Windows 7 End of Life
Windows 7, widely considered as the most successful operating system developed by Microsoft is still used by a large number of organisations but will reach end of life (EOL) on 14 January 2020. It is therefore critical to prepare for the inevitable upgrade announced by Microsoft sufficiently in advance, in order to avoid problems in less than a year’s time.
What Does “End of Life” Mean for your business?
End of Life for an Operating System like Windows 7 means that it has passed its “end of life” date, meaning all support, including paid support, updates and security patches will be discontinued.
As a business, there is nothing stopping you from using Windows 7 beyond its “end of life” date. It should be acknowledged however, that an outdated operating system makes your computer and entire IT network vulnerable to cyber-attacks including hacking and ransomware. Indeed, viruses and any form of malware are being developed all the time, that look to exploit known vulnerabilities such as a consequence of the end of life of Microsoft products.
With this in mind, our company will still provide some security patches through the extended support phase. This extended support period will run until January 14, 2020. After this date, there will be no more security fixes or updates, thereby marking the official Windows 7 End of Life.
Preparing for Windows 7 end of life
Knowing the Windows 7 “end of life” date will help your business make informed decisions, knowing that it the operating system will no longer be a safe product to use over the internet.
The next stage for your organisation is to consider an upgrade to the Windows 10 Operating System, providing access to full support, as well as regular patches and updates to keep your IT network secure.
Windows 10 supports applications that can be used on a wide range of devices including tablets, smartphones as well as PCs and support touchscreen and keyboard/mouse input methods.
For enterprise upgrades, whether you are upgrading an existing device or buying a new one, or indeed if you just need help with deployment we would always advise seeking the help of an IT professional.
This is a good way to ensure that everything is upgraded correctly and that all firewalls and antivirus applications are in place and working optimally. Depending on what type of hardware and software you are using, you may need to take specific steps to make sure everything is fully compatible.
AMJ UK would recommend implementing a new system running Windows 10 as it offers your business better security and increased flexibility with Microsoft’s cloud services Office 365.
Act now!
If you are still running any of the services mentioned above or if you are unsure if you are affected by these changes, our team at AMJ IT Support in London and IT Support in Kent are here to help.
Call AMJ UK on 01233 663205 or complete an enquiry form today for a free quote