On January 14th, 2020, Windows 7 will be reaching its end of supportable life. This means any business using Windows 7 on employee PCs or Windows Server 2008 will no longer receive the security and bug patching needed when computing in today’s connected age. Rejoice in knowing Microsoft and Clare Computer Solutions have implemented what is known as Windows 7 Extended Support Update (ESU) for several systems.

You aren’t alone, according to Microsoft. It’s said that 65% of businesses will be affected by this change, and to alleviate the rising pressures of security, vulnerability, and risk, Microsoft has created the Windows 7 Extended Support Update, an update and patch that adds the ability to obtain security patches for your vulnerable Windows 7 machines. We are excited to announce our team has wrapped up the first deployment of Windows 7 Extended Support Update for Windows 7 systems, and we learned a lot!

Not sure what Windows 7 Extended Support Update patches are? They’re a patch add-on applied to employee systems that enable partners like us to put updated keys into each system. These keys allow your systems to communicate and receive future updates to secure your Windows 7 machines. Machines without these updates will no longer receive the patching needed to avoid hackers and virus exploits.

It’s these exploits that hackers and dark-web users use to gain backdoor access to employee systems and networking equipment. In most cases, by staying patched and secure, you can prevent the risk of an exploit drastically, and the Windows 7 Extended Support Update will provide reprieve for 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years. This should provide any business the opportunity to figure out what direction to take their business. The prices of technology are falling and the demand for secured computing is at an all-time high, so it can be a good option for businesses looking to buy more time with their beloved Windows 7 systems.

Weigh Your Options

For many businesses, it’s not worth the security risk, and this friendly reminder could help prevent future exploits of business machines. Not sure where to go from here?

Talk with our experts and discover what options your business has when it comes to Windows 7! We would be happy to assist in guiding your team in picking the right option for you. This option is great for newer systems that came with Windows 7 high-end laptops or desktops. If you are running Windows Server 2008, they will not be covered by the Windows 7 Extended Support Update, and we prompt anyone with questions to reach out.