Microsoft App Assure helps Nord Security build for Windows on Arm

With the recent release of Copilot+ PCs, developers are increasingly focused on optimizing their apps for these devices. Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. With powerful new system architecture designed to deliver best-in-class performance, all–day battery life and the ability to run the most advanced AI models on device, Copilot+ PCs help users to be more productive, creative and to communicate more effectively. The first wave of Copilot+ PCs was powered by Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus silicon. AMD and Intel soon released Copilot+ PCs powered by Ryzen AI 300 and Intel Core Ultra 200v processors, respectively, demonstrating that we are all-in on Copilot+ PCs. Users expect all their apps to run seamlessly on all Windows devices and we are excited to support developers in meeting these expectations through our App Assure Program. Developers can leverage Microsoft’s App Assure program for guidance and technical assistance to get the most out of Copilot+ PCs, especially optimizing apps to run on Arm-based Snapdragon X Series devices. Even the most technically adept companies can benefit from the expert advice offered by App Assure. Many developers have already taken advantage of the App Assure program to release Arm-native versions of their apps. Today, I’d like to talk about a successful engagement with a well-known application developer: NordVPN. App Assure delivers on Microsoft’s compatibility promise: your apps will run on Windows on Arm, and Microsoft will be here to help remediate any issues. This no-cost program has been successful in helping many market-leading developers build Arm-optimized apps for Windows. One great example of this is the acceleration of NordVPN's release of the Arm-optimized version of their well-known VPN solution.

Embracing Windows on Arm with Microsoft App Assure

Windows users expect their favorite apps to work great on Arm-based PCs. To meet this expectation, App Assure engages with the most popular apps, such as NordVPN and many others, helping them optimize the platform. NordVPN was enthusiastic and receptive when we reached out to them to provide technical support and advice. Adding an Arm-optimized version would extend their market presence and widen their audience. They planned to launch their product soon after Snapdragon X Series-based Copilot+ PCs became available. "Working with Microsoft's App Assure team was a game-changer for us. Their technical guidance made a significant difference in the project. As engineers, we value direct, effective information and support, and that's exactly what we got. Being able to work so closely with Microsoft almost made it feel like their engineers were part of our extended team. Their engagement sped up our development process and is helping us get to market faster,” said Gytis Murauskas, Head of Engineering, Windows, at Nord Security. Developers often face challenges when starting the effort of adding a new architecture to their application. Deciding the best approach among the many options can be the difference between an easy port and a difficult one. This is exactly why we provide the Arm Advisory Service for developers, giving them an opportunity to consult directly with Microsoft engineers, ensuring a smooth development process and informed decision-making. “The biggest decisions and scariest things were at the beginning of kicking off the project. On this whole path of migrating applications to Windows, there are quite a lot of possibilities. You can migrate to Native Farm. You can do some emulation, etcetera, etcetera. There were at least four possible ways to do that, and it was not an easy choice to decide which one made more sense for us,” said Murauskas. Microsoft App Assure engineers offer guidance, best practices and deep insights enabling effective decision making. Murauskas emphasized the value of collaborating with Microsoft, stating, "The input from the App Assure team was instrumental in making informed decisions. This collaboration enabled us to implement solutions with confidence, knowing we were on the right path." As the engagement continued, our App Assure engineers were available to consult directly whenever challenges arose, ensuring a smooth development process and informed decision-making. Ultimately, this ongoing support and expertise helped NordVPN establish a solid foundation and accelerated their time to market. We are excited that NordVPN continues to invest in the ARM ecosystem by bringing support for their Threat Protection feature. To try NordVPN along with Threat Protection today, download NordVPN for Windows PC or Laptop

App Assure helps developers unlock potential

With Copilot+ PCs, we have completely reimagined the entirety of the PC – from silicon to the operating system, from the application layer to the cloud – with AI at the center, marking the most significant change to the Windows platform in decades. The challenges, dependencies and development journey may look very different for every organization offering productivity tools, security, frameworks or gaming, and at Microsoft, we’re passionate to help you in your journey to enable support for our customers. We are excited to offer App Assure to developers building Arm-optimized applications for Windows, to help all organizations see just how easy it is to build for this platform. Read more about App Assure helping Opera build an Arm-optimized browser to see another example of this work. If you’d like to know more about how to add Arm support to your Windows app, check out our technical documentation at aka.ms/win/arm/howto. Once you’re ready to begin your porting journey, Microsoft’s Arm Advisory Service can provide detailed insights into platform features, best practices and code examples. For example, App Assure engineers can help you:

• Understand the nuances of emulated code translation and how to seamlessly interoperate between native and x64 code.
• Configure build systems most efficiently for multi-architecture delivery.
• Obtain Arm-based hardware or get started with Azure Virtual Machines and then prepare those environments for development, continuous integration or test runners.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, let us know by completing this form.

ISV testimonials

We are proud to showcase a few Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) that have successfully leveraged our Arm Advisory Service to optimize their applications for the Windows on Arm platform. These organizations have harnessed the power of Arm technology to deliver outstanding software solutions, demonstrating the immense potential and ease of transition with the right support. “At Proton VPN, we prioritize delivering a seamless and secure experience for our users. Working with Microsoft’s App Assure team has been an outstanding experience—their expertise and proactive approach ensured that Proton VPN runs flawlessly on ARM PCs, helping us bring fast, private and reliable VPN access to more devices and people than ever before. Microsoft’s App Assure team made it effortless for us to optimize Proton VPN for PCs with ARM architecture. Their support ensured that users get the best performance and security, reinforcing our commitment to privacy and freedom online." - Antonio Cesarano, Lead Product Manager, Proton VPN. "The App Assure team played a crucial role in driving discussions with F-Secure's partners to accelerate ARM64 support, ensuring our product's compatibility with Copilot+ PCs—an effort that proved easier and faster than anyone expected." - Katja Bashlovka, Product Manager, Consumer Engagement. Of the many prominent ISVs that the App Assure team has helped to develop Arm-optimized apps, a few more recent successes are highlighted below: