As a society, people love to ignore warnings. Approximately 63 percent of people skip their flu shot, 34 million American adults still smoke, and nearly half of all business users have ignored the constant warnings that support for Windows 7 ends soon.
January 14 is coming, and as we discussed in our last blog, it’s unlikely you’re going to get the same benefit of the doubt as you did when Microsoft backtracked to patch a bug in XP after support ended.
As was the case in 2014 with the end of XP support, there are many dangers of pushing Windows 7 (or any Microsoft product) past its end of life, and once January 15 hits, any computer still running Windows 7 will be left open to exposure. Hackers and other cybercriminals are anxiously awaiting the day when they can unleash the exploits they have been working on, knowing very well that they can target Windows 7 devices without wondering how long the vulnerability will last.
Why Moving to Windows 10 as Soon as Possible Helps Your Business
But while there are many risks to using Windows 7, there are also many benefits to using Windows 10. Not only did it shed the unbearable Windows 8 Start Menu, by moving to Windows 10, you will maintain support until October 2025, gain a variety of new features, and get much better access to your data across devices, doing so on a now-mature operating system that is free of the initial kinks.
While the road to Windows 10 may present a few challenges—especially during the update phase—the choice to upgrade will benefit your organization for years to come.
Software Won’t Support Windows 7 Much Longer
One of the biggest worries about moving to Windows 10 in 2015 was its lack of support. Now, the tables have turned, and as we approach the deadline to update, fewer and fewer new software platforms will work on Windows 7 devices. Looking to upgrade to the newest version of your mission-critical software? Sorry, but it probably won’t support Windows 7. Think about the impact that can have on your entire organization.
Better Security in Windows 10
While stock antivirus and firewall applications should never be the only layer of protection for your enterprise, Windows 10 still takes security seriously. Windows 10 comes with Windows Defender Exploit Guard, which scans for, quarantines and removes malware. In addition to ransomware protection, it includes other tools that can be used to stop zero-day attacks, to block and quarantine malicious programs on your computer or office network, and to isolate infected computers on your network.
This sophisticated, cloud-based service for managing security threats is built for the business and is built to protect users. Better yet, Windows Defender Application Guard, available for Windows 10 Enterprise and Professional, can even help promote safer browsing. If you or an employee unknowingly contracts malware by visiting a malicious website, it won’t be able to damage the computer or the network, because it will be confined inside this virtual machine.
Unified Update Platform and Autopilot Make IT’s Job Easier
A technology feature in the Windows Update tool, the Unified Update Platform (UUP), significantly streamlines the update process. UUP identifies new changes to Windows 10 that your computer needs and downloads only those specific updates. Your computer won’t have to download a larger package.
Microsoft says UUP can reduce the download size of Windows updates by up to 35 percent, sparing storage space on your computer and the time it takes to install updates.
Paired with this, Windows Autopilot makes it even easier to set up configurations across your entire organization. For example, an employee can take a new computer, connect it to your office network, and it will automatically be configured to your business’s required settings.
Many Benefits, Little Time: Migrate with MIBAR
With the end of support on the horizon for Windows 7, you’re running out of time to make the move, and if you’re trying to do this manually, expect a long, arduous process. However, with the right assistance and support, you can make your transition to Windows 10 a reality. As a leading Microsoft Partner, MIBAR knows what it takes to get your organization from Windows 7 to Windows 10 (we’re also pretty good at implementing Dynamics and Power BI products) and would love to help you. Get worry free Windows 7 upgrades and support from the experts at MIBAR. Click here to learn more.
Discover more Microsoft blogs here:
Winter is Coming: Windows 7 Extended Support Ending in January 2020
