Security Features of Windows 11

Microsoft’s latest incarnation of the Windows operating system – Windows 11 – has been available to the public for a little over a month now. So far, it appears that the earliest adopters have been Microsoft 365 for Business users, and for good reason – there are a whole range of superb productivity updates that have been added to the Windows experience.

We discussed Windows 11 with TechQuarters, an IT Managed Services company that is also a Microsoft Gold Partner; and according to them, Windows 11 also includes some great new security features to keep users better protected while using their PC.

The Windows Security app in Windows 11 is better than ever, says TechQuarters. This application unified all the most critical data around the security of your network, your software, and your hardware. It includes a number of tabs that give you a rundown on key security data – this includes things like the last time your device was scanned for viruses, and whether or not there are firewalls in place on when connected to private and public networks. According to TechQuarters, they find this app particularly useful for their Managed IT Support services customers – as it empowers their customers to check their device’s security regularly.

Microsoft themselves stated at the announcement event for Windows 11 that they have been working with their manufacturers to increase the security baselines required for Windows 11. For instance, in order to upgrade to Windows 11, users must take a PC Health Check that assesses whether their device meets the minimum system specifications for Windows 11 – this includes an assessment of a devices hardware security. 

TechQuarters, who are IT Support Providers in the UK, have said that this new security baseline ensures that all of their support customers that want to upgrade to Windows 11 will been doing so with devices that adhere to a minimum level of security – and so they are encouraging the upgrade, in order to encourage better security standards.

Windows 11 also encourages the adoption of Windows Hello. This is a feature that uses biometrics to authenticate logins, without the need for a password. It has long been recognized that passwords are becoming an outdated authentication technique at best, and a downright security hazard at worst – all due to the increased accessibility to powerful computers that can be repurposed to perform brute-force attacks that can crack passwords in a matter of seconds. Windows Hello ensures that only the user can access their computer, with the use of fingerprint, iris, or facial recognition. It is widely agreed that this is much more secure for the average user, and Windows 11 is encouraging users to transition to this method of authentication.