It's been almost 5 months since Windows XP official support ended. While many have already migrated onto Windows 7 and Windows 8, there are still those who have remained on the 12-year old Operating System. For those who have made the decisions to stay with XP, it may be worth noting several risk factors surrounding that choice.

First and foremost, "End of Life" for an operating system (OS) means that the software manufacturer will no longer be releasing updates. Unfortunately for those still running Windows XP, this will include security updates. This means that, at the time of this article's publication, the Windows XP OS has been vulnerable for almost 5 entire months. While some may argue that all exploits have been discovered at this point, that is not an entirely valid point. Virus and hacker groups often find exploits and vulnerabilities years before end of life, and simply wait for the security updates to end. That way, their exploit remains unknown, no fix is ever developed, and they can guarantee their exploit is permanently valid.

Furthermore, software compatibility is eventually going to go extinct for Windows XP. While you may be able to currently use your software now, new hardware and new versions of software are going to someday be released. In fact, some developers have already announced they will no longer guarantee compatibility with their product and Windows XP.

As clients and competitors continue upgrading, can you afford to fall further behind?

Finally, it is worth noting the hardware changes between Windows XP, and the Windows 7/8 environments. If you are still running Windows XP, odds are you have not purchased new workstations or hardware for several years. Now might be a good time to look into updating your hardware along with software, and explore the possibility of increasing speed and productivity of your work force. Again, this also ensures your ability to stay relevant with hardware needs as your business continues to grow.

For more information on bringing your systems up to date call 616-776-0400 or CONTACT us today.