Keeping Windows 7 will put Companies and users at risk if they do not move onto Windows 10. Microsoft will terminate support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020 and this is coming up quickly there is not much time.

It’s not just Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 that are approaching the end of life. This table shows you the Microsoft products that are approaching the end of life.

Operating System End of life date
Windows 7 January 14th 2020
Windows Server 2008 January 14th 2020
Office 2010 October 13th 2020
Windows Server 2012 January 10th 2023
Windows 8 / 8.1 January 10th 2023
Office 2013 April 11th 2023
Windows 10 October 14th 2025
Office 2016 October 14th 2025

What is end of life?

Products go through life cycles and as a company produces a new version of software the one it replaces heads towards end of life. When the end of life date arrives you will still be able to use Windows 7 but Microsoft will no longer offer support, and they will stop doing security updates.

Why does it matter?

Even after the Windows 7 end of life date, you can still use the operating system but what is the problem? The most important part about this issue is that Microsoft will stop the security updates. A lot of these updates are created to fix vulnerabilities that are being used by hackers. With those updates gone your system would become an easy target to the new computer viruses and malware being created. 

Companies also have to follow certain regulations to meet compliance’s for the industries they are in and if they fail to move onto newer operating systems they could be subjected to fines, lawsuits and worse case scenario jail time due to being knowingly negligent.   

What should you do?

Quickly find an MSP (Managed Service Provider) to upgrade your companies computers or make sure that your staffed IT personal are quickly moving forward with server migrations and desktop replacements. Regular home users find a mom and pop shop to help or take it upon yourself and purchase a new computer and move for files over.