Four ways the channel can cash in on Windows 10

New operating system hits the market today

Microsoft has described its new operating system Windows 10 as the "best Windows ever" as it unveils it to the world today. The vendor claims the OS is more personal and productive than ever and has built-in enterprise-grade security.

But how can the channel make the most of the new opportunities offered by the OS?

Pilot schemes

Although many users will be keen to download the new OS themselves as soon as possible, many businesses will be keen to take it slower. TSG's chief operating officer Steve Cox said this gives the channel a chance to hold customers' hands and help them through the upgrade process.

"A lot of our customers still want to consult with us," he said. "It is easy to say 'click the button and it will work' but we're offering customers the chance to do pilots for them and pick a key user group and get them up and running, iron out any problems and training issues and so on. It's like a mini proof-of-concept before the rollout.

"There is a big bang on day one [in terms of upgrades] but those will be the techies or tech-savvy users. Businesses are taking a more pragmatic view and rolling it out over time. The initial feedback is good and we're offering proof-of-concepts to customers and charging for that service."

PC sales

The PC market has had a volatile few years. The market was suffering seriously until the end of life of Windows XP gave it a kick, but since that happened last year, it has begun to slump again. However, analyst Context said Windows 10 could be an opportunity for resellers to flog more PCs again.

"The expectation is that Windows 10 will bring a number of improvements, and it is hoped that the new OS will eventually help refuel PC demand in IT distribution in Europe where PC sales have recently suffered from inventory issues and the effects of currency fluctuations," said Context analyst Marie-Christine Pygott. "While Windows 10 is not expected to have an immediate impact on PC growth in the region, it is widely thought it will help boost sales over the course of 2016.

"Vista, for example, was launched at the end of January 2007 and accounted for only 39 per cent of Windows business PC sales across Western European distribution six months after its launch. It was followed by the more successful Windows 7, launched in late October 2009, which made up an impressive 86 per cent of business PC sales a similar time after its release. Microsoft's next OS, Windows 8, made it to a 50 per cent share of business sales half a year after it was launched in October 2012."

Internet of Things boost

For the first time, this iteration of Windows runs across a huge range of devices - PCs, laptops, tablets, phones and "things" which are connected to the internet. Universal Apps means each application will run across devices, which some people believe will help the channel sell IoT kit to their customers.

Richard Edwards, principal analyst at Ovum, said: "Microsoft is pinning its future hopes on Windows 10 too, but this isn't about recapturing the important mobile operating systems market - it has pretty much conceded that to Apple and Google - it's about gaining a strong foothold in the next multibillion-dollar market: the Internet of Things.

"Windows 10 will underpin Microsoft's foray into IoT by providing an operating system and ancillary services for "things" that do not resemble traditional computing devices. Microsoft was caught wrong-footed when Google harnessed the Linux kernel to produce the Android operating system that now dominates the smartphone market, but this time, with cloud-savvy Nadella at the helm, Microsoft is ready for action."

Security success

Microsoft claims that Windows 10 is "the most secure Windows ever" thanks to a number of enhancements which make it harder for cybercriminals to do damage. Windows Defender and Smart Screen help safeguard businesses from viruses, malware and phishing, it claims.

Matthew Aldridge, solutions architect at cybersecurity firm Webroot, said these are not the only security benefits resellers can talk up to their customers.

"The Identity Protection and Access Control feature is likely to make a big difference to all users as it brings two-factor authentication to the masses," he said. "This update means that attackers would need access to a user's device as well as the user's password or even fingerprint to achieve successful authentication."