I talk to a lot of people in Central Ohio, and I gotta say, not many
people are aware that October 14th is the last day Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10. The alarm bells are sounding, but people can’t hear them. As a tech leader, the media’s relationship with technology confounds me. I see important information that affects the everyday person on a deeply personal level, but for some reason that information doesn’t reach critical mass in the same way that the latest iPhone release does, or in the same way a story about the latest hack affecting millions can instill widespread fear.
Nevertheless, this piece of news is arguably just as important as anything else you might hear this year: it’s important to update your operating system to Windows 11! Not doing so will put you at risk, and if you own a business, puts you in a greater legal concern when your customers’ information is vulnerable!
Business owners know that keeping information safeguarded is integral to all healthy institutions; but the process can seem daunting and overwhelming. Maybe you can do the research and perform the installation yourself, but keep two big key factors in mind:
1. Downtime
Ask yourself, how many endpoints (user stations) are you responsible for? Try to imagine the time involved to manually upgrade each computer, along with the amount of resources spent backing up data and reinstalling that information back on to each computer. Remember that professional IT and MSP providers are prepared for the chaos and can easily schedule time to upgrade your systems, with minimal interruption to your business.
You can check out how much revenue goes out the window when your business faces downtime here.
2. Long-term upkeep
As with any software, it constantly needs updated to for security patches and improvements. Simply upgrading to a new operating system goes a long way! But keeping tabs and making the time to plan and maintain that system is arduous at best, involving constant reminders. Make sure you have a team you trust to enforce these upgrades. It will make your daily workflow much smoother and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your infrastructure and data are safe.
FAQs:
I’ve been slow to transition to new operating systems before, and nothing happened. My tasks and programs ran totally fine and there were no major complications.
You are correct! Your systems will still be operational with no obvious technical problems. Upgrading can be a personal choice that is dependent on every businesses’ circumstance. However, please keep in mind that should you need support, Microsoft will no longer be there to walk you through any complications that may follow. Even more importantly, you are at severe risk because security flaws can’t be patched. You put yourself and your clients at risk of exposing their personal information. Maybe nothing will happen, but if something does happen, you will be at risk of blame, carrying possible legal consequences and loss of public trust. Stay prepared and upgrade now.
October 14th is approaching fast, what if I can’t update to Windows 11 in time?
Your trusted IT partner should have already notified you of needing an upgrade. If not, then reach out to them ASAP and tell them about the repercussions of not upgrading. If you need more time with Windows 10 before transitioning, Microsoft does have a program called Extended Security Updates (ESU). It is rather cost prohibitive (at $61 per user device) and doubles in price every year. It also has extremely limited support options. Microsoft has openly said that the ESU program is strictly meant to help people transition to new software.
I’m overwhelmed and don’t know how to initiate the Windows 11 Upgrade.
You’re not alone! Thousands of people find themselves unable upgrade, not because they’re staunch and hard-headed, but because they lack the simple know-how of where to get started. If you don’t have an IT company, you can give me a call and we’ll set up time for a cup of coffee. We’ll set you up with a clear road map and take things; one item at a time, one day at a time.
—Daniel Maldet
