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Intel’s vPro branding certifies that a PC or laptop supports certain business-oriented hardware features. There are two levels of certification: vPro Essentials covers a set of capabilities aimed at SMBs, while vPro Enterprise provides the full package for larger businesses.
Below we break down everything you need to know about Intel vPro – use the links to jump to each section:
People often ask “what does Intel vPro technology do?”, but that’s not quite the right question. It’s a package of technologies that act as a guarantee of performance, security and management for companies. So, if you buy a laptop with vPro inside then you know that it will be fast, secure and manageable.
We cover this more in the rest of this article.
In March 2026, Intel announced two new “pillars” to Intel vPro. We mark them as NEW in the list below:
The basic idea behind Intel vPro Optimized is that Intel will test hardware and software to make sure it’s running at its peak. Only then will it earn the right to claim that it’s “Intel vPro Certified”. More on this below.
The first aspect of Intel vPro Intelligence is Device IQ, which uses real-time telemetry and local AI to solve potential problems before they materialise. Intel has also improved its battery life diagnostic tool as part of the vPro Intelligence umbrella.
Intel vPro Manageability is the umbrella term for all the pre-existing vPro management tools, which are the subject of this very article. Jump to the remote management and DASH sections for more.
As for Intel vPro Security… let’s cover that below.
Alongside remote management, enhanced security has been part of Intel vPro since its beginnings – namely 20 years ago. It now breaks down into five key areas.
First, hardware encryption. Fresh for 2026, and the Core Ultra Series 3 vPro CPUs, comes a new name: Intel Total Storage Encryption. This promises 70% CPU savings. Older vPro chips still offer hardware-level encryption in partnership with Microsoft Bitlocker.
Next, malware protection. Previously, Intel offered mere Threat Detection Technology (TDT), which used AI to identify ransomware among other threats. In the latest silicon, that’s been updated to TDT-DTECT, which runs real-time AI models on the NPU and GPU to detect a wider range of malware.
Then comes supply chain protection. This isn’t new for 2026, merely enhanced. It provides visibility and traceability of the hardware components within your PC, so you can be confident they haven’t been tampered with.
New for 2026, ten years of security updates. This is the promise that Intel vPro systems will have security and functional updates for ten years from introduction. So, for Core Ultra Series 3 vPro CPUs, until 2036.
Finally, and also new, is the promise of agentic AI protection. This uses the NPU built into the Core Ultra Series 3 chips to prevent “sensitive data leaking across agentic workflows”, to quote Intel. It’s based on CrowdStrike Falcon Data Protection.
Whether it’s displays, headsets, mice, keyboards or web conferencing apps, everything running on your laptop uses your computer’s resources. The idea behind Intel vPro Optimized is that Intel will work with the manufacturer or ISV (software supplier) to minimise battery drain and maximise performance.
You will know that Intel is happy when a product claims to be vPro Certified. This will appear as a stamp or claim for the relevant apps and accessories. So far, these are the apps and accessories that qualify:
The main part of Intel vPro Intelligence is Device IQ. Again, this is new for 2026, so doesn’t apply to Core Ultra Series 2 vPro processors or older.
Device IQ collects raw telemetry and then uses local AI to predict problems before they happen. Think of it as the Minority Report for your computer. But rather than Tom Cruise, problems will be sent to IT teams if they are using platforms from one of the four current partners:
“Imagine if every device shipped its own IT admin,” said Mike Schumacher, CEO of Lakeside Software. “That’s the power that Intel Device IQ and Lakeside SysTrack provide: early detection, proactive resolution, and productive digital employee experiences at the edge.” Which sounds a bit hyperbolic, but we know what he means!
The second supporting part of Intel vPro Intelligence is the promise of optimised battery performance. Once again, Intel has drafted in AI to turn telemetry into improvements.
In short, Intel Core refers to processors (the brains of the computer, to hugely simplify things). Intel vPro refers to a set of technologies that extend beyond the processor and to the whole Intel “ecosystem”. So, that’s the chipset in the motherboard, the quality of the Wi-Fi, and the management tools.
Intel’s Evo brand is similar to vPro, in that it doesn’t refer only to the CPU but tells you something about the computer as a whole. Evo laptops must combine a high-performance processor with a lightweight chassis and long battery life. That makes them ideal for working on the go, but an Evo system may not have the security and management features indicated by the vPro brand.
Intel’s Centrino label was formerly used to indicate that a laptop had the latest Wi-Fi capabilities at the time it was made; Centrino Pro systems included both Centrino and vPro technologies. However, the Centrino branding was retired in 2016, so any computer you see today with this label will be quite outdated.
There really are no cons of Intel vPro. However, a vPro system is likely to be more expensive than a non-vPro system, as it has gone through an extra layer of testing (and will have extra technologies built in). The only question is whether you need Intel vPro, and that’s something this article aims to address.
To qualify for the Intel vPro badge, a computer must use one of Intel’s premium processors. For computers bought today, that means it will include a Core Ultra chip rather than a plain Core chip. Some Xeon CPUs come with vPro. This ensures that all vPro systems provide at least a certain level of performance.
However, the specific CPUs used in vPro systems are very similar to non-vPro processors used in regular laptops and desktop PCs; the vPro technology itself doesn’t affect system speed.
Since vPro systems use standard Intel processors, the difference between Core Ultra 5 vPro and Core Ultra 7 vPro systems is the same as with non-vPro systems.
A Core Ultra 5 vPro system will typically provide suitable performance for desktop applications, along with vPro security and management features. It’s a solid choice for an everyday office PC.
A Core Ultra 7 vPro system offers more high-end performance, which might be needed by professionals who crunch huge Excel spreadsheets or create marketing materials. If you’re looking for the very best performance, look out for the top-end Core Ultra 9 vPro chips. These are best suited to graphics or development workstations.
All of the processors used in vPro systems are fully 64-bit-capable – but it’s perfectly possible to install and run 32-bit software on them, including 32-bit operating systems. This doesn’t affect the technologies that constitute vPro, as they don’t rely on software running on the CPU.
vPro systems must use a BIOS with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and support Intel’s Trusted Execution Technology (TXT). This checks that the boot process and system software match the expected cryptographic signature. If there’s a mismatch, the computer can be blocked from booting.
vPro systems also include Intel’s VT-x and VT-d hardware virtualisation features, to ensure that software can be executed securely inside a virtual machine, without interfering with the system software.
The DASH platform (Desktop and mobile Architecture for System Hardware) is an open management standard that’s supported by both AMD and Intel. DASH technology lets administrators remotely log in to a computer and then install software, perform security checks and carry out other tasks, all from a central console.
DASH even allows what’s called out-of-band management, enabling support staff to wake up a computer that’s powered down. Or connect to a device whose networking software isn’t correctly configured.
However, DASH doesn’t include the security features detailed above: those are unique to vPro.
Intel vPro Enterprise systems include Intel’s Active Management Technology (AMT), a hardware platform that enables full remote management.
With AMT, authorised users can log into a computer’s built-in administrative interface via a wired or wireless network – even when the computer is switched off – using either a web browser or freely available management software.
From here, support staff can adjust BIOS settings, boot the operating system, install software, apply administrative policies, audit hardware or review system logs, which are stored in a secure area that’s inaccessible to the user.
vPro systems are more expensive than generic desktops or laptops, especially those with vPro Enterprise certification. However, for larger businesses, the price is justified by the convenience of remote administration.
The AMT platform also presents a potential target for hackers. In 2017, a vulnerability was found that could allow a remote attacker to access a PC’s AMT console and steal data or install malware. Businesses need to be alert to security risks and ensure any emerging issues are addressed as quickly as possible.
Intel AMT is only available on vPro Enterprise-certified systems. If you don’t require that capability, you may not need vPro. Most Intel-based computers offer a subset of the vPro features, such as TXT and virtualisation, along with a BIOS Secure Boot function that can prevent systems from loading a compromised OS.
There are also options that don’t rely on Intel technology. AMD’s Ryzen Pro platform includes hardware security features and remote management. In addition, AMD can be managed using Microsoft Endpoint Manager, helping to integrate administrative tasks into existing workflows.
A year ago, the answer was yes. To the point where one of Dell’s former executives – who now works for AMD – told us that he reckoned only one in ten companies implemented it, despite owning vPro-equipped Dell computers.
This lack of take-up was highlighted during the CrowdStrike crisis, where hundreds of thousands of computers had to be manually updated by IT administrators after an update went wrong. If they had enabled vPro (or AMD’s Ryzen Pro) the updates could have been applied remotely.
In January 2025, Intel announced updates that would greatly simplify vPro rollouts. “We made significant improvements that we just announced today to reduce the steps to activate from 24 to six, [meaning it will take] minutes versus days,” said Jen Larson, General Manager of Commercial Client Segments in Intel’s Client Computing Group when TechFinitive spoke to her earlier this year.
Since then, Intel has made further strides to improve implementation. It is now integrated into Microsoft Intune (as we cover below), and according to Larson in our exclusive interview use of Intel vPro is “skyrocketing” as a result.
In a press release, Intel quotes one IT management company as saying it was “able to configure vPro in my lab within minutes, something I’ve tried to do for years. This is fantastic!”
Until late last year, the answer to that was a big fat no. However, as part of Intel’s efforts to make more enterprises activate the technology, IT teams can now remotely manage and repair their fleets using Microsoft Intune and Intel vPro technologies.
“We made the investment to completely redo the software,” said Novin Kaihani, Intel’s Senior Director of Commercial Client Platforms and Software Products. “We’ve made it modern, cloud-connected and integrated with top independent software vendors.”
Those vendors include CrowdStrike, Ivanti, Omnissa and HP Workforce Solutions.
Intel introduced vPro Fleet Services in January 2025. In fact, technically it’s vPro Fleet Services that have been integrated with the Microsoft Intune Partner Portal.
To take advantage of vPro Fleet Services, IT teams should head to vprofleet.intel.com. It’s Intel’s own hosted solution that allows you to active Intel’s Active Management Technology.
The following diagram shows how Intel vPro Fleet Services fits in with other integrations.
To finish, we’re going to adapt a handy summary table of features that Intel has prepared for its latest Core Ultra vPro processors.
| SPECIAL FEATURES | STABILITY & MANAGEMENT FEATURES |
|---|---|
| Intel Virtualization Technology Hardware support for virtualization-based security | Intel Stable IT Platform Program Aims for zero platform changes for 15 months after release |
| Intel Trusted Execution Technology Dynamic root of trust | Intel Device Discovery Remote query of devices to discover features and capabilities |
| Intel System Resources Defense System management mode (SMM) protections | Intel Innovation Platform Framework (Intel IPF) Helps applications interact with Intel platform features |
| Intel System Security Report Communicates below the OS security configuration to the OS | Intel Platform Brand Identity Method for remotely identifying Intel vPro platforms and their features via Intel IPF query |
| Intel Platform Trust Technology Integrated trusted platform module(2.0) | Intel Platform Service Record Device history and system wear and tear data discoverable via Intel IPF query |
| Intel Virtualization Technology with Redirect Protection Hardware-based protection for the OS kernel | Intel Unique Platform ID Creates unique and persistent device ownership credentials |
| Intel Total Memory Encryption with Multi-Key Full or partial DRAM encryption for virtualized operations | Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) Out-of-band device management supporting remote KVM |
| Intel Threat Detection Technology (DTECT) Increases the effectiveness/efficiency of security software | Intel Standard Manageability Legacy out-of-band management without remote KVM |
| Intel Control Flow Enforcement Technology Helps protect against memory safety attacks | Intel Remote Platform Erase Device sanitization encompassing multiple PC components |
| Intel Silicon Security Engine Hardware-based authentication of system firmware | Intel One-Click Recovery Method for returning a disabled PC to know good state |
This article was first updated by Darien Graham-Smith on 31 August 2023 with six extra questions. It was further updated by Tim Danton on 27 June 2025 and 6 May 2026 to reflect Intel’s latest processors and the changes Intel made to vPro in 2025 and 2026.
Image credit: Intel Corporation
