Datacom named strategic partner for Windows 11 in ANZ region

Datacom has announced it will serve as a Strategic Refresh Initiative (SRI) partner for Windows 11 in Australia and New Zealand.

The agreement makes Datacom one of 21 global partners and one of a few in the Southern Hemisphere.

Microsoft earlier confirmed that support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, at which point security updates and technical support will cease. This move is seen as a significant technological shift towards AI-native working environments.

Mike Fuller, Datacom's Acting Managing Director for Australia, highlighted the importance of this partnership. "In Australia and New Zealand alone, there are millions of enterprise devices in active use that can't be upgraded to Windows 11. The focus for our team is helping businesses and government agencies make the shift to Windows 11 ahead of that end of support date, without disruption to their day-to-day operations and with a real opportunity to benefit from the features and capabilities offered by the new OS," he said.

Datacom's longstanding history as a technology partner for both private and public sectors across the ANZ market played a crucial role in its selection as an SRI partner. The company has extensive experience in large-scale migrations and device renewals for a variety of customers.

"We want to help businesses migrate to Windows 11 well ahead of time. Organisations face a lot of competing priorities for resources and budgets, and it would be easy to put this on the agenda for next year but we're encouraging businesses to start the process now so they have time to make considered decisions, identify any hardware upgrades they need to support the new OS, and create realistic timelines for procurement and implementation. Our team can help with that entire process," Fuller added.

Datacom has established a dedicated Intelligent Devices practice. This team is capable of assessing an organisation's existing IT infrastructure and providing data-based recommendations on suitable software and hardware. Furthermore, they offer support around circularity requirements, ensuring sustainable IT asset management.

Windows 11 boasts several notable features, including advanced security measures and enhanced performance driven by specialised hardware like Neural Processing Units (NPUs), which optimise AI tasks. Improved collaboration tools and built-in AI capabilities in Copilot+ PCs are designed to streamline business operations.

Chris Bright, Device Partner Sales Lead for Microsoft ANZ, underscored the potential time and data loss risks connected to continued use of unsupported software. "With every organisation across ANZ being challenged to boost productivity, no one wants to lose valuable time or data because their software is no longer supported. But also, no one wants to miss out on the productivity gains offered by some of the new AI tools, which are baked into the latest PCs. What Datacom is offering is a hassle-free opportunity to modernise and level up your capabilities—not just avoid falling behind, but to really get ahead of the game. Now is the time," he said.

Fuller echoed these sentiments, emphasising that failure to upgrade to Windows 11 could result in security, governance, and compliance issues. "Organisations will also find there are issues around sourcing the right PCs and hardware if they leave it too late," he noted.

Currently, certain PCs in use cannot migrate to Windows 11, prompting businesses to consider adopting AI-ready PCs to fully leverage AI functions and applications. Datacom has partnered with key device manufacturers, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo, alongside silicon partners Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, to provide a range of compatible devices for businesses addressing these challenges.

Fuller summarised Datacom's approach to the migration. "We are delighted to be working with our device partners, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, as well as our silicon partners, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, to deliver the best experiences for our customers as they make this shift to the future with us," he said.

Datacom offers three main options for organisations transitioning to Windows 11: upgrading current PCs if compatible, purchasing new PCs with Windows 11 preinstalled, or opting for high-performance Copilot+ PCs with built-in AI capabilities.

For hardware upgrades, Datacom is committed to sustainable IT asset management. This involves ensuring asset visibility, accurate provisioning, and effective lifecycle management to minimise waste.