WINDOWS 7 END OF LIFE

What’s this all about?

When a version of Windows, or Windows Server, comes to an end, Windows will still operate, but Microsoft will no longer issue the security and feature updates for it. Microsoft calls this Product End of Life.

Microsoft support for the Windows, or Windows Server, version ends on the publicised date and immediately any organisation still running the versions becomes vulnerable to new malware and viruses being created daily to attack businesses and their systems.

Security updates fix vulnerabilities, which means that organisations running Windows versions without these are wide open to attack and therefore data breaches, putting their data and that of their customers at risk.

It’s important for you to know that any device that is no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft is vulnerable. And this applies to Windows and Windows Server versions, on a rolling timetable of ‘end of life’ dates, as follows:

How am I affected?

If you have any of the software listed above running on devices and they are not replaced/upgraded by their respective end of life date they could be affected by:

• Malware, Virus and security problems
• Data hacking due to targeted sweeps looking for unsecured devices
• Risk of breaching GDPR compliance (breaches carry severe financial and reputational penalties)
• Incompatibility with future software/updates (developers typically don’t dedicate resources to include end of life products in their compatibility for newer products/updates).

What do I need to do?

You’ll be glad to know that the risk is easily avoidable, by taking timely action to update your Windows versions as soon as possible.

It is highly recommended that you contact us for a quotation to replace the affected devices with new hardware and the latest Windows operating system software.

Upgrading the existing machines is not cost effective for the following reasons:

• The new software requires more powerful resources (CPU, RAM, Disk space etc).
• The labour time to upgrade is the same or more than installing a new PC, with the added negative that you would be spending the money and still have old, slow hardware with no warranty.
• New devices come with a new hardware warranty

Therefore, we recommend replacing the devices soon.

As a large number of organisations, worldwide, will be affected by this we urge customers to take action sooner rather than later. The nearer we get to the deadline date; the more stretched engineer resource and available hardware will become. This increased scarcity will no doubt inflate prices in the marketplace to deal with the demand of people taking action at the last minute.

Finance lease options may be available (subject to status).

Please contact us for a quotation or if you have any further questions.