How to prepare your business for Windows 7 End of Life Support

September 27, 2019 | Knowledge Base, Helpful Advice

Windows 7 has been one of the leading operating systems for the last 10 years for businesses, which means that the odds that your business will be affected is high. Ensure your business gets fully transitioned to Windows 10 to avoid security issues after Windows 7 End of Life support on January 14, 2020.

Our guide gives you the top things you need to consider so you aren’t left unprepared. Here is everything you need to know about Windows 7 End of Life Support.

What does Windows 7 End of Life mean for my business?

It means that Microsoft will no longer oversee the health of the Windows 7 operating system. There will not be any more upgrades, patching of security holes and support from their tech team, should you require assistance after January 14, 2020.

Why is Microsoft ending support for Windows 7?

There are a few reasons, the main one being – Windows 7 is a 10- year-old operating system. Additionally, Microsoft already has Windows 10 as its new top-performing operating system with new features, tools and security. It makes sense for them to channel their investments, efforts and resources to a more modern, more efficient and secure product – Windows 10.

Can my business continue to use Windows 7?

Yes, Windows 7 will still be available after January 14, 2020, but the question is whether you should continue to use it?

There is not going to be any technical support for the product. This means nobody is ensuring efficiency or even the safety for the product. This will attract bugs, viruses, and malware attack that will lead to significant downtime, data loss, and put your business at risk.

Is there an option to extend Windows 7 support?

Yes, Microsoft will continue to support Windows 7 through a Windows 7 end of life extended support service agreement until January 2023. This is a paid monthly fee. However, this is a band-aid fix and is temporary. Businesses will eventually need to transition to Windows 10 as applications, and new laptops will stop supporting Windows 7.

How do I prepare my business for this change from Windows 7 to Windows 10?

When it comes to technology upgrades, you should only trust the experts. There are many critical steps involved in this process, right from evaluating the health of your systems to backup to deployment and training. It is essential to ensure the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is smooth and does not interrupt your day-to-day operations.

Larger companies usually have IT departments to manage this change. But a small and medium business may get caught off guard due to lack of guidance.

An experienced company can support you through this. At Idealogical, we not only create a custom plan and execute it for you, but we also train your team. Systematic installation and in-depth training will empower your team to adapt and transition to the Windows 10 operating system quickly and efficiently without affecting your day-to-day operation.

How does Windows 7 End of Life affect my other Microsoft applications such as Office 365?

After January 14, 2020, updates to your version of Office 365 will be affected as follows:

You won’t receive new feature updates to Office 365 after January 14, 2020.

Office security updates will continue until January 2023 but will stop after this date
Using Office 365 on older, unsupported operating systems may cause performance and reliability issues over time.

What should be my next step?

The best option is to create a plan to replace all Windows 7 operating systems with Windows 10 before January 14, 2020. Find a trusted IT business provider who can guide you through the Windows 10 upgrade for your business. You can get a free 30-minute no-strings-attached consultation with one of our technicians.

If you have more questions or wish to upgrade to Windows 10, let us know. Call us at 416.410.5030 or email us at info@idealogical.com