Windows 11 IoT LTSC 2024 vs Windows 11 Pro: What are the Benefits of Windows IoT LTSC?

Windows 11 IoT LTSC 2024 vs Windows 11 Pro:
What is the difference?

Exciting news for embedded and IoT solution providers! The anticipation for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is finally over. This eagerly awaited update now brings the advantages of Windows 11 to your devices.

While the standard Windows 11 was released in late 2021, the IoT LTSC version was not available at that time. Many users opted to use Windows 11 Pro or the General Availability Channel (GAC) edition of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise to fill the gap. However, these versions lack vital features necessary for long-term stability in application-specific products with extended lifecycles. To highlight the benefits of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024, we have put together a list of its top 10 advantages over the Pro and GAC versions.

What is Windows LTSC?

Windows LTSC, or Long Term Service Channel, is an enterprise version of Windows 11. It is a lightweight version designed for business and enterprise users, prioritizing stability and long-term support over new features.

The Key Differences Between Windows 11 LTSC and Windows 11 Pro

	Windows 11 Home and Pro	Windows 11 LTSC
Target Audience	Broader audience including home users and businesses, power users	Specific business needs, focusing on stability and long-term support
Feature Set	Includes all latest features: new Start Menu, multitasking improvements, better touch support, CoPilot AI integration, etc.	Lacks most new features, focuses on core functionality for better performance and compatibility
Updates	Feature updates twice a year, security updates monthly; potential for compatibility issues with software or hardware	Security updates typically every six months, minimal disruption, stable environment for critical systems
Software Inclusion	Lots of applications included out of the box	Does not include extra software by default, stripped of bloatware
Licensing	Available through retail purchase or volume licensing for businesses	Not available for retail purchase, requires special volume licensing agreement for businesses
Support Cycle	Regular support cycle with feature and security updates	Longer support cycle, focused on long-term stability similar to Linux Ubuntu LTS releases
Availability	Shipped by OEMs to retailers	Must be manually installed and configured on supported devices

What are the Benefits of Windows 11 IoT LTSC 2024 over Windows 11 Pro?

1. Ten-Year Product Lifecycle

The IoT LTSC versions of Windows 11 ensure a 10-year availability period for purchase and resale, allowing for effective long-term planning of your devices’ lifespans. Note that the Windows 11 Pro edition will reach its end of life shortly after the anticipated release of Windows 12 Pro around 2025.

2. Compliance for Specialized Industries

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC surpasses Windows 11 Pro by meeting the stringent compliance requirements of industries such as healthcare, gaming, automotive, and aerospace. It offers specialized features and certifications to ensure adherence to regulatory standards, building on the foundation of Windows 11 Enterprise with enhanced capabilities for critical compliance.

3. Optimized Performance for Embedded Systems

LTSC versions streamline system performance by eliminating unnecessary features and background processes, crucial for resource-constrained embedded devices. Consumer applications like Xbox, Weather, News, and the Store are excluded. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise includes removable packages for custom installations, whereas Windows 11 Pro limits control over certain components.

4. Reduced Maintenance with Essential Updates

LTSC versions minimize maintenance by focusing solely on quality and security updates, reducing compatibility issues, downtime, and total cost of ownership (TCO). Unlike Windows 11 Pro, which requires regular feature updates and upgrades that can destabilize the system, LTSC ensures ongoing reliability with essential updates only.

5. Legacy Application Compatibility

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024, built on the full Windows 11 platform, ensures compatibility with applications running on other Windows 11 editions. LTSC versions prioritize compatibility with legacy applications and hardware, allowing older software and peripherals to operate without issues.

6. Advanced Security Features

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC enhances security with features like Device Guard, Credential Guard, and BitLocker encryption, offering strong protection against malware, data breaches, and unauthorized access. Windows 11 Pro, by comparison, provides more limited security options.

7. Optional TPM and Secure Boot

While Windows 11 Pro mandates secure boot and TPM 2.0, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 allows these features to be optionally enabled or disabled. Although using both is recommended, LTSC 2024 provides the flexibility to choose.

8. Customization and Lockdown Capabilities

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 offers extensive customization and lockdown features, enabling OEMs to tailor the operating system to specific device needs and restrict access to certain features or applications. This edition provides more extensive lockdown options than Windows 11 Pro.

9. Full Re-Imaging Rights

Windows 11 Pro imposes strict limitations on re-imaging rights, preventing OEMs and resellers from modifying the factory image with additional software or custom configurations. In contrast, Windows IoT products grant OEMs the ability to create a highly customized image with additional software and offer recovery images to restore devices to factory settings with all customizations intact.

10. Performance-Based Pricing

Windows IoT products offer pricing based on the performance of the device’s processor, allowing OEMs to obtain a full Windows OS license at a lower cost for smaller devices. Windows 11 Pro, however, is priced uniformly regardless of the processor.

11. Extended Support for Stability

LTSC versions of Windows 11 provide ten years of extended support, offering stability and security updates over a longer period compared to the two-year support cycle of each Windows 11 Pro build.

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