Introducing Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024: A Decade of Security

The first Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version based on Windows 11 has now been released. However, it is not the standard version for enterprises but rather the long-term support version for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, namely Windows 11 IoT Enterprise Edition.

The newly launched Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 provides up to 10 years of security update support, extending through to the year 2034. This edition is primarily aimed at manufacturers of IoT devices, allowing them to use Windows 11 IoT within their devices. With this, devices released won’t need major version updates, and the 10-year support period typically meets the operational needs of the devices.

Key features of the new Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 version include:

• A taskbar overflow menu and a tabbed mode in File Explorer, designed to simplify tasks and maximize work efficiency.
• System-level real-time captions and voice access to enhance usability (as part of accessibility features), seamless switching between multiple screen readers for Braille displays, and support for new Braille input and output languages in the Narrator reading function.
• Support for other devices to wirelessly connect and project to IoT devices, and for devices using Arm chips, a new x86 emulator included allows running x86 software on Arm devices.

As a version tailored for IoT devices, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 doesn't introduce as many new features as the regular Windows 11 system. However, Microsoft has carefully selected suitable features for IoT devices, enabling OEMs and developers to be more creative.

With this update, Microsoft has also enhanced the security of the IoT system, including a brand-new Windows Security app that allows users to quickly access virus protection, firewall, and network security functions.

Additionally, Microsoft has optimized the monthly cumulative updates for the IoT edition. This new approach makes the updates smaller, requiring less bandwidth and network traffic, which should also help to speed up the update process.