The time has finally arrived. Support for Windows 7 is coming to an end. You may be thinking, big deal! Windows 7 still works fine for me, right?
Wrong. Here’s why…
While the Windows 7 operating system will still function on your business’ computer systems, it will not be getting the software or security updates that your business needs to protect itself. If you continue to run Windows 7 in 2020, you’ll be exposing your organization’s digital assets to a host of cyber threats, including: ransomware, phishing, and much more.
This article with cover everything your business needs to know to prepare and protect itself, including:
- Why & When Windows 7 is Ending
- The Security Risks of Continuing to Use Windows 7
- Mitigating Risk: Upgrading to Windows 10 Affordably and with Minimal Business Disruption
Why & When Is Windows 7 Ending?
Windows 7 is ten years old and this is ancient in terms of operating systems. It means that it is vastly outdated compared to Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 10. Right now, Microsoft is still having to provide a lot of support and attention to keep the system current.
But that’s about to change…
On January 14th, 2020, Microsoft will officially stop providing updates to Windows 7. While Windows 7 will still operate on your computer, this is the ‘End of Life’ for the system. It’s a term used by Microsoft to describe a point where they will no longer provide support for a system. This doesn’t just mean that the system won’t be receiving any software or security updates, it means that it won’t receive any support at all. Official tech support will likely no longer handle requests or concerns relating to the system after this date. Essentially, Microsoft will be washing their hands with Windows 7 and you should too.
Why? Because it’s a huge opportunity for cyber criminals…
The Security Risks of Continuing to Use Windows 7
Unfortunately, the end of Windows 7 is being widely reported. Part of the reason for this is to make sure that business executives, like you, take action and upgrade their systems to something more secure. However, it also means that hackers and criminals are aware there’s a big opportunity here. It could lead to it being open season on businesses that are still using Windows 7.
Despite its age, Windows 7 is still very popular. At the end of 2018, Windows 7 still held 37% of the market share. There’s every reason to believe they will be targeted specifically because it will be easy to hack in and steal information and/or hold valuable data for ransom.
Windows 7 is already hopelessly outdated, despite the best efforts by Microsoft. But in January, when updates stop, things are going to get a lot worse. Updates and patches are provided for various reasons. Some of the most crucial include fixing bugs, flaws in the system and gaps in security. Viruses and malware are constantly evolving so software systems need to evolve too. That’s essentially what patches and updates are all about. The next patch you download on an operating system might protect your business network from a new type of virus.
With Windows 7 no longer receiving any updates, these security flaws will quickly become more apparent and will be left completely accessible, exposing your business to huge security risk.
There’s a solution, however. It evolves updating your entire organization to Windows 10.
Mitigating Risk: Upgrading to Windows 10 Affordably and with Minimal Business Disruption
There are many reasons why a business would avoid upgrading to Windows 10. These are largely associated with:
- Costs of upgrading the entire office fleet
- Limited resources or knowledge on how to do so
- System downtime during the upgrade process
- Training Employees on Windows 10
- Fear of something going wrong during the upgrade process
Daunting, right? Not quite…
Many businesses choose to outsource their Windows 10 upgrade to a technology management company like IronEdge Group. We manage the computer networks of businesses throughout Texas and help them keep their systems updated and secure when problems such as these arise.
With the solutions we offer, you can make sure that your upgrade is both seamless and efficient. We’ll also help you keep the costs of upgrading as low as possible and guarantee that you don’t have to worry about any hidden expenses. Utilizing newer computers with component upgrades instead of simply replacing the entire unit can help save thousands of dollars.
While it is understandable to want to avoid costs completely, you need to be aware of the potential financial damage a cyber attack could cause your business. We guarantee, if your business is left open to a cyber attack and the worst happens, it will be a great deal more expensive and detrimental to your company than an upgrade to Windows 10.
So don’t wait, use our Windows 10 upgrade solution to get the update you need to ensure your computer systems are secure into the new year.
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