11/14/2018

The End-of-Life for Windows 7 is Near

Prepare your business for the change

If you’re still running on Windows XP or Vista, your network is already at critical risk, and you need to contact your MSP representative today. But in January of 2020, Microsoft will also terminate support for Windows 7. thinkCSC alone has more than 700 clients still relying on Windows 7, clients who will be at significant risk should they not begin making plans now to upgrade. Your thinkCSC tech will be discussing a plan for proactive updates with you, but that conversation must become more than an agenda item; this must become an action item if you are to mitigate the significant security risks that will be created as a result of operating Windows 7 past its end-of-life.

Outdated networks become vulnerable access points for hackers.
No managed service provider can guarantee protection of your data, but when you continue to use software and operating systems that are no longer supported, correcting any problems that occur becomes much more difficult. When an outdated operating system is in use, it is difficult for your MSP to remain proactive enough to mitigate your risk. This impacts every industry. Microsoft is offering Windows 7 support beyond the January 2020 deadline to account for security gaps, but the privilege will come at a cost to your business. Rather than waste your IT budget to extend the life of an outdated operating system, it’s time to embrace Windows 10.

Businesses need time to test compatibility.
As the push towards Windows 10 gains momentum, the migration of data is not the only concern. Businesses have literally hundreds of devices and applications that rely on the operating system. You can’t simply flip a switch and assume that everything will be compatible with Windows 10. This means that your organization needs time for testing and training. This can also mean slowed productivity, a learning curve for employees, and downtime for customers. Without enough time to plan and test upgrades, your organization becomes a vulnerable access point for hackers.

Please select this link to read the complete article from OSAE Member thinkCSC.