Microsoft Products

End of Service Life (EoSL) – January 14th 2020

Written by Shackleton Technologies

It seems like only the other day we were lamenting the demise of Windows XP and now, here we are, heralding the death knell for another two Microsoft stalwarts, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

On 14th January 2020, Microsoft will cease all patch and security updates for each of these products, making the upgrade or replacement of all Windows 7 and Server 2008 machines essential, if your business is to remain secure.

These were two of Microsoft’s most popular products, and as such, businesses all over the world are being forced to move to more modern, fully supported products.

Now is the time to switch to Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019!

What do I need to do?

The most important consideration is planning when you intend replacing or upgrading hardware, ideally at a time that suits your business. Don’t wait till the last minute, as the number of machines you are replacing or upgrading will determine the amount of time required for any project work and your IT provider’s schedule for the last quarter of 2019 is likely to be hectic.

Other things to consider

Have you budgeted for such expense? If not, work with your IT Provider to effectively roadmap your projects and spread the cost over the period between now and January 2020

Alternatively, have you considered leasing? Moving costs from capital expenditure to operational expenditure in the subscription-based world we live in today is a serious option, and maybe that makes sense for your business.

The clock is ticking and the time to act is now!

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have been the most popular Microsoft operating systems ever released, and the natural tendency is for businesses to want to hold on to these globally familiar systems for as long as possible.
The fact that Microsoft will cease support for these products doesn’t mean that your Windows 7 PC or Server 2008 operating system will suddenly stop working on January 15^th, 2020. In fact, you’ll still be able to use them, but we recommend that you don’t.
When these products enter “end of life”, they will stop being patched against new viruses and other security problems, which means devices running these operating systems will quickly become vulnerable and businesses that continue to use them will be at greater risk.

What should I do next?

If you have any concerns or questions, contact us today.