Updating From Windows 7 & Server 2008.
Windows 7, Server 2008 and Small Business service support are all coming to an end. It is essential to upgrade your Microsoft operating systems now.
In January 2020, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 7, Server 2008 and Small Business Server. What this means for you is that from 14th January, there will be no further security updates or security patches issued, technical support, software updates or fixes for PCs and server operating systems using these platforms.
Windows 7 will still work after the January deadline. You will still be able to use any devices running on it.
However, without adequate and up-to-date security patches, your system won’t be adequately protected anymore. There is a strong likelihood that it could be hacked or suffer a security breach. We know this because security breaches happened before as a result of using outdated software when Windows XP ended its operating life.
The Risk.
In fact, the risk is so significant that Forbes magazine posted an article with quotes from the National Security Agency (NSA) of the USA warning to “update now or risk devastating and wide-ranging impact.”
A further complication from the update is that there are software solutions businesses are using that may not run on Windows 10. Equally, updates to incumbent software may not run on Windows 7 if you don’t update.
For this reason, we recommend organisations who have not reviewed their IT or updated to Windows 10 do sooner rather than later, There may be more significant changes to be made with the software used and potentially the way the organisation works.
Allteks recommend that all organisations upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and from Server 2008 to Server 2016.
Updating to Windows 10 can take place on PCs reasonably quickly. However, not all machines will have the capability to accept the update, so hardware may need reviewing and updating.
Upgrading a servers operating system is a little more complicated and requires more time. It is also possible that the server may not be able to take the update, and may need replacing.
These replacements could have an impact on business operations if left too late. So, it is essential to review your IT provisions and ensure you have enough time to manage more complex updates.
If you are unclear where you stand with Windows 7, Server 2008 and Small Business service updates. Why not take advantage of our 2 hours FREE IT overview.
