Microsoft Office 2010 support is now reaching the final leg of its lifecycle. Extended support for Office 2010 will end on October 13th, 2020 and that means no more tech support, bug fixes, or security patches coming from Microsoft. Accompanying applications Microsoft Exchange 2010 and SharePoint Server 2010 will also reach end of life. This will leave your business vulnerable to cyber-attacks and hackers if you do not update these applications.
Businesses are looking into their options: upgrading to the on-premise Office 2019 version for a one-time purchase or moving to the per-user cloud-based subscription of Office 365.
The key difference between these two products is that Office 365 provides businesses with a solution that is updated regularly with many new features. While Office 2019 has the same features it came with when it was released back in October 2018, Office 365 has plans that include full versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and Teams that can be installed locally on your system. It also allows employees the opportunity to install Office on up to 5 devices. (PCs, Macs, or Mobiles).
Additional benefits of Office 365 include Excel’s “XLOOKUP,” the successor to the “VLOOKUP” formula; real-time collaboration across PCs for Excel, laptops, and mobile; Word’s writing assistant; dictation and the upcoming ability to upload audio files for automatic transcription. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have been added to advance creativity and innovation, providing employees real-time collaboration across applications. Microsoft Office 2019 or Office 365 provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business will not only be productive but also safe.
Need a few more reasons to switch to the new Microsoft Office 2019 or Office 365?
Below are our three major concerns for businesses currently running Office 2010 today:
- Businesses Technology Should NOT be Outdated
Outdated technology leaves a business at risk. The manufacturer (Microsoft) will no longer provide updates, patches, or security enhancements. Additionally, they will no longer provide support if issues arise. The lack of support or attention creates a whole new set of vulnerabilities to be exploited. Lastly, the lack of available updates can harm productivity for businesses and employees, slowing performance to a crawl. - Lack of Scale for Business
At Clare Computer Solutions, we believe every business is NOT the same, and no solution should be built upon a one-size-fits-all approach to technology. The needs for each business vary widely. Office 365 offers various plan options to meet business needs. Choosing the wrong plan can lead to problems down the road. It is important to take the time to work with an expert to properly select the right plan for your business. - Lack of Security
Office 2010 does have some security features, but they are purpose-built for those tools and solutions and only focus on outdated threats. As malware, hacking, and ransomware continue to grow, so should your productivity applications and program protections. The newer threats that are emerging must be met by programs with more extensive security features that identify and can prevent attacks before they start. While a small amount of security and protection will be there for businesses using Office 2010, remember that it is an older program, and without proper patching, it will not be long before the solution is compromised.
Upgrading your Microsoft Office environment will enhance user performance and productivity while minimizing your exposure to risk and downtime. With Microsoft Office 2019 or Office 365, you get everything you had in the past versions and so much more.
Again, October 13th, 2020 is coming up fast! Begin discussing these cut-off dates now and determine where your business stands today and where it wants to go as you enter this next wave of end-of-life solutions. Work with Clare Computer Solutions, a Certified Microsoft Partner, to provide your business with the tools needed to stay safe and productive in today’s changing work environments.
