Windows 7 End of Life
Mark the date.
As promised, Microsoft provided 10 years’ worth of support for Windows 7 when it launched the OS back in October 2009.
Windows 7 is due to reach the end of life (EOL) on 14 January 2020. What does this mean for the 40% computer users who still runs with Windows 7?
Microsoft says, “Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The life cycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to update, upgrade or make other changes to your software.”
After EOL, Microsoft will stop supporting and servicing Windows 7 with security and feature updates. It will essentially become abandonware.
This affects Windows 7 users as they will not get any updates, security patches, or any kind of support from Microsoft.
Will you have to replace all of your devices running on the Windows 7 OS? Well, not technically.You can still continue to use your current computer with Windows 7 OS, but it won’t get the free security patches and updates. Your computer or quite possibly your entire network will be very open to malware and other IT security threats. In the event of data theft, a business becomes liable if you are running Windows 7 OS.
You could also may as well be violating regulations by using an OS that’s officially declared vulnerable to security threats. This shows that Windows 7 is not advisable to be used for businesses.
While volume license customers will still be able to pay for updates on Windows 7, most normal users will be out of luck. To remain secure, you’ll have to upgrade your OS to either Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates from Microsoft every month. Failure to do so will put your PC at risk, especially if it’s one that connects to the internet.
Microsoft advise purchasing a PC or laptop that is compatible with Windows 10. However, it is still a cheaper alternative to purchase Windows 10, so long as your computer is compatible with it. You can also purchase support for Windows. Although, this opens up a can of new problems for you,
“Though Microsoft says it will support Windows 7 until January 2020, it began blocking older machines, such as those using Pentium III, in June 2018. Microsoft can block support for any machine at any time, so Windows 7 users should be prepared.”
Will your hardware be able to take it? How will you know if your computer is compatible with Windows 10 or if you should purchase a new set?
Put your mind at ease and let us assist you. ICTechnology can assist you from installing new hardware, cable management all the way to migrating your files to the cloud. No need to worry! You have your contract free IT with ICTechnology!
- Resources
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/4057281/windows-7-support-will-end-on-january-14-2020
