It’s the end of the road soon, time to prepare…
Everything has a life cycle – including all Windows products. They begin life with their release, usually amongst much fanfare and PR, and they terminate with the end-of-support which, despite the developer’s best efforts, is usually accompanied by confusion and a little panic.
Like most Microsoft products, Windows 7 came with a fixed support timeline, which has enabled many businesses to plan for an eventual upgrade. However, a lot of companies have been caught off-guard and have not considered what Windows 7 end-of-life means to their business efficiency in real terms.
Imagine using a product whose maker will no longer take responsibility for it – you’d be using it at your own risk. This means that glitches and malfunctions, or, more seriously, compromised or lost data due to security breaches, is your responsibility with no recourse to help or support.
With Malware ever-evolving and more insidious than ever, it’s important to understand that anyone continuing to use Windows 7 could be more exposed and vulnerable. Without regular patches and security updates, you’re essentially at the mercy of hackers and most businesses don’t want to take the risk of losing significant data and having to manage a cyber breach.
It’s not all bad news however, as, with the introduction of Windows as a Service (WaaS) Microsoft has made a giant leap in the sustainability of its product portfolio, and its delivery model. Windows as a Service (WaaS) incorporates continuous updates and support for current Microsoft offerings, like Windows 10.
This means that once upgraded to Windows 10, you will remain up to date, always automatically accessing the latest patches, fixes and updates. You won’t need to change your operating system again, as WaaS promises a smooth shift between iterations of a single operating system. Windows 10 may become something completely different over the next ten or fifteen years, but cumulative updates will happen behind the scenes without any major impact on business systems.
Need to speak to us about your upgrade?
What is the key concern?
There are serious security concerns if you continue to use Windows 7 past the end of life date. This is advice from Microsoft.
“You can continue to use Windows 7, but once support ends, your PC will become more vulnerable to security risks. Windows will operate, but you will stop receiving security and feature updates.”
Microsoft will not take responsibility for any security breaches that happen to Windows 7 systems after 14th January 2020.
If your business is still using Windows 7, it would be wise to begin planning for its end of life date.
Need advice and guidance from an industry expert? We can provide solutions and help you plan for a pain free transition to a more future proof operating system.
Contact our office at 01924 383250 or email [email protected]
More further information:
You can find information on using obsolete platforms at the National Cyber Security Centre who advise that risk managing obsolete platforms comes at a cost and should only be used as a last resort.
See what Microsoft advises here.