Is your organization prepared for Windows XP end-of-life?

Support for Windows XP ends on April 8, 2014.

If you have PCs running XP, you will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. This ends all security updates, hotfixes, driver updates and support.
Running Windows XP in your environment after the end of support date may expose your company to potential risks, such as viruses, spyware, and other malicious software which can steal your business information.

An analysis by International Data Corporation revealed that supporting older Windows XP installations, compared with a modern Windows 7–based solution, burdens organizations with a dramatically higher cost. Annual cost per PC per year for Windows XP is $870, while a comparable Windows 7 installation costs $168 per PC per year. That is an incremental $701 per PC per year for IT and end-user labor costs.

You may be thinking, “But, Windows XP works great for us and we have no hardware issues with our computers, so why should we switch?”

Think about this… On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will release the last batch of XP patches and explanations of what they fix. A few days after that, virus writers will have deconstructed these patches and discovered the underlying security holes.  Then, they release their viruses, ransomware, adware, etc.  The next day, thousands of computers may be infected by the malware, and even if it is removed and all normal precautions are taken, this virus will infect the computers again and again while the Windows XP PC is being used to access the internet.

Organizations that continue to retain a Windows XP environment  not only  are leaving themselves exposed to security risks and support challenges but also are wasting budget dollars that would be better used in modernizing their IT investments. If your organization is bound by regulatory compliance policies, HIPAA or GLBA for example, the end of life for XP is of particular concern. Keeping XP systems in production that are no longer receiving security updates leaves you at risk for failed audits and susceptible to fines due to non-compliance. Many options exist for businesses considering moving to newer PC operating systems.

To understand the best options for your organization, you need a Microsoft Partner who will assess your business needs. BizTech will come to your place of business, assess your PC Network, and you will receive a customized Assessment Report — complete with your organization’s needs and best options to keep your business running smoothly.

Contact BizTech at 419.539.6922 to discuss or schedule your assessment.

How to configure Windows automatic updates

If you are a Windows user, you should make sure that the Automatic Update feature is configured to automatically download and install updates on a regular schedule.  This will ensure that you have the latest patches and security updates from Microsoft- which can help protect your computer from new and emerging security threats.

For Windows XP users:

To enable Automatic Updates

1. Use Microsoft Internet Explorer to visit Microsoft Update.
2. On the right side of the page, Internet Explorer displays the current status of Automatic Updates:
   • If Automatic Updates is turned on, your computer is protected. Windows XP will automatically install updates. You don’t need to follow the rest of these steps.
   • If Automatic Updates is turned off, click Turn on Automatic Updates.
3. In the Automatic Updates window, click OK.

For Windows Vista/7 users:

1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.
2. In the left pane, click Change settings.
3. Under Important updates, choose the option that you want.
4. Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updatescheck box, and then click OK.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can also choose if you want to allow anyone to install updates by selecting the Allow all users to install updates on this computer check box. This applies only to updates and software that are installed manually; automatic updates will be installed regardless of the user.

For Windows 8 users:

In Windows 8, Windows will turn on automatic updating during setup unless you choose to turn it off. You can check this setting and turn on automatic updating in Control Panel. Just open the Search charm, enter Turn automatic updating on or off, and tap or click Settings to find it. You can use Control Panel to turn automatic updating on, and you can also control what Windows does with recommended updates and updates for other Microsoft products.

These tips were found on the Microsoft Windows website & compiled by BizTech Network Consultant, Dan Mizen.