All good things must come to an end, even Windows 7. On January 14, 2020, Windows 7 will reach it’s “End of Support” (EOS) phase.
As your I.T. support team, we have a responsibility to inform you of these important changes, how it will impact your company, and what you need to do to keep your business secure.
What does End of Support mean?
As with all operating systems, after a while it doesn’t make sense to keep using old software. Why? Because it’s just not worth the amount of time, effort, and money that are required to keep old software patched and updated – especially when there are newer versions of the software out there.
When Windows 7 enters its End of Support phase in January 2020, all levels of support, patching, and updating will be completely discontinued.
Why should I be concerned?
Once it enters End of Support, Windows 7 won’t be patched for any new viruses or security problems. New computer viruses and other malware are developed all the time! Without the security updates to fight them off, your data and your system are left extremely vulnerable.
Whether you’re running a medical practice or a small business, you cannot afford to fall behind attackers and security risks. Continuing to use Windows 7 will jeopardize your businesses’ sensitive client and patient data.
What should I do about it?
You should plan to upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible. We would be happy to help your business plan and execute the steps needed to upgrade your business PCs.
The first step you’ll need to take is to determine if your current systems are compatible with Windows 10. You’ll then do one of the following:
If your systems are compatible, we can easily will conduct an in-place upgrade of Windows 7 to Windows 10.
If your systems aren’t compatible, we will give you recommendations to purchase new computer(s) that has Windows 10 already on it; we can then help migrate data to your new computer(s).
While purchasing a new computer (Option 2) may seem more expensive, this choice will allow you to receive the numerous benefits new computers offer business owners, including: increased up-time for employees, improved system performance (which results in increased employee productivity), warranty on hardware, and more.
What benefits will Windows 10 bring?
Overall, Windows 10 will provide positive enhancements in security, speed, usability, and ease of updates. Windows 10 also supports apps that can be used across multiple devices (PCs, tablets, and smartphones). Fortunately, there are a number of similarities you will see to Windows 7, which will help many users transition quickly to the new upgrade.
There are a number of other benefits you can read about in our blog post, “4 Benefits Windows 10 Will Bring Your Business”.
Now is the time to shift!
Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We are offering a free Windows 7 consultation to help you get the ball rolling, and help keep your business secure! We look forward to hearing from you.
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