To ensure optimal performance, security, and supportability across our managed services, we require all client workstations to meet the following minimum hardware and software specifications.

Minimum Specifications

Processor: Intel Core i5 (or equivalent) — current or recent generation recommended

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Storage: 512 GB Solid State Drive (SSD)

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

Why These Standards Matter

These requirements are not arbitrary — they reflect the baseline needed to deliver the level of service our clients expect. Modern business applications, security tooling, endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents, and collaboration platforms place significant demand on workstation resources. Equipment that falls below these specifications often results in slower performance, reduced productivity, and increased support overhead.

Windows 11 Pro is specifically required — rather than the Home edition — because it provides the management, security, and domain-join capabilities essential to a properly secured business environment, including BitLocker drive encryption, Group Policy support, and integration with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD).

By standardizing on these specifications, we help ensure:

  • Reliable day-to-day performance for business-critical applications
  • Adequate headroom for security agents and monitoring tools to operate without impacting the end user
  • Faster boot times and application launches through SSD storage
  • Centralized management and policy enforcement through Windows 11 Pro
  • Extended hardware lifespan that protects your investment over time
  • Consistent support experience across your environment

New Equipment Purchases

When purchasing new workstations, we strongly recommend exceeding these minimums where budget allows — particularly for users running resource-intensive applications such as design software, virtualization, or large datasets. Our team is happy to provide procurement guidance and vendor recommendations tailored to each role within your organization.

Existing Equipment

Workstations that do not meet these requirements can still be supported, but may experience degraded performance and are candidates for replacement during your next refresh cycle. We will work with you to identify and prioritize upgrades as part of your technology roadmap.