On 14th January 2020, (yes, less than 90 days away), support for Windows 7 operating system stops. No more updates or patches from Microsoft. Time is up for Windows 7 and you need to act now, to avoid disruption to your business!
As I type this Windows 7 is 10 years old and by the time support stops it will be 11 so quite rightly it’s time to move to a newer, faster, brighter and more capable system
Like almost everything in life items have a shelf life and operating systems from all vendors are no different. The challenges of what & how people use a PC compared to 10 years are are very different, as are the threats and the overall pace of change.
In 2009 we didn’t have ‘TheCloud’ the birth of mobile computing, apps we’re only just with us; phones have changed the way in which we use and think about technology and on a daily basis and overall use and dependency has skyrocketed.
So, it’s time to move on. OK that seems rather natural
But in the same way the landscape has changed in terms of usage so has buying your new system and licensing. Chances are if you’re machine is running Windows 7 it’s also time to upgrade the hardware too. So there’s a few things to think about or at the very least consider. So speaking of which a few things to consider if you’re running Windows7 and need to plan for change:
Applications – What applications are you running and do they work with Windows10
Licensing – Are you buying with a new PC or doing an upgrade. Would you be better off moving to a monthly model and future proof yourself
Security – Having Virus, Firewall and Phishing protection on your new system is mandatory
Microsoft Office – I know we mentioned applications before but versions of office are also going to end of support and may not work on Windows10
Machine Spec – No massive details here but Windows10 will be grateful of 8Gb of RAM as the new minimum and if the budget permits take an SSD (Solid State Disk) too
Time is up for Windows7 and not surprisingly it’s time to start giving this subject some thought and for you to make a plan. The plan may take some time as you may have a number of dependant parts so it’s important you don’t get caught out, don’t be surprised and dare I say it don’t think you’ll save yourself the expense and make do. The 2017 NHS Cyber attack was possible because of old operating systems and the failure to provide updates https://www.nao.org.uk/report/investigation-wannacry-cyber-attack-and-the-nhs/
It’s also worth at this junture worth mentioning other Microsoft systems that will be going out of support in the next year. They include
- Office 2010
- Exchange Server 2010
- SharePoint Server 2010
- SQL Server 2008/R2
- Windows Server 2008/R2
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsforbusiness/end-of-windows-7-support
Contact Think Cirrus on 0330 130996 or email [email protected] to find out how you can upgrade for better productivity and performance in your business.
