You certainly heared about Microsoft Surface and Microsoft Surface for Business. Large companies in particular find it easy to decide which devices to purchase. But as a freelancer, self-employed person or small business owner, the question arises: “Is it worth the extra cost for the business models, or is it better to go for the conventional consumer devices?”

And the answer to this question is not so easy, because the various models do not seem to differ much from one another. Dimensions, storage capacities, battery life and other criteria that people usually pay attention are virtually the same. So what are the strengths of the business models?

While consumer products usually come with Windows Home, for example, the Microsoft Surface for Business models are equipped with Windows Pro/Enterprise. It must be clearly stated here that the Home version is a no-go for professional use. In terms of software technology, you quickly reach its limits and there are a number of problems with its use. For example, integration into the company network fails because Windows Home does not support Active Directory.

Active Directory is a directory service from Microsoft and is used to manage Windows-based networks. Information on devices, resources, settings and access and usage rights is stored and managed centrally. This allows the structure of an organization to be mapped.

If you want to use your devices in everyday working life without any problems, you should consider the Pro or Enterprise version, which is only available with warranty and support services for the business models.

With the business products, you have options that are not included with the usual devices or can only be used to a limited extent. For example, remote work is possible, which leads to productive and effective results and is virtually undisturbed by interruptions. The Microsoft Office 365 applications, which are integrated as standard and include features such as “automatic saving”, also contribute to this.

In addition, the security settings and protective measures with Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security are specially adapted to the needs of the job. This intelligent platform ensures management and security in the mobile environment. With Surface for Business, security is integrated at every level of the device – from the hardware, firmware and operating system to the Microsoft 365 cloud management tools. The business models offer additional hardware and software protection for handling particularly sensitive data. We explain why this is important in our posts on sensitive data on LinkedIn.

Everyone has heard of the statutory warranty. But guarantees are by no means a matter of course for all products. Warranties often have to be agreed and paid for separately. This is also the case with Microsoft Surface products for the average consumer. Business models have the advantage that a one-year warranty is automatically included, which can be extended to three to four years if required. In addition, even self-inflicted damage can be insured, which is not possible for consumer models.

Specially set up hotlines for business customers allow you to benefit from fast, high-quality support with high availability in the event of technical problems. If errors or defects occur that cannot be solved directly at the desk, a new device will be sent to you in advance. This means that you continue to work with your defective device as best you can and receive the replacement device in a few days, which you can then set up and synchronize. Only then will the defective device be sent to support. This service is not available with the consumer models. These service extensions are therefore only for business and are not available for conventional devices.

If smooth communication and work are important to you, if you value good protection, additional warranty services and fast and competent support, you should not save money and opt for the Microsoft Surface for Business models. The strengths and benefits of these devices are obvious!

Have we convinced you with our arguments? Find out more about the latest Surface Pro 11 with Windows on ARM here: Testing Windows on ARM: Compatibility, Performance, and Battery Life