Microsoft Windows 7 and Server 2008 End Of Life
You need to be planning for when Windows 7 and Server 2008 hit End Of Life in January 2020 – your planning meeting with your Servcom USA Account Manager is coming up soon!
Nothing lasts forever. Whether it’s your current smartphone or the current user interface on your email client, nothing stays the same in technology.
The next major change you have to be aware of is Microsoft Windows 7 & Server 2008 End Of Life – are you ready?
What Happens At End Of Life?
All support for Microsoft Windows 7 & Server 2008 will end on January 14, 2020. This means no more bug fixes, security updates, free support options, or online technical content updates. Over time, the usability of Windows 7 & Server 2008 will degrade. There will be a loss of usability and increased vulnerability.
No support means no updates, and no updates means no critical patches or fixes to protect you against cyber threats looking to exploit gaps in your security. There is no substitute for these patches. Without them, you have no choice but to upgrade to a newer supported software.
What Will Happen If You Keep Using Windows 7 & Server 2008 After End Of Life?
Without security updates and bug patches, you open yourself up to a number of risks:
- System lag and performance issues
- Malware infection
- Out of date anti-virus
- Exposed private data
It’s important to note that End Of Life doesn’t just involve Microsoft. All other products that interact with Windows 7 & Server 2008 will also stop providing support for it. Computer manufacturers will no longer support this software, meaning devices like printers, desktops, laptops and more won’t be guaranteed to work as they should.
What Can You Do Now To Prepare?
The simplest course of action is to start planning your move to Microsoft Windows 10, the newer operating system offered by Microsoft. In addition to protecting you from an unsupported operating system, upgrading to Microsoft Windows 10 will offer a number of benefits:
- Your hardware will run more efficiently and responsively.
- Your systems will make better use of the available resources (such as hard drive storage space).
- Your security will be more robust, up to date, and reliable.
Do You Need New Computers & Servers?
Both Servcom USA and Microsoft recommend taking this opportunity to update your hardware along with your operating systems. For most Windows 7 & Server 2008 users, moving to a new device with a Windows 10 operating system is the best path forward.
Servcom USA does not support or perform direct OS upgrades on existing servers. We will not perform Server 2008 to newer OS upgrades. New hardware servers or Virtual Servers will be required to migrate away from Server 2008.
End Of Life is just a part of doing business – no matter what hardware or software you use, eventually it’ll reach the end of its life. Every Windows operating system has a lifecycle. It’s important that you stay up-to-date about essential End-of-Life dates.
This will help you make informed decisions about when to upgrade or make other changes to your software or hardware. Furthermore, we will help you make informed decisions about when to upgrade or make changes to your other software or hardware.
If you need help in managing End Of Life, allow us to assist – our team can assist in building a plan for migrating. We have tools to perform an automated inventory to determine what your best path forward should be.
