Windows XP
- Security issues (OS receives regular patches until 14 April 2014).
- Missing Vista’s reassuring security developments resulting in it being less safe for online usage than it once was in the past.
- Less irritating to use because UAC does not prompt user when user initiates system changes.
- Encryption not available.
Windows Vista
- UAC considered irritating due to prompting users when initiating system changes.
- Limits what malware can do.
- UAC makes user safer on the web.
- UAC will keep your system secure although some users find it irritating.
- UAC acts as foundation for other useful features, including IE’s protected mode placing strict limits on what IE can do.
- Prevents IE from writing to most of your hard drive or the Registry without your permission.
- ActiveX controls, toolbars and other add-ons inherit the same high level of security ensuring that any malware encounter will be prevented from installing further threats.
- BitLocker delivers full volume protection (only available on high end editions).
Windows 7
- Features a much more customizable UAC that is noticeably less irritating.
- UAC acts as foundation for other useful features, including IE’s protected mode placing strict limits on what IE can do.
- Prevents IE from writing to most of your hard drive or the Registry without your permission.
- ActiveX controls, toolbars and other add-ons inherit the same high level of security ensuring that any malware encounter will be prevented from installing further threats.
- Multiple security levels allowing user to choose how many alerts are visible.
- Encryption.
- BitLocker full volume protection extended to removable devices (only available on high end editions).
- System services are more isolated and run with fewer privileges, reducing the damage that malicious code can do.
- New TCP/IP stack offers improved encryption and authentication options.
- Address Space Layout Randomization loads system files as random memory addresses, making it far harder for basic malware to exploit key system functions.
Windows 8
- Early launch Anti-malware
- Integrated Antivirus
- SmartScreen Filter
- Secure Boot
- Memory management improvements
- Sandboxed apps
Recommendations
Based on an analysis of the information available regarding the different Windows Operating Systems, my recommendation is for the company to install Windows 8 OS. Windows XP should not be considered as an option due to the fact that it would be extremely easy to breach. With no security features such as the UAC and encryption available, it is a very vulnerable OS to consider.
Both Windows Vista and 7 are much better options for a company. They have many more security features that place a limit on the damage that IE can do. The UAC and encryption help protect the system better the system in both operating systems. However, Windows 7 is clearly the better choice between the two because the user does not have to deal with being irritated by the UAC, but can rest assured, that the system is still protected. Furthermore, Windows 7 extends BitLocker protection to removable devices, and offers other new features to make it a better choice.
However, when Windows 8 comes into the picture, it blows Windows 7 out of the water. Windows 8 includes Microsoft’s Security Essentials program, now named Defender, which is an integrated antivirus ensuring that Windows 8 users will have antivirus protection out-the-box. Also, with SmartScreen , secure boot, and improvements to memory management, W8 is hard to beat. Windows 8 apps are sandboxed which means that they function more like web pages and have limited access as to what they can do on your machine. With all of these new and improved features, Windows 8 by itself without a third-party security suite, is the safest choice for a company. My recommendation is for Windows 8 to be used with Bitdefender Internet Security suite. Bitdefender scored 17 out of 18 when tested by AV-Test.org which puts it above BullGuard 13.0 and Kapersky, making it the best choice to combine with Windows 8 OS.