Is your business ready for Windows 7 ‘End of Life’?

Microsoft support for Windows 7 will come to an end in January 2020 after almost a decade in use. This encompasses all levels including paid for support, all updates and security. Are you prepared?

Microsoft actually ended mainstream support for Windows 7 in 2015 – at which point they stopped adding new features and ended warranty claims and for the last 8 months of the year only ‘paid for’ support and security updates have been available. During this period the team at Two Point Zero IT in Ipswich have been busy helping clients upgrade their operating systems in preparation for the new year.

“According to Microsoft ‘Every Windows product has a lifecycle'” Comments Billy Brundle, Director at Two Point Zero IT  “The lifecycle 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. Ultimately systems will continue to function and you will still be able to access the components”, But, he continues, “What it does mean is that your system is totally un-covered against threats from viruses and malware”.

The East Anglia based IT Support company, have identified two key actions for clients to consider:

Upgrade your Operating System: Whilst for many this is simply a case of purchasing a copy of Windows 10 – installing and running, for others this won’t be such a simple process. Depending on your current hardware (a lot of people are still running computers as old as the system itself) your machine may not have the necessary memory and spec to run Windows 10.

Check Compatibility: You may also find that other programmes you are using aren’t as compatible with Windows 10 (though you may find that others run better!) Run an audit of the programmes that you are frequently using and check their compatibility and upgrade options.

“Firstly, don’t panic!” Billy continues “But don’t leave yourself open to viruses and attacks by leaving it too late. We can help you make the switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in the most efficient way possible with minimal disruption to you and your business.”

To speak to the Two Point Zero about the implications of the Windows change or to seek further advice and IT support visit their website.