Why Do I Need TPM 2 for Windows 11:

This article from Microsoft explains:

“…The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a chip that is either integrated into your PC’s motherboard or added separately into the CPU. Its purpose is to help protect encryption keys, user credentials, and other sensitive data behind a hardware barrier so that malware and attackers can’t access or tamper with that data.

PCs of the future need this modern hardware root-of-trust to help protect from both common and sophisticated attacks like ransomware and more sophisticated attacks from nation-states. Requiring the TPM 2.0 elevates the standard for hardware security by requiring that built-in root-of-trust.

TPM 2.0 is a critical building block for providing security with Windows Hello and BitLocker to help customers better protect their identities and data. In addition, for many enterprise customers, TPMs help facilitate Zero Trust security by providing a secure element for attesting to the health of devices….”

Complete article:
https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/06/25/windows-11-enables-security-by-design-from-the-chip-to-the-cloud/

 

Windows 11 Is Around the Corner

By now everyone has probably heard that Windows 11 is on the way Windows 11 is packed with innovation. The new Operating system features a new user interface (UI) design that has been built for simplicity and ease of use.

 Users will find new built-in features as well:

* Windows Store has been rebuilt from the ground up. It has a new fluid UI and a change in some of the policies that determine what type of apps are permitted into the storefront.

* Microsoft Teams is built into Windows 11.

* Windows 11 will be compatible with many Android Apps

* Xbox app will also be built into Windows 11. Game Pass subscribers will be able to download from a catalog of games that the service offers, and will be able to stream titles using Xbox cloud gaming. Cross-play between consoles and PCs will also be available.

 * Digital pen allows for creative and personal touches. This assists users in writing and drawing naturally in order to annotate a PDF, website, image, and more.

* Voice typing makes the keyboard optional, allowing work to be transcribed into text easily. 

* Intuitive touch gestures enable fluid workflows. No mouse is necessary. The use of multi-finger gestures will enable quicker navigation.  

* Feature Updates will arrive only once a year, as opposed to twice a year for Windows 10.

 For more information on these features and others see: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/06/24/introducing-windows-11/

 Windows 11 will begin to roll out late in 2021 and continue into 2022. During this time, Lenovo will be testing compatibility of Windows 11 for use on specific PC’s.

Windows Update will also provide an indication if and when a PC is eligible. Users can check their PC’s eligibility by going to Settings/Windows Update.

 Here are the general hardware Specs for Windows 11: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications For those who are eager to know about their PC’s compatibility, Microsoft has provided a Windows PC Health Check Tool in order to see if a PC meets the requirement of Windows 11:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck

 Refer to your OEM’s website for more information specific to your PC.  For Lenovo’s list of FAQ’s and Upgrade Details see:  https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/windows-11-upgrade

Microsoft Updates, June 2021

The Microsoft June 2021 security updates have been released and consist of 50 CVEs.
5 are rated Critical
45 are rated Important
According to Microsoft, six of these bugs are currently under active attach and three are publicly known at the time of release.
More information: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/releaseNote/2021-Jun

Note: May 11, 2021 update (KB5003173) must be installed before installing the latest cumulative update (LCU)
Please see: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/may-11-2021-kb5003173-os-builds-19041-985-19042-985-and-19043-985-2824ace2-eabe-4c3c-8a49-06e249f52527