Microsoft is enabling a Windows 11 security feature that can hurt gaming performance

Microsoft is moving Windows 11 toward a more secure default posture by automatically enabling memory integrity and related virtualization-based security on eligible devices, but that comes with a potential performance tradeoff for some workloads—especially gaming and older CPUs. For CIOs and technology leaders, this is a reminder that security-hardening changes can affect user experience and endpoint performance, so IT organizations will need to balance baseline protection, device segmentation, and exception management rather than assume one configuration fits all. Teams should also expect more user questions and support tickets as the feature rolls out, making clear policy and communication important.