A few months ago, I wrote to you about the end of support for Windows XP, Office 2003 and Exchange 2003. Everyone has upgraded or replaced all of these systems by now, right?
After 12 years of support, Microsoft will stop providing technical assistance for these products effective April 8. No more patches or any security fixes will be release and Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP.
For some, it’s sad to see this day come. Windows XP was probably the most popular operating system ever. Is it really that bad though? Sure, people have attachments to the way it used to work, but when you look at how quickly technology advances, Windows XP should have been retired years ago. There are faster processors, the need for more memory, integration into cloud platforms and many other advancements that will benefit your organization.
Don’t go at risk
To put it simply, if you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your systems are at risk. Your computers will still work, but they might become more vulnerable to hackers, viruses and malware. Most experts agree, that you still have another month or two to transition to a new platform, but my advice to you is to start planning today for that transition.
Lack of funds or budgeting is no longer a valid reason for these machines to stick around. This is something that you need to find a way to get done. As more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter a greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.