Alert: Microsoft is Retiring Two Major Operating Systems

Windows is a great operating system, but unless you’re keeping track of which version you have, you’ll be in for a rude awakening when it comes time to upgrade. In just six short months, there will be two Windows End of Life events for major technology solutions: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. You need to start thinking about upgrading now before it’s too late to do so.

The End of Support date for these two titles is January 14th, 2020. If your organization hasn’t already upgraded away from these solutions, or has yet to take steps toward doing so, you should seriously consider doing so soon. A full migration cannot be done overnight, and vulnerabilities could appear in the time you’re spending trying to upgrade away from these pieces of software.

This is why we recommend you start thinking about it now; your security is at stake, and by extension, your business’ future.

Windows 7

Even though we are currently on Windows 10, Windows 7 has been a remarkably popular operating system since its inception many years ago. In fact, it wasn’t until just this past December that Windows 10 overtook Windows 7 in number of users. There is currently an ongoing campaign running to get Windows 7 users to make the upgrade as soon as possible. 

We recommend making the jump to Windows 10, as it is the most recent operating system supported by Microsoft. If you need to move over several workstations to this operating system, the process might be slow-going, which is why we recommend starting talks to make this happen now. We are of the firm belief that working with consultants can make this process go as smoothly as possible.

You could also go the Microsoft 365 route, which is a cloud-based service for companies that may not be able to afford to cover the initial costs of upgrading to Windows 10. Washington Works can help you make the decision regarding which service is appropriate for your business.

Windows Server 2008 R2

Microsoft is also ending support for Windows Server 2008 R2, meaning that any business that relies on it for data and application hosting will be out of luck come January 2020. This is particularly notable for any server infrastructure you may have that utilizes Windows Server 2008 R2, as it will no longer be receiving security updates that are critical to keeping your data safe.

There are two new versions of the Windows Server software that you could upgrade to, as well as the cloud-based Azure platform. With the right tools and upgrade procedure, you might be able to save some money when you make the jump to a more recent OS. For more information on how to make this happen with minimal downtime and risk, consult the IT professionals at Washington Works. You can reach us at 301-571-5040.