End Of Life For Windows 7 – What Options Do You Have?
Windows 7 was launched a decade ago and it is still very popular with many companies and incredibly even though there is less than 1 year of support left, it still has a 40% market share. Windows 10 OS is just on the verge of catching up with these figures even though the new version was launched 3 years ago. From January 14th 2020, there will no more support and so looking at the inevitable upgrade should be a priority for all businesses of all sizes.
When a product comes to the end of its life, it can be a significant challenge for many businesses. We just have to think back to when Microsoft ended its support for Windows XP in 2014 when again 40% of the world’s computers were using the system. Again, that was a very high figure even though businesses had been warned in plenty of time about the impending ‘end of life’.
Why Do Businesses Not Upgrade?
- Cost and expense involved
- Time taken to update and upgrade computers
- Old hardware and equipment may not be able to handle the upgrade requirements
- Training staff is time consuming and costly
Microsoft Statement
If so many people and companies are still using it, why is Windows 7 support coming to an end. Microsoft has issued the following statement:
“Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to update, upgrade or make other changes to your software.”
Can I Still Use Windows 7?
You will still however be able to use the product and it will still work but it doesn’t seem to be a viable proposition as your system and data with no security updates would be very vulnerable to viruses and malware. You really would be using it “at your own risk”!
How To Prepare
The answer is to upgrade to Microsoft’s Windows 10, which was released in 2015 and it is advisable to start planning your company’s transition as soon as possible, in fact NOW!
You will need to know which of your machines need to be upgraded or even replaced and develop a timeframe and a budget for this and also plan for your staff to receive training so that they can learn how to operate the new system. This will lead to a smooth, seamless and successful transition, which will be good for business.
What To Do Next
If you are still using Windows 7 and not sure how you can upgrade or what you have to do, PSD Net based in Tonbridge is offering an IT audit for businesses within a 40-mile radius of its offices. Please get in touch with the experts at PSD Net on 01622 870293 or email info@psd-net.co.uk for a without obligation chat.