Time for a PC upgrade? Major study finds workplace devices are way behind on installing the latest updates with Windows much worse than macOS
Date:
Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:15:00 +0000
Description:
Enterprise devices lag in updates and stability, exposing Windows and Mac fleets to security gaps, workflow interruptions, and upgrade pressures.
FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Outdated devices increase instability and put enterprise security at serious risk Windows and Mac laptops face uneven
update adoption across global organizations Application crashes and forced shutdowns disrupt employee workflows and productivity Many workplace devices are running outdated software, leaving enterprises exposed to stability
issues and security gaps that can disrupt workflows.
New data from Omnissa found update adoption differs across platforms, and delayed patching often causes inconsistent performance across mixed fleets of business laptops and desktops. The research reveals that enterprises often consider Macs a six-year asset, while Windows PCs tend to be replaced after about three years. Article continues below You may like How CIOs can shift from patch and pray to risk-based software change Apple's MacBook Neo triumph could also be great news for Windows 11 laptops Digital friction is quietly crippling UK productivity, and AI could be the turning point Device lifecycle differences emerge The data identifies clear differences in stability between operating systems used in enterprise settings - namely, Windows devices recorded 3.1 times more forced shutdowns and 2.2 times more application crashes compared with macOS systems.
In addition, Windows environments experienced 7.5 times more application hangs, increasing the likelihood of repeated workflow interruptions.
These disruptions have a measurable impact, with employees requiring nearly
24 minutes to refocus after each interruption.
Such disparities reinforce the need for granular telemetry data to guide device acquisition decisions and ensure business laptops align with employee requirements. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Delays in applying updates also affect endpoint protection across organizations, potentially influencing decisions to upgrade.
The study found that more than 50% of education desktops and mobile devices remain unencrypted, while patching gaps persist in healthcare and pharmaceutical environments.
These conditions indicate that outdated systems are not only less stable but also less secure, particularly in sectors with strict compliance
requirements. What to read next Why enterprise security now depends on independence, not upgrades Still using Windows 10? Microsoft is automatically replacing Secure Boot certificates on older PCs ahead of expiration, so you might want to update ASAP Why managing mobile devices is a question of optimization as well as security
The rapid adoption of AI tools is adding further strain to already outdated systems, as their usage increased by nearly 1000% over the past year, introducing more demanding workloads into enterprise environments.
These workloads rely on stable, updated systems to function effectively, meaning older devices are more likely to experience performance issues and instability.
The central question becomes how you close blind spots fast enough to keep pace with AI, platform diversity, and distributed work, said Hemant Sahani, Vice President of Product Management at Omnissa.
Converging DEX, security, and management telemetry provides essential context that helps teams close the gap between what they assume about the workspace and what telemetry shows is really occurring.
The combination of delayed updates, varying failure rates across platforms, and increasing workload demands is placing additional pressure on enterprise devices.
Most organizations operate a mix of aging systems and newer deployments, with inconsistent maintenance across both Windows and macOS environments.
But as AI tools become more common in daily workflows, the limitations of outdated devices may become more visible, and it may be time to upgrade. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the
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https://www.techradar.com/pro/time-for-a-pc-upgrade-major-study-finds-workplac e-devices-are-way-behind-on-installing-the-latest-updates-with-windows-much-wo rse-than-macos
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