On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. Is your company prepared?

It seems like yesterday that we were upgrading our PCs to the new Windows 7 Operating System and migrating services and applications to Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. But as we all know, time flies in the world of technology where last week’s innovation is tomorrow obsolete. The new technological advancements and upgrades can be difficult to follow and stay on top of, especially for small business owners who already have a lot on their plates.

I’m writing this article to remind local Northeast Ohio business owners of one significant deadline that you need to be prepared for. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. This means that Microsoft will no longer help you fix problems that occur nor will they provide regular security updates or patches, leaving your IT infrastructure and applications vulnerable and unprotected.

We are currently working with our clients to upgrade their operating systems and migrate their Windows Server 2008 over to the cloud or a new server. Your business should be doing the same (if you haven’t already).

Unfortunately, we have talked to a few businesses that are aware of these deadlines but have not yet been approached by their current IT service providers about what the next steps are. This is inexcusable. Please make sure that you have a plan in place.

We also get a lot of questions from business owners asking if they should replace their servers or migrate to the cloud. I will write more about this soon (or you can email me directly if you have questions), but for now it’s important to remember that what is right for each business depends on their specific needs.

If you have any questions about upgrading from Windows 7, or migrating your Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have or help you put a plan in motion.

Jan. 2020 will be here before you know it. Please take the necessary steps today to make sure your company’s technology will be protected tomorrow.

A good place to start is with our free IT Strategy Discussion.

Patrick Carroll

President, PCR Business Systems