advertisement
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit

Windows 7 End of Life: The dangers of sticking with Windows 7 beyond the EOL date

Windows 7 has had a good run, as far as operating systems go, but even good things must come to an end. And Windows 7’s “end” is coming on 14th January 2020.

On that date, Microsoft will stop developing and deploying fixes for any vulnerabilities found. It will also stop providing any kind of support for the operating system – even if companies are willing to pay for it. No more software updates, either.

Extreme vulnerability

The risks of sticking with Windows 7 beyond that date can’t be overstated. With no security patches coming, Windows 7 users will become extremely vulnerable to any new malware that exploits new vulnerabilities discovered after the 14th. 

That means increased risks of Windows 7 PCs being hacked, malware getting through the cracks and stealing or corrupting valuable data or the PC being co-opted into a botnet network because Windows 7 might no longer offer any defence against it.

And the repercussions for businesses that stick with Windows 7 are even more serious, with the chances of customer data being stolen and systems hacked by outsiders skyrocketing after the 14th. Sure, they can take the chance that it won’t happen to them, but that’s a huge – and entirely unnecessary – risk to take.

No technical support at all

But perhaps even more important than there being no more security fixes, Microsoft will stop providing technical support on Windows 7 as well, meaning Windows 7 users will get no support whatsoever over email, telephone, or via remote assistance.

So should the worst happen, and malware infects various Windows 7 PCs inside the organisation, business won’t be able to call Microsoft up and request assistance getting the problem solved. And for businesses that count on Microsoft for support, that’s a big problem.

It’s not hype

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is hyperbole, either – these risks are all very real. It’s only the constant development of fixes, software updates, and the provision of technical support that keeps current operating systems running as smoothly as they do, and the loss of these vital support components turns Windows 7 into a security nightmare just waiting to happen.

To that end, switching to Windows 10 is the best thing businesses can do for themselves prior to 14th January 2020.

99 percent backwards-compatibility

In fact, the reason many organisations haven’t yet updated is the claim that they use legacy software that might not be compatible with a newer operating system. But in Windows 10’s case that’s a non-argument, as there’s a 99 percent chance of that old software working just fine on the newer OS.

Even better, Windows 10 is the fastest version of Windows yet, even when running on the same hardware that was powering Windows 7. It’s also the most secure, the easiest to use, and incredibly easy to upgrade to as Microsoft has done a lot of work making the process as smooth as possible.

Sure, it might cost a bit of cash to do the upgrade, but the risks of not doing so are not worth taking a chance on. 

Get started now

To find out how to start the upgrade process, have a chat with your IT provider; they can help you get the ball rolling. If you are in need of any assistance in this regard, contact Pinnacle today.

advertisement

About Author

advertisement

Related News

advertisement