More than a decade on from its launch on the 22nd of July 2009, Windows 7 is still a very popular operating system, accounting for around 39% of all PC operating systems.
Windows 7 end of life
On the 14th of January 2020 Windows 7 will become End of Life, which means Microsoft will no longer support or provide security updates for Windows 7. Microsoft has released an update for Windows 7 that will remind users that Windows 7 is fast becoming End of Life and reminding users to upgrade to Windows 10.
What does it mean?
What happens if you continue using Windows 7 after the 14th of January 2020? Without the latest security and virus updates, your PC will be extremely vulnerable to emerging threats and hackers will seek to exploit these vulnerabilities to target you and your business. Even with the strongest defences in place, 1 Windows 7 PC on your network can provide a backdoor to hackers to attack your business from within.
Upgrading to Windows 10
Windows 10 was officially launched on the 29th of July 2015. This means that if you are still using Windows 7, your PC is likely to be more than 4 years old. You can purchase a Windows 10 Pro license for £165 + VAT, but you will need to check whether your hardware can run Windows 10. Microsoft did a lot to ensure that Windows 10 can run on older hardware, but it is still a modern operating system and you need to ensure that it runs well, so as not to impede productivity. In some cases it may be possible to upgrade some of the hardware components to improve performance, but considering the investment and time, if your PC is not up to scratch it might be time to replace it with a new Windows 10 PC.
