Stop procrastinating: Migrating from Windows XP
The time is literally ticking away as we speak. If your business is still running Windows XP, there is no more time to waste. It is officially time to migrate. As of April 8, 2014 Microsoft will no longer be supporting the popular Windows XP system. With Microsoft no longer supporting the system, your company will be left in a vulnerable position should you decide to risk it and stay with the XP system. You will also be responsible for providing your own support of the system which is often very costly, as managing Windows could be difficult, so using resources like Windows Fix Hub can be a great choice for you.
Risks of Running XP
Hackers are anxiously awaiting the deadline, and know that after April 8th, they can keep hacking away, without having to worry about Microsoft updating their systems to stop the online criminal activity. They will essentially have free reign to go about breaching companies secure data.
Security breaches aren’t the only thing to worry about either. Your company computers will be at a greater risk for infections and viruses, as well as denial of service attacks. Not to mention, if you’re in the US, you may also be subject to government fines in the event your data is breached.
If your company is still running XP, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. It is estimated that 1/3 of the PC’s are still running the OS. Windows XP was the most popular operating system to date, and Microsoft actually extended their support of the system several times to keep up with customer demand.
Making the Switch
Unfortunately, Microsoft has extended XP support for the last time, and now it’s time to migrate. Back up all your old data, and then it’s time to make a choice. Will Windows 7 or Windows 8 work better for your company? There are many online resources available to help you make the choice. In certain instances, it may also be better to upgrade equipment, rather than upgrade operating systems. If the computers are too old, they may not be able to support the newer systems.
There is no more time for procrastinating, it’s time for your business to migrate. In the long run, the benefits outweigh the potential costs of migration as well. Where are you at in the migration process? Tell us in the comments below.
Author Bio:
Matt Smith works for Dell and has a passion for learning and writing about technology. Outside of work he enjoys entrepreneurship, being with his family, and the outdoors.