigned Access 8.1, Direct Access, and Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE). Windows 10 Pro supports a maximum of 2 TB of RAM.
Do you want to know if Windows 10 Pro is good for your system or not? Do you want to upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro edition? We will answer all these questions in detail in this post along with the features that the pro version of the Windows 10 offer. So, continue reading!
Summary of What is Included in Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Start Menu | Improved Start menu for easy access to apps and settings. |
| Cortana | Digital assistant for voice commands, reminders, and search. |
| Windows Hello | Biometric authentication with facial recognition or fingerprint. |
| BitLocker | Full disk encryption for data protection. |
| Remote Desktop | Connect and control your PC from another device. |
| Windows Information Protection (WIP) | Helps protect enterprise apps and data against accidental data leaks. |
| Group Policy Management | Centralized management of group policy settings. |
| Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE) | Compatibility mode for running older web apps on newer systems. |
| Assigned Access 8.1 | Lock down a device to a single app for kiosk use. |
| Dynamic Provisioning | Simplifies the deployment and configuration of new devices. |
| Windows Update for Business | Control over updates and maintenance to minimize interruptions. |
| Hyper-V | Built-in virtualization technology to run multiple operating systems. |
| Enterprise State Roaming | Provides users with a consistent experience across their devices. |
| Microsoft Store for Business | Customized apps for your organization. |
| Windows Sandbox | Lightweight desktop environment to safely run applications in isolation. |
| Microsoft Edge | Modern web browser with enhanced security features. |
| Device Guard | Helps protect against malicious software by locking down devices. |
| Credential Guard | Uses virtualization-based security to protect credentials. |
| Direct Access | Provides seamless, secure remote access to corporate networks. |
| BranchCache | Optimizes WAN bandwidth by caching content locally. |
| Mobile Device Management (MDM) | Management tools to control and secure mobile devices. |
| AppLocker | Helps administrators control which apps can run on devices. |
| Microsoft Passport | Provides a more secure alternative to passwords. |
| Virtual Desktop | Create and switch between multiple desktops for better organization. |
| Continuum | Seamlessly switch between PC and tablet mode. |
| Microsoft Intune Integration | Cloud-based management for mobile devices, PCs, and apps. |
| Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) | Comprehensive solution for identity and access management, mobile management, and security. |
| Azure Active Directory Join | Enables users to sign in to their devices with Azure Active Directory. |
| Windows Autopilot | Simplifies device setup and configuration. |
This table covers the primary features and functionalities included in Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, highlighting the enterprise-grade capabilities that differentiate it from other editions like Windows 10 Home.
BitLocker
A BitLocker is one of the most popular and most powerful disk encryption tools that Windows 10 Pro offers. With the help of this tool, you can apply encryption on the external USB drive as well as the hard drive of your system. It uses an AES encryption algorithm to protect your sensitive information. With the help of this algorithm, BitLocker makes the data unreadable for the person who has no proper authorization. To enable this type of drive encryption, your system needs to support advanced security features such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. There is also an option of removing encryption from a drive entirely. So, protect your files from going into the wrong hands by using BitLocker drive encryption!
Client Hyper-V
Virtualization is becoming very popular day by day. Most people are creating a portion of their hard drive into a virtual system that has its operating system. To meet the needs of such people, Windows 10 Pro features Client Hyper-V. Previously known as Windows Server Virtualization, the Client Hyper-V is a built-in virtualization solution that you can use to test insider builds without taking a risk to the main system. To utilize this feature, you need to have a CPU that supports virtualization.
Remote Desktop Utility
The users of Windows 10 pro can avail of the feature of a remote desktop utility by which they can connect their PC to another system on a network remotely. By using the remote desktop utility, a user can access the documents from a networked system even by sitting at home. But the system of that user must be running Windows 10 Pro for secure server sessions. In this way, by using the remote desktop utility, you can control the Windows 10 pro systems remotely.
Windows Information Protection (WIP)
Windows Information Protection (WIP) is also known as Enterprise Data Protection. This feature helps in protecting the data from leakage by not making any changes to applications as well as the environment. It can also protect enterprise applications on enterprise-owned devices. WIP allows you to manage and control business data separately from personal data. It comes with unique encryption technology, backup solutions, data loss prevention tools, and recovery solutions so it can secure your data properly.
Domain Join
One of the incredible features offered by the pro version is a domain joined by which the systems can be added to a corporate network. As the name suggests, the domain join allows the PCs to make a connection to the domain. Through this feature, you can administer the entire network from a single computer, known as a server. To enable this feature, first, your system needs to be running Windows 10 Pro. You also need to have the name of the domain as well as a user account on that domain.
Assigned Access 8.1
Windows 10 Pro offers a great privacy tool known as Assigned Access 8.1. This tool can create a lockdown environment. Due to this environment, you can not only lock the user accounts but can also stop them from accessing some applications. Moreover, this feature also allows a specific user to access only one application after signing in from a specific account which is given access through Assigned Access 8.1. In this way, the user will not be able to go to the start menu and desktop, which makes it easier to secure your sensitive files.
Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE)
One of the best features of Windows 10 Pro is an Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE). It allows users to use old web applications in a modern version of Internet Explorer. It not only lets the users enjoy better security and improved performance but also lets them experience better reliability and modern web standards. In short by using an enterprise mode, your websites can use a modified browser configuration.
Windows Defender Antivirus
Windows 10 Pro comes with built-in antivirus protection to keep your PC safe. It is known as Windows Defender Antivirus. Formerly known as Microsoft Security Essentials, this type of antivirus uses the power of the cloud to protect against viruses, malware, bugs, and spyware. It also uses behavior analysis as well as machine learning to protect against zero-day attacks, ransomware, and other worse malware. To get good protection from Windows Defender antivirus, try to couple it with a good anti-malware program.
Other Features
Along with the features mentioned above, Windows 10 Pro also offers other features as well. These include:
- Device Encryption
- Windows Hello
- Secure Boot
- Firewall and Internet Protection
- Cortana
- Windows Ink
- Windows Store Apps
- Windows Start Menu
Final and Last Thoughts:
Windows 10 Pro is a costly choice but it is well worth the price as it comes with some incredible features. These features provide better security, better connectivity, and better protection against potential threats. It also comes with great management and productivity features that can save you time and money. Windows 10 Pro also rocks with automatic updates. In this way, you can get all the latest features of the pro version without spending extra money!
