14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has announced a paid version of Windows 10 IoT Core that comes with several benefits, including 10 years of support via the Windows Long-Term Servicing Channel, also known as LTSC.
Introduced at Computex 2018, Windows 10 IoT Core Services will be available for a fee and will allow companies to sell devices running it.
Of course, the free version of Windows 10 IoT Core will continue to be offered as part of the standard Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) that receives updates twice a year. Microsoft says that Windows 10 IoT Core Services won’t get feature updates as part of the LTSC branch, which guarantees stability and only a few changes to the base platform.
Additionally, Microsoft says that companies opting for this new version will benefit from Device Update Center (DUC) which is supposed to provide them with updated control over device updates.
“These updates are distributed by the same Content Distribution Network (CDN) as Windows Update which is used daily by millions of Windows customers around the world. Updates can be applied to the operating system, device drivers, as well as OEM-specific applications and files. Updates can be flighted to test devices prior to broader distribution,” Microsoft says.
Public launcher later this year
Additionally, Device Health Attestation (DHA) will offer better security by evaluating device health and offering several options to enterprises, like reimaging the device or cutting off network access.
“Evaluating the trustworthiness of a device at boot is essential for a trusted IoT system and a device cannot attest to its own trustworthiness. Instead, this must be done by an external entity such as DHA Azure cloud service,” Microsoft points out.
Windows 10 IoT Core Services will launch in July 2018 as a preview, but Microsoft is currently running a limited preview program that interested customers can join by simply sending an email at [email protected]. General availability is projected for later this year.