Businesses warned to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10 ASAP

It is hardly a secret that Microsoft is keen to see its customers upgrade their operating systems to Windows 10, the latest addition to the American giant’s operating system. However, Microsoft’s senior product marketing manager for Windows Commercial and Cyber Security has sought to ramp up the pressure on business owners across the world by reiterating the expiry of Microsoft’s extended support for the Windows 7 operating system.

A recent blog post from Microsoft’s German division also stated that despite the security upgrades on offer to all businesses operating Windows 7, through the extended support period it can no longer be a guarantee that businesses will be suitably protected against the ever-sophisticated community of cyber criminals operating online.

Milad Aslaner, Microsoft’s senior product marketing manager of the Windows Commercial and Cyber Security division, stated: “Today, Windows 7 can no longer keep up with the increased security requirements.”

Mr Aslaner reiterated that businesses who hold back from upgrading their computers to Windows 10 will end up paying higher operational costs resulting from more frequent maintenance and support fees, as well as data and time lost as a consequence of malware cyber attacks.

According to Aslaner, a growing number of hardware providers have taken the decision not to produce new drivers for Windows 7 OS. Over time, business’ computer systems will no longer recognise the latest peripherals.

Did you know?

Microsoft discontinued basic support for all Windows 7 OS users from January 2015. Since then, businesses operating Windows 7 have still been able to download upgrades to the system’s security, but its functionality has remained the same.

Microsoft fears that its enterprise users are at the biggest risk of cyber attacks, imploring them to migrate their most sensitive data to the new OS as swiftly as possible or run the risk of “enormous dangers” from the latest methods of cyber attacks that Windows 7 has no way to thwart.

The Windows 10 operating system features a cloud-based Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection to improve the system’s recognition of a genuine cyber attack. Meanwhile, Microsoft has closed easier loopholes such as insecure passwords by introducing Windows Hello, which allows users to protect data via iris, fingerprint or facial recognition.

For any company looking for support and advice with Microsoft Windows 10 installations, contact us today and help us support your business security and productivity.