Windows 7: Time to say goodbye

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that they would no longer be providing support for Windows 7. This signals the death of the operating system and is crucial information for anyone still using it. Here’s what it means for users and why you need to upgrade to Windows 10 sooner rather than later. 

When Is The End Date?

On January 14th, 2020, Windows 7 will officially no longer receive updates or upgrades from Microsoft. Essentially, the company is abandoning the operating system as they have done before with others in the past.

This means that after this date there will be:

  • No technical support
  • No software updates
  • No security updates

Can You Still Use Windows 7 After this date?

Windows 7 will still operate on a desktop or laptop if it is already installed. Whether you should continue to use it is another matter entirely. There are numerous reasons why this could be dangerous for business owners and private users.

Since there will be no more security updates, your system will be more susceptible to viruses and hacks. Furthermore, if you have any issues, you won’t be able to contact the company to get the fix that you require. This means that if you have problems with corrupted files or systems that no longer work, Microsoft isn’t going to provide support.

Will there Be Anymore Updates?

There will be at least one more update to Windows 7. This will simply be a reminder to complete the update to Windows 10 before the final date in January. The update is optional but will be automatically added if this option is enabled.

The Danger 

Right now 39% of PCs are still operating on Windows 7. It’s still incredibly popular. The issue is that criminals know this and will also be aware that after January there are going to be no more security updates. Windows 7 systems won’t be prepared for the latest malicious software used by hackers. It could present a fantastic opportunity for them and a nightmare for users. In short, it could mean that it’s open season on Windows 7 machines.

Benefits Of Upgrading To Windows 10

The main benefit of upgrading to Windows 10 is that this system is getting security updates and patches. These software upgrades are launched regularly and can be automatically added onto your system. As soon as you upgrade to Windows 10, you will immediately have a better level of security on your system.

As well as this, upgrading to Windows 10 is actually easy if you’re already on Windows 7. In the majority of cases, you’ll even be able to keep existing files on your PC. This means that you won’t need to bother with a backup although that’s always recommended when you’re changing operating systems.

The interface is quite similar to Windows 7 too. This is great news, particularly for business owners. It ensures that you won’t have to worry about spending hours training your team to use the new system. Instead, it can be a relatively smooth upgrade and even lead to higher productivity. Many people have found Windows 10 is more user responsive which can lead to a higher level of efficiency for business processes.

Of course, Windows 10 can also help ensure that you will be able to significantly reduce time wastage. That’s due to faster startups. On the right system, Windows 10 will load up without delays and you’ll immediately be able to get down to work.

There are lots of other great features too including Cortana which allows you to control your system or search the web through voice control. It provides a greater level of flexibility and ensures that a wide range of people can easily access the system. Voice control is going to become more significant over the next few years and Windows 10 will prepare you for this change.

Windows 10 also comes with numerous security features including Device Guard, Microsoft Passport and Windows Hello. As well as this, Microsoft has added both ransomware protection and exploit protection too. These are modern threats and are becoming far more prevalent. With Windows 10, you can make sure that you are fully prepared with the absolute best line of defense.

We hope this helps you understand the importance of the death of Windows 7 and why now is the right time to complete your Windows 10 upgrade. While making this change will come with a cost, it is one that is certainly worth paying to keep your systems safe and gain multiple benefits.

Ever Nimble: We are your IT support partners

We provide honest and smart advice to help your business thrive. We will connect your teams, improve your processes and ensure your infrastructure can be relied on. We are based in Perth, Western Australia and Melbourne, Victoria. We can’t wait to collaborate with you.

 

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