Redefining OS Selection

Introduction

Historically, organizations have been slow to change their operating system (OS) deployment strategy. A company would run based on simple technical requirements and preferences and run multiple OSes only if it was absolutely necessary. Changes could be mandated by the technical requirements of a crucial application or forced upgrades from an OS reaching end of support. This led organizations to believe that OS selection was a settled issue—a technical necessity more than anything else. In truth, the speed at which the modern global technological landscape is evolving turns OS selection into a strategic imperative.

Nowadays, companies find themselves grappling with change that far outpaces prior experience. In a few short years, technologies such as containerization have made workflows more flexible, application deployment toolsets and strategies have changed radically, and technology such as AI and quantum computing have completely upended everything that was previously understood. As companies re-evaluate their technology needs, they must also adapt their OS selection strategy to meet these more turbulent times.

This report examines the drivers of this new strategic imperative. We draw upon empirical research including surveys and analyst reports to identify specific challenges facing modern IT organizations. As you will see, this change is driven by a number of strategic, and very modern, triggers. New applications, hardware, and platforms all align with a drive ...