5 Reasons Why We Love Chrome OS

We love Chrome OS. We believe it is the fastest, simplest, most secure, and most reliable operating system out there. Of course we are going to love it, we’re a Google Premier Partner. In case you don't want to take our word for it, let’s take a look at the numbers. According to Geekwire, Chrome OS devices outsold Macs in 2020. Yup, you read that right. 2020 was the first year this has happened and it can only go up from here. It has been 10 years since Chrome OS was first released and a lot has changed over the years. Check out our video celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Chrome OS! In 2021, Chrome OS has never been more powerful. While there are many reasons to love Chrome OS, here’s our top five that we think will make you a believer too. 

It's secure

Perhaps one of the top reasons why we love Chrome OS is how undeniably secure it is. We know we’re stating the obvious here but keeping company data secure is more important than it’s ever been. There are countless threats to sensitive data and it is vital to have an operating system that keeps your company protected. That’s exactly where Chrome OS excels. The advanced security features of Chrome OS provides solid peace of mind for IT professionals across all industries.

Here are some of our favorite security features of Chrome OS:

• Chrome OS is read-only. Do we need to say more? The OS can’t be tampered with.

• If you have a device that gets lost or stolen, you can immediately disable it remotely and display a message that includes a return location. 

• Security updates happen automatically in the background so you don’t have to sit through agonizingly long software updates. 

• Every time you turn on a Chromebook, it will run a check of the operating system to ensure nothing has been tampered with or corrupted in any way. This is called Verified Boot.

• You can configure a Chromebook to not save any data to the device itself and automatically wipe all data after a user logs out. This is especially helpful for devices that are used in public areas such as libraries or airports.

• Each web page and application runs in its own restricted environment called a “sandbox.” So let’s say a user goes to a dangerous website and you begin to spiral into panic. You don't need to panic, the threat won’t affect anything else on the device because it is limited to that sandbox environment. 

We could go on and on but you get the picture. There are endless security features that offer a wide range of control over your fleet. We surely have more peace of mind with our employees using Chrome OS. With the built-in and proactive security features, you never have to worry about a breach of security. 

It's fast and simple

Next up: speed and simplicity. With a deployment time that is up to 76% faster when compared to Windows devices, Chrome OS devices are incredibly fast and simple to use. There is no imaging required during deployment because everything is stored in a cloud-based profile. The great thing about everything being stored in a cloud-based profile is that users have continuity across all devices. You could log in to your Chrome OS device in the office and then go home to a different device and all your apps, settings, and bookmarks will be exactly the same. You don’t have to send files to yourself so you can open them on another device. You don’t have to download apps on each device. None of that nonsense is necessary with Chrome OS. Even deprovisioning a device requires a few short steps and takes 10 minutes tops. Plus, there are broad management abilities that are available in the Google Admin console. We’ll dive deeper into this in the next section, but you can use the Google Admin console to enforce upwards of 500 policies. Everything is just a few short clicks away in one central console. Simple right?

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You can remotely manage devices

If you’re still on the fence, this next reason may pull you over. All Chrome OS devices can be managed remotely. IT can use the Google Admin console to push user and device policies from any location. Some of our favorite policies include forced re-enrollment, URL blocking, Safe Browsing, and sign-in restriction. There are hundreds of policies that you can configure in the Google Admin console for users and devices. You can set up applications, browser extensions, or bookmarks remotely. You can set WiFi, VPN, and certificate settings to enable user access to corporate data. Organizations of all sizes love the ability to remotely manage devices, whether they have 5 devices or 5,000. At Promevo, our employees worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and we relied heavily on remote management to ensure all their devices were secure. Remote management not only allows you to continue working from home in your comfy pants, but gives you full visibility and control over your domain no matter where you are.

There are apps for everyone

One of the complaints that we see most often about Chrome OS is that it can’t run certain applications. It’s a common misconception that all a Chrome OS device can do is browse the web. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Chrome OS can run tons of apps for a variety of roles. You can use the Chrome browser to securely access websites and cloud apps. You can also use any productivity suite that you are comfortable with like Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, WebEx, and Evernote. You can schedule and join video meetings using video conferencing apps like Google Meet and Zoom. You can download and run Android apps from the Google Play Store including apps like Adobe Lightroom, PowerDirector, and Figma. You can even access Windows applications through a virtualized desktop or virtualized app in a browser. Last but not least, you can install and use linux apps, command line tools, and code editors on Chrome OS. Need a second to take that all in? No wonder they outsold Macs in 2020! Chrome OS is incredibly versatile and can help you get any job done. 

It's eco-friendly

Alright, let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far. Chrome OS is unbelievably secure, fast, and simple. Chrome OS devices can be managed remotely using the Google Admin console and can run a wide variety of apps for any worker. As if we couldn’t love Chrome OS any more, it’s also a smart, eco-friendly investment. Chrome OS devices are made with sustainable and recyclable raw materials. They also have up to 46% less energy consumption than competitors. Chrome OS devices are built with sustainability at the core. You can save up to $482 per device per year from reduced support costs, deployment costs, electricity costs, hardware costs, management, and training. Saving money and protecting the planet at the same time? Yes please. 

It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, the security, speed, and simplicity of Chrome OS will make your life infinitely easier. There are plenty of other reasons why we love it but we didn't want to ramble on and on. The wide range of advanced security features simply can’t be matched. It’s difficult to breathe easy about data security these days but Chrome OS allows you to do just that. Many IT admins have seen a boost in employee productivity after switching to Chrome OS. Admins and end users can spend more time on things that really matter instead of fixing hardware issues or installing software updates. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. The ability to remotely manage users and devices ensures that everyone is secure, no matter where they are in the world. This is a huge asset to have on your side, especially when more and more companies are switching to a remote work model. Not only will your users and data stay secure, they will have access to apps to help them do any job. Finally, the cherry on top: Chrome OS devices are incredibly eco-friendly and made from sustainable materials. So, what the heck are you waiting for? Make the switch to Chrome OS and see what you’ve been missing.