Adam Thomas, Principle Solution Architect
April 8, 2014 marks the end of support for Windows XP. That means no more Windows Updates.
Windows XP has had a good run. It brought features such as allowing multiple users to use the same computer, better control over file security, and last but not least, Windows Updates. I'm sure you, like me, have been annoyed at times by those pesky Windows Update messages. However, it is Windows Updates that have made XP an effective operating system for over a decade. That decade has brought faster speeds, HD graphics, and increased security threats. Each of those things has been addressed by a Windows Update at one point or another.
Windows XP has had a good run. It brought features such as allowing multiple users to use the same computer, better control over file security, and last but not least, Windows Updates. I'm sure you, like me, have been annoyed at times by those pesky Windows Update messages. However, it is Windows Updates that have made XP an effective operating system for over a decade. That decade has brought faster speeds, HD graphics, and increased security threats. Each of those things has been addressed by a Windows Update at one point or another.
Small businesses may be thinking they'll run just a little longer on XP to save money and frustration upgrading. They may think that hackers aren't going to be concerned about a few small businesses still running XP. And if that were the case, they could be right. But it's not! According to multiple recent articles including one from CNN Money, over 90% of ATM's are still running XP. A few days ago I was in the UPS Store, and guess what I saw running on their computers? XP!
Hackers have plenty of incentive to find ways to exploit users running Windows XP, and after April 8, Microsoft is not going to be spending countless hours fixing those security holes.
If your business relies on computers to operate (like so many others), you need to take this lack of support seriously. And if you're running Vista, you should consider a pro-active approach and upgrade it while you're at it, consolidating efforts and cost. There are already new small business software releases from Microsoft that are not compatible with Vista, and that isn't going to change moving forward.
Making a jump to a new operating system isn’t easy, and doing it in a short amount of time is even more difficult. But when you partner with TOPHAT, you can rest assured we will help you make the transition as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Author: Adam Thomas, Co-Founder, TOPHAT LTD
References:
http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/04/technology/security/atm-windows-xp/
Hackers have plenty of incentive to find ways to exploit users running Windows XP, and after April 8, Microsoft is not going to be spending countless hours fixing those security holes.
If your business relies on computers to operate (like so many others), you need to take this lack of support seriously. And if you're running Vista, you should consider a pro-active approach and upgrade it while you're at it, consolidating efforts and cost. There are already new small business software releases from Microsoft that are not compatible with Vista, and that isn't going to change moving forward.
Making a jump to a new operating system isn’t easy, and doing it in a short amount of time is even more difficult. But when you partner with TOPHAT, you can rest assured we will help you make the transition as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Author: Adam Thomas, Co-Founder, TOPHAT LTD
References:
http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/04/technology/security/atm-windows-xp/