As Microsoft prepares to retire both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 on 14th January 2020, we take a look at what this means for businesses.
Why Are Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 Retiring?
From Tuesday 14th January 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008.
Microsoft’s popular PC operating system Windows 7, plus their widely used server operating system Windows Server 2008 have both reached the end of their time. The tech giant has a policy of only supporting their products for 10 years and with both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 now over a decade old, it’s time for them to make way for the latest technology.
Is your business is still running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008? If so it’s essential that you update your technology before the ‘end of support’ date.
What Will ‘End Of Support’ Mean?
Once Microsoft stops supporting these systems in January, no new updates will be released, including:
- Technical support for any issues
- Software updates
- Security updates or fixes
This means that although computers will continue to function, there will be potentially serious risks in running the systems without Microsoft support.
What Are The Risks Of Not Upgrading?
Security Risks
The threat to your networks security is the number one risk faced when running an out of date operating system or software. Even with IT Security software installed, your network could still be exposed to data theft, malware and viruses through new security vulnerabilities which Microsoft will no longer provide updates for.
Therefore, if you miss the cut off date to upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, you will be operating at your own risk.
Compliance Risks
Business IT security gaps can lead to non-compliance with a number of regulatory bodies and industry standards, including data protection rules and any ISO accreditation requirements.
Additional Costs
Businesses that continue to use the systems unsupported should also expect to pay more for the maintenance of of ageing hardware. Typically, machines running Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 are old machines, therefore in addition to unsupported operating systems you may also be working with outdated, unsupported hardware.
What’s The Good News?
The good news is there are many benefits to be gained from upgrading to a new operating system, Microsoft recommends Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019.
End of support is an ideal opportunity to upgrade to the latest technology available and remain secure, compliant and productive . With Microsoft’s latest features, your business can benefit from increased capabilities and improved productivity whilst staying competitive. At the same time, its also worth considering whether it’s a good time to upgrade any aging hardware.
Not Upgraded Yet? Act Fast!
If your business hasn’t yet made the upgrade, we recommend you start the migration process now to avoid any disruption to your operations or unnecessary downtime.
