Intel announced that the new Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) series processors have received an updated Intel vPro platform with new security and management features. According to the company, this hardware platform is a must-have for organizations.
Intel expects that 2025 will mark the beginning of one of the largest computer fleet renewal cycles in recent history, which will be even larger than the renewal cycle during COVID-19. In October, Microsoft will stop providing security updates and technical support for Windows 10. An estimated 450 million users have computers too old to upgrade to Windows 11, so they will need new PCs. In addition, the era of PC AI is now coming, entailing the need to use a new class of software that new CPUs can handle. Finally, after the CrowdStrike incident, many organizations are thinking about upgrading their platforms.
Image source: Intel
The expected major update as part of the new cycle means that information technology (IT) specialists in companies will be looking for a platform that will allow them to remotely manage their entire PC fleet – from a few to tens of thousands of machines. At the same time, they require the highest possible security and privacy protection, Intel said. And it is the updated vPro platform that will solve many issues. Intel vPro seamlessly integrates into enterprise systems and helps IT departments reduce the number of repair trips by troubleshooting and diagnosing problems remotely, even when the device is turned off.
During the outage of 8.5 million enterprise PCs, the Intel vPro team worked with CrowdStrike to help customers recover from the impact. According to Intel, it was thanks to vPro that many companies were able to restore their work in just a few hours after a failure, while their competitors lost several days. The failure demonstrated the need for diversified security strategies and a robust disaster recovery plan, as well as the risk of dependence on a single vendor for mission-critical solutions.
The updated vPro platform implements more than 30 protective mechanisms in silicon. Hardware implementation is much faster than software solutions and makes it even more difficult for cybercriminals to bypass or disable security systems. In addition, vPro allows you to isolate sensitive data and its processing at the processor level, making it difficult for malware to access it. Intel boasts that its hardware-assisted security system is the first to pass MITER ATT&CK testing, proving its ability to counter more than 150 real-world cyberattack methods.
VPro also now includes the Intel Partner Security Engine, a dedicated and isolated security engine that can run third-party firmware such as Microsoft Pluton. Finally, it is noted that in earlier versions of vPro, customers had to go through 24 steps to activate the full set of available protection tools. Now the number of steps has been reduced to six, and organizations no longer need their own cloud server infrastructure, Intel noted.
The updated Intel vPro platform has already been adopted by more than 10 global OEMs, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, MSI and Samsung. It will be available on more than 30 PC models this month.
The 2024 study, commissioned by Intel and Forrester, surveyed 500 customers to assess the overall economic impact of using the Intel vPro platform. They saw up to a 213% return on investment (ROI) over three years, up to a 90% reduction in on-site visits and up to a 65% reduction in time spent managing a fleet of devices.