Technology Reseller - v16

01732 759725 INTERVIEW 20 Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported. There are two phases of support: mainstream support and extended support. Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 13th 2015 with extended support due to end on 14th January 2020. Whilst, customers can still use the product when it goes end of life, it’s a risky business. it’s tiMe to take advantage of the WindoWs 10 opportunity However, end of support can be a significant challenge for companies. It requires planning and investment. Updating and upgrading computers can be a time-consuming and expensive business. Existing hardware may not be able to handle the system requirements of an upgrade and of course for productivity gains, training on a new system is also required. Furthermore, prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel and NVidia. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) support period. On the other hand, not upgrading can bemore expensive. For instance, the WannaCry cyberattack, which affected parts of the NHS, was down to organisations running legacy systems. Change usually takes time and Windows 7 was certainly a popular choice of operating system. Indeed, according to NetMarketShare’s latest 2018 data, whilst the gap is slowly closing, 41.23% are still using Windows 7 – compared to the 36.58% who have moved on to the latest operating system, Windows 10. It’s estimated by Microsoft that 46m devices worldwide still run on Windows 7 using devices 4 or more years old, so it’s a big opportunity for the channel to exploit. Indeed 55% of SMBs were either slightly aware or not aware of Windows 7 EOS, according to recent reports from Microsoft. As highlighted earlier, with under 18 months to go, companies need to start preparing and planning in order to ensure a smooth transition. This might include: • Identifying machines that need to be upgraded or replaced. • Replacing legacy systems using older operating systems and/or software with updated technology. • Developing a timeline and budget for upgrades and replacements. • Implementing security controls to separate critical systems from Windows 7 machines that cannot be upgraded or removed. • Planning for employee training to learn the new system. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINDOWS MAINSTREAM SUPPORT AND EXTENDED SUPPORT? Mainstream support and extended support define the amount of time Microsoft gives for its Windows operating systems – essentially, expiration dates. When a computer’s operating system is within the mainstream support period, it means Microsoft is responsible for that version: providing security updates for any bugs that emerge or releasing design changes. Microsoft usually ends mainstream support five years after the release of an operating system, which then pushes it into extended support. This period usually runs for another five years but with less support. Essentially it means the company stops adding new features and ends complimentary support for that version of Windows. Whilst it still provides bug fixes and patches, security updates may no longer be available. This applies to Microsoft’s business, developer and desktop operating system products. encourage custoMers to upgrade to Modern devices running on the latest intel® core™ technology today