Microsoft isn’t subtle when it talks about the security limitations of Windows 7. In a recent blog post, Microsoft made it clear that even with regular patches; Windows 7 is no longer a secure option for users in 2017. This warning from Microsoft comes in no small part due to the end of support deadline for the ten year old operating system.
Outdated operating system retention is a major problem for Microsoft. Windows XP, despite numerous problems and a long expired support cycle, still retains a 9% market share 16 years after the release of the OS. Microsoft warns that history is repeating itself once again with Windows 7, a mistake that could cause major problems for businesses users.
“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”, is the motto shared by many department heads when it comes to upgrades and expense planning. The problem is that an operating system can technically function while broken; you may not see immediate problems, but they add up overtime. System security is the big weakness for an old OS. Technology requirements today are much different than they were five or ten years ago, especially when it comes to online security. Security patches can go a long way towards fixing a hole but much like a boat, if the system itself is no longer structurally sound for the environment, these holes will start to crop up a lot more regularly. If you rely on incremental patches to stay afloat, eventually a problem will crop up that will catch you off-guard before the fix can be applied. Get caught with the latest ransomware because of a security hole and you may find your business sinking as fast as the boat in the metaphor.
While not without its problems, Windows 10 does offer a number of inherit security features that make it a better choice for the modern digital world. With the announcement of two recent zero-day exploits, Microsoft revealed that Windows 10 was already protected, while older versions of Windows had to be patched into compliance.
The reasons above should be enough to take notice, but if not, consider this; the three-year countdown to the end of Windows 7 support has already begun. Mainstream support for Windows 7 ended back in 2015 with extended support going until 2020. After that, the break-fix patches will stop and users will be left on their own when it comes to system security.
Operating system migration can be overwhelming and stressful; if you would like more information on what is involved, or would like help moving your office to Windows 10, our support engineers can help. Give us a call at 212 – 242- 2949 and our team will help simplify your upgrade experience.
