The specific end-of-support day for Windows 7 is January 14, 2020. After that, technical assistance, and software updates that help protect your PC will no longer be available for the product. After January 14, users of Windows 7 will have to make arrangements to upgrade and ensure that their machines are not vulnerable.

Microsoft strongly recommends that users move to Windows 10 to avoid a situation where they need service or support that is no longer available. Here are some options we recommend:

Buy a New Computer That Comes with Windows 10

When you buy a new computer, check the OS (Operating System) and make sure that it comes with Windows 10. Most computers come with an OS installed, buy one that already has Windows 10 installed.

Upgrade Your Computer by Purchasing a New Windows 10 License

For that, you must make sure that your older computer will support the new technology. If it does, there’s no need to buy a new computer.

Check to see if your computer came with a License for Windows 10

Some computers originally came with a License for Windows 10, but the computer was downgraded to Windows 7. These can be upgraded without additional cost.

Now that you have some options, it is time to move to Windows 10.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”60px”]

Ensure Stronger Computer Security

No company or individual wants their private information to be compromised. With outdated operating systems, cyber-crime becomes a possibility. Unsupported operating systems will no longer receive security updates. This means that it is much easier for harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software to gain access to your computer. Hackers will target outdated operating systems because of their vulnerability, allowing them to breach your computer and gain personal information. The best way to prevent this is by updating your operating system to the latest version.

Allow Access to Support

Printers, keyboards, and speakers are each specific types of hardware that are essential to your computer experience. In order for these pieces of hardware to connect to your computer properly, they have to go through a type of software called drivers. These drivers allow the hardware to connect to the computer, so you can do things like print, type, click, and scan. When operating systems become outdated, they no longer have regular software updates. This means that drivers will not update. As a result, you may not be able to connect to your new printer, type from your keyboard, or listen from your speakers. Updating from an old operating system like Windows Vista can ensure that your hardware works, giving you the confidence in knowing that your print jobs will come out right, every time.

Enhance Compatibility with New Computer Programs

Technology is constantly evolving. Each day new computer programs are being released and old computer programs are being updated. Whether you use these programs at work, at home, or at school, chances are they are vital to your success. Old operating systems are unable to run new programs, putting you behind. Updating Windows Vista, or any other operating system, will make sure that you can run the latest computer programs, giving you the tools needed to be successful.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

With enhanced security, better support, and compatibility with new programs, updating just makes sense. Your computer’s update process can be intimidating, but Les Olson Company can help! Our I.T. department specializes in helping businesses find their best upgrade path.[/cz_title]

Hackers have been exploiting this particular vulnerability, taking advantage of those who have not yet upgraded to the latest version of Internet Explorer. Considering the ease of fixing this issue, it’s most certainly not worth the risk – especially for businesses.

Not sure which version you use? Simply open your browser, in the upper right-hand corner of the browser, click the Settings Symbol. Next click About Internet Explorer. This will open a window, which will tell you the version of the browser is installed on your computer. If you have Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10, you will need to install one of the newer versions – Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge if you have the Windows 10 OS.

LES OLSON COMPANY MANAGED IT CLIENTS

Our IT experts have already made the appropriate updates to Internet Explorer installations for all Les Olson Company customers who are enrolled in our Managed IT Services program.

Learn more about how Les Olson Company can provide proactive management, monitoring and maintenance of your business’ computers and servers through our Managed IT Services program.[/cz_title]

Microsoft has announced that after July 14, they will no longer issue security updates for any version of Windows Server 2003. If you are still running this version of Windows Server, it’s very critical to take action. Now is the time to create a plan and a migration strategy to protect your infrastructure moving forward.

How You’re Affected and Why You Should Care

Businesses that are running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 will be affected. All software products have a life cycle. As inconvenient as it may be for many businesses, Microsoft can’t realistically support this outdated technology forever. This means that although you can still technically use Microsoft Server 2003 in your business, it would be a very unwise decision because Microsoft will no longer be supporting it with automatic fixes, updates or online technical assistance.

Those businesses with unsupported software are not only exposing themselves to heightened security risks from things like malicious attacks and electronic data loss but they may also encounter issues with software and hardware compatibility. This is because new software and hardware moving forward will most likely not be built for compatibility with Windows Server 2003. Another serious risk that accompanies continued use of Windows Server 2003 is the potential loss of compliance, data, system resources and business assets. Of all these risks, the security threat cannot be emphasized enough, Microsoft will no longer provide security patches that are essential to maintaining adequate security on your servers.

The Good News

The end of support for Windows Server 2003 could mean the beginning of a major IT transformation for your organization. There are great benefits to upgrading your business technology as there are now many more opportunities for creating new efficiencies which might include improved performance, reduced maintenance requirements and increased speed of responsiveness.

The Solution and Why Getting Help is a Smart Choice

Don’t let this deadline sneak up on you. Now is the time to start planning either within your organization or with your IT Service provider. The first step is an obvious one, you’ll need to determine all of the applications and workloads that are currently running Windows Server 2003. Next you’ll need to create a plan to prioritize migration based on workload type, importance and degree of complexity, then choose a migration destination for each application or workload – either in the data center or the cloud. You’ll also need to decide if there are any other components to your IT infrastructure that need to be modernized. Given the age of the installation, the chances that other software products beyond this operation system could need updating are good. Once your migration and technology update plan is in place, it’s time to execute it.

A server workload migration is no small undertaking. That’s why we recommend you don’t try to do it alone. This is a great time to leverage experience and expertise you can trust. Our IT professionals are here to help facilitate this major update for your business with our infrastructure and expertise so you can transition with confidence and little interruption to your workflow. Let Les Olson Company help you plan, design, implement, manage and support your migration so you can focus on what you do best.[/cz_title]