IT Management Slideshow: 8 Reasons Microsoft Still Matters to the Enterprise

Windows, Anyone?

You need Microsoft's Windows operating system to perform everything from the most simple to the most complex business functions. It's so deeply entwined in most enterprise operations that for this reason alone Microsoft will prove be difficult to unseat. Windows 7 and the upcoming Windows 8 aren't expected to change that.

Microsoft "Gets" the Cloud

Microsoft acknowledges that the cloud is the future. The company has made its cloud-based Office 365 available to users, and Windows 8 will come with cloud integration across the operating system.

Employees are Familiar with Windows OS

Productivity still means quite a bit in the enterprise. In order to make employees productive, you need to give them the tools they know how to use. Overwhelmingly, that means handing over Windows. Apple is gaining ground, of course, but Windows is still the OS most familiar to your employees.

Apple Needs to "Play Nice" with Enterprises

Apple is notoriously secretive, hates to make concessions on its products, and appears to expect enterprise users to fall in line with its consumer-focused strategy. These factors make it difficult for many CIOs to embrace the company's hardware and applications on a wide scale.

End-to-End Solutions

From Windows to Microsoft Office to the cloud-based Office 365, Microsoft has come a long way in delivering end-to-end solutions that aim to meet all your needs in the enterprise.

Too Costly to Switch

With finite budgets holding back all your spending, it's impossible for you to spend what you might wish. The cost of switching your enterprise to Mac OS X or iOS is quite high. At this point, it may be most financially feasible to stick with Windows and other Microsoft products.

Your Roadmap

The popularity of iPhone and iPad notwithstanding, Apple's infiltration into enterprise computing is nascent. Windows-based PCs and other Microsoft products likely serve as the foundations for your short- and long-term technology roadmaps and it's going to be difficult to change that.

All About MS Office

Office is an absolute necessity in business today. The productivity suite comes with all the tools you need and is far more powerful in the full scope of its offerings than alternatives such as Google Docs or iWork.