Tick Tock…Tick Tock…Tick Tock! Time is Running Out for Windows 7 Users!
How long until January 14, 2020? Less than 8 months. That’s less than 230 days. Less than 5,520 hours. Less than 331,200 seconds. You get the picture—the clock is ticking. So, what happens on January 14, 2020? Microsoft announced that January 14, 2020 is the official date for End of Life for Windows 7. What that means to consumers, whether you’re a personal user at home or a business owner or both, is that Microsoft will no longer provide support to Windows 7 users.
Why is This a Big Deal?
If you’ve already made the move to Window 10, then this article is not for you. But if you are among the 400 million users still using Windows 7, then continue reading and you will learn why this is important to you.
In December 2018 Windows 10 finally surpassed Windows 7 in market share for operating systems of those who own/use PCs (personal computers).
- Windows 10: 22% market share – installed on 700 million devices (including PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One consoles)
- Windows 7: 9% market share – installed on approximately 400 million PCs
- Windows 10 launched in 2015 with an original forecast of 1 billion devices by 2018 which was recently revised to 2019 to reach this goal, as the failure of the Windows phone didn’t meet sales expectations
- Windows 7 launched in 2009 and is predicted to hold strong well after support expires in January 2020
- Experts predict that by January 2021, Windows 10’s market share should increase to about 70%
When you’re a small business 8 months is not really a lot of time to reconfigure your company’s IT infrastructure. But, if you’re still running Windows 7, it’s a reality that you are most certainly facing. Changing to a new operating system is never easy and it can affect other aspects of your business as well as your software (including Office 2010), and your hardware, depending on the age of your equipment. Not to mention, the downtime associated with the upgrade.
How Will Windows 7 End of Life Affect My Computer?
End of Life does not mean that your computer running Windows 7 will stop working. What it does mean for consumers still using Windows 7 is there are no more security patches, no more updates, and no more fixes to any glitches. While for the average home user, this may not seem like a big deal. Your risk is limited to your personal data—which make no mistake—is a big deal! But for a business owner with multiple computers, a data breach could be disastrous.
Why Some People Still Use Windows 7
- Change is hard—you and your staff are familiar with how it works
- In recent reports from Netmarketshare, it’s estimated that Windows 7 is still being used on 39% of all PCs, suggesting that it’s still a very popular operating system
- It works well on older computers
- Windows 10 is too pushy with too many forced updates
- Windows 10 requires too much personalization—many consumers are concerned about their privacy and don’t want to provide too much personal information
- Windows 10 is expensive for business owners:
- The cost to upgrade to Windows 10 is calculated per device:
- Home Version: $139
- Pro Version: $199 (used by small businesses or users who need enhanced functionality)
- Workstations Version: $309 (for advanced users, businesses that need enhanced functionality, or the ability to compute intensive workloads)
- Read about Microsoft 10 upgrade features here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/windows?activetab=tab%3ashopwindows10
- The cost to upgrade to Windows 10 is calculated per device:
Disadvantages of Windows 7
While many Windows 7 users still find this operating system (OS) adequate for their needs, there are several reasons that sticking with this outdated system is a bad idea.
- End of Life means NO security protection
- Hardware configuration is outdated
- New apps slow down this outdated system
- It is reported to be prone to errors and it is sluggish and slow
- Windows 7 is ten years old, which is considered very old for an operating system
- Microsoft ended standard support in January 2015, meaning no new features have been added and warranty claims are no longer valid
What does End of Life Mean for Users of Windows 7?
While your computer won’t shut down in January of 2020, all support for Windows 7 will end, with the exception of the paid, extended warranty.
- No security updates as new viruses and malware appear
- No technical support or help for any issues
- Systems running Windows 7 are vulnerable to new threats
- Windows 7 users may become targets for malicious threats
- No support for Office 2010
Why Should You Care that Microsoft is No Longer Supporting Windows 7?
The most important reason to upgrade to Windows 10 is cybersecurity. Among IT professionals, one of the biggest concerns for Windows 7 users is cybersecurity. Security breaches and ransomware attacks are becoming the norm instead of occasional occurrences. Cybercriminals are always finding new ways to hack your data. Because there will no longer be security patches available, there is a concern that malicious hackers will intentionally attack vulnerable systems still using Windows 7. The cybersecurity risk is just too great not to upgrade to a new, more secure operating system.
- Whenever a malicious attack is discovered, developers (the good guys) create “patches” to protect your computer. Microsoft will no longer provide these “patches” to prevent future attacks on computers running Windows 7
- The potential damage could cost your company far more than the cost to upgrade
- Not only are you facing a monetary risk, but you put your customers’ data at risk as well
- If a customers’ data is compromised, studies have found that they no longer have trust with the company
- Customers will avoid a company if that company has experienced a previous data breach
- The downtime to upgrade and learn a new operating system is far less than the downtime when dealing with malware or ransomware
Recommendations for Users of Windows 7
- Upgrade to Windows 10, as a Microsoft product, Windows 10 is similar to Windows 7 and would be the least disruptive
- Don’t upgrade to Windows 8 (it too will enter End of Life stage and it is not worth the investment of time and money)
- Change your operating system to Linux, while this option is more cost effective than upgrading to Windows 10, the interface with Linux operating systems is different from the Windows products and that change would include a learning curve as you learn a new operating system
- Change to Mac products and operating systems
- Purchase the Windows 7 extended warranty which is a yearly cost based on the number of computers
- Enterprise and Microsoft 365 customers can buy the Windows 7 Extended Security Updates on a per device basis
- This is a per device, yearly cost, so businesses with many PCs running Windows 7 will find this solution very costly
- Windows 7 Pro users will find prices are even higher at about $50 for year one support per device, $100 per device for year two and $200 per device for year three
- This is only a temporary solution as this extended paid support is only offered through January 2023
Reasons Consumers and Business Owners are Resisting Upgrading to Windows 10
Change isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to your business. At Spry Squared, we understand the challenges businesses encounter when making a decision that has a huge impact on your business IT infrastructure. There are many factors to consider:
- Cost of Windows 10
- Downtime to install the upgrade
- While Windows 10 is similar to Windows 7, there will be a learning curve for you and your staff to learn the new system and new features
- Cost to replace or upgrade old computers as older equipment may not meet the required specifications for Windows 10
- The uncertainty of what is needed to implement the upgrade
- Which files do I need to back up?
- How do I backup my files?
- Is my existing equipment good enough?
- How will this change affect my proprietary business software?
- How long will the upgrade take?
- How much is this upgrade going to cost?
These are all valid and important questions to ask. And, while this is not an easy decision, the IT professionals at Spry Squared, Inc. can take the uncertainty out of the equation for you. When you work with Spry Squared, we will come in and access all of your needs, make recommendations and then work with you and your staff to implement a plan. We do our best to make the upgrade process as easy as possible for you, your staff and your business.
Whether you’re looking for help to upgrade your operating system to Windows 10, need support for your every day managed IT services or need a total IT rehab, the IT experts at Spry Squared, Inc. have you covered! Contact us today for your FREE consultation.
