Entrepreneur · 24 Oct, 13:02 · Business briefing

Put Enterprise-Grade Tools on Your Business PC While Windows 11 Pro Is Just $9.97

Entrepreneur reports that Windows 11 Pro is available for purchase at a significantly reduced price of $9.97.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Entrepreneur reports that Windows 11 Pro is available for purchase at a significantly reduced price of $9.97. This deal allows users to install enterprise-grade operating system features on their personal business computers. The offer provides access to advanced security protocols, remote desktop capabilities, and BitLocker encryption typically reserved for corporate environments. For independent professionals and small business owners, this represents a cost-effective method to upgrade their digital infrastructure without incurring substantial licensing fees. The story highlights the accessibility of professional software tools for a broader market segment.

Employer demand for Cyber Security skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This pricing shift lowers the barrier to adopting enterprise-standard security and management tools, making IT proficiency more critical for individual contributors. You should view this as an opportunity to professionalise your home office setup. Skills in system administration, data protection, and network security rise in immediate value as you manage these advanced features. If you are a consultant or freelancer, upgrading now demonstrates technical competence to clients. Do not merely install the software; actively learn to leverage BitLocker for data encryption and Remote Desktop for flexible working. This move signals to employers that you prioritise security and operational efficiency. Treat your personal device as a professional asset. Invest time in understanding these tools to enhance your productivity and protect sensitive client data, positioning yourself as a security-conscious professional in a hybrid work landscape.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Compliance And Governance and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.