Windows 7 has Come to an End – Why We Need to Update

Windows 7 is no longer supported.

As the days pass, it will be a lot harder to stay safe because there will not be any security patches or updates issued. 

• There is a 100% chance, at some point, a vulnerability will be discovered
• A security patch to correct the vulnerability will not be created
• Malware will exploit the vulnerability
• It’s just a matter of time before the PC is compromised
• Once that happens, you’ve lost the integrity of your network.

 If you’re comfortable with that scenario, may as well stop reading and get back to the more important stuff – like online shopping and bill payment.

If you are one of the extraordinarily lucky few who are not compromised, you will suffer from diminished support for hardware and software. That is to say, continuing to use Windows 7 will eventually become more irritating than it’s worth. No new devices will be designed to work with Windows 7. So, printers, software and even websites won’t run or work properly on Windows 7.

Not ready to change either due to economic reasons or preferences?

Is your resistance to change worth putting you and or your business at risk? If economic reasons are holding you back, there are options such as equipment leasing or hardware as a service which could be a good way to stay get updated.

It’s many times less expensive to replace the PC than clean up after a breach.  

• It has been documented 73% of online attacks in 2019 were aimed at small businesses. 
• More than half of all small businesses suffered a breach within the last year.
• These incidents now cost businesses of all sizes $200,000 on average, reveals insurance carrier Hiscox.
• 60 Percent of Small Businesses Fold Within 6 Months of a Cyber Attack according to Inc.com
• According to Keeper Security’s 2019 SMB Cyberthreat, 66% of senior decision-makers at small businesses still believe they’re unlikely to be targeted by online criminals.
• Similarly, 6 in 10 have no digital defense plan in place whatsoever, underscoring the need for heightened industry awareness and education across the board.
• What’s more, given that digital threats tend to go an average of 101 days before being detected by business operators, the damage to an organization from such compromises can quickly add up.

Updating to Windows 10 will not solve all your security problems but it’s much easier to maintain a security perimeter if you’re not building your base on sand.

If you still have Windows 7 PCs, or if you are not totally sure about your cyber defense strategy – give us a call.