Goodbye Windows 7

After nearly 10 years with the Windows 7^® operating system (OS), it's nearing time to say goodbye. As it stands a little under half of all the computers in the world still use it.

With so many computers running Windows 7, there’s a high level of risk as it approaches its end of life (EOL). A quick Google search will confirm that your computer won’t stop working, even after the January 14, 2020 cutoff date for Microsoft^® support of the OS. What will happen isn’t necessarily any better.

Once Microsoft stops supporting Windows 7 the operating system will no longer receive updates or patches. While the OS hasn’t had mainstream support for some time, its extended support is also slated to end as well. That means the system will no longer be secure, or at least it will be less secure and will potentially grow steadily worse as time passes.

There are two types of support – mainstream and extended. To sum them up, mainstream support is when Microsoft performs updates with patches, bug fixes, and new features. Extended support is when Microsoft is only doing patches and bug fixes to keep the security of the system up-to-date. There are no new features or updates provided with extended support.

You can guess what that means once Microsoft ends extended coverage. The security patches and updates that Microsoft have supplied for so long will cease. There will be no new patches, leaving the OS vulnerable to attacks. It will quickly become an unsafe system to use, which means nearly everyone will recommend upgrading to Windows 10®.

Change can be a difficult thing, but you still have time to prepare and plan for the switch to the new OS. It’s a big step, and there are a lot of things to take into consideration. MobileDemand has been there – we’ve dealt with change, including upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10. We understand the struggle. With a good plan and a little help, the switch can be less of an obstacle and more of an opportunity to grow and expand.

Still need more time at your company to adapt to a new operating system? Microsoft is offering an extended security update to companies with a volume license on a price-per-unit system for both Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Pro. The extended security can cover your computers for up to an additional three years. Prices will vary, so contact your Microsoft representative for more details.

We are committed to helping our customers through this process. Watch for more blog posts on the benefits of the Windows 10 OS. Reach out at 319-363-4121 and we’ll support you through the change.