Microsoft’s End Of Support For Windows XP And Windows Server 2003:
What You Need To Know
The end of support for Windows XP has already happened, and the end of support for Windows Server 2003 is coming up soon. Millions of PC users were still using Windows XP when its support ended, and millions of PC users are still using Windows Server 2003. In this article, we will take a look at some of the risks associated with not upgrading after the end of support for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Windows Server 2003
Official Microsoft support for Windows Server 2003 is ending July 14, 2015. Windows Server 2003 is one of the most popular versions of Windows Server, and the end of support is expected to affect millions of users unless they upgrade before the end of support deadline.
Upgrade options:
Users wishing to upgrade from Windows Server 2003 have several options. You can choose Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2012 R2, which is currently the latest version of Windows Server, or you can move your migration efforts to Microsoft AZURE or Office 365 (exchange). Microsoft has announced that they will release a new version of Windows Server in 2016.
Benefits of upgrading include an increase in agility, as well as an increase in the speed of response to a business, a reduction in maintenance, and improved performance.
Windows XP
Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP in April, 2014. Since the release of Windows XP in 2001, it became the most popular Windows operating system of all time. Subsequent versions of Windows failed to unseat Windows XP, even a decade after its inception. Due to the high popularity of the operating system, Microsoft had to create a plan for the end of support for Windows XP, as there were still millions of PCs running that operating system.
Upgrade Options:
The newest version of Windows is Windows 8.1, although users have other options as well. Windows 7 and Windows 8 both still receive support, and should for many years to come. Windows 10 is set to be released in July 2015, and users who currently own a legitimate copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8 can upgrade to Windows 10 for free until July 2016.
Upgrade to Windows 10 what you need to know
Risks of not upgrading Windows XP or Windows Server 2003
- Without security updates, users that continue to use Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 after the end of support date allow their computers to become vulnerable to new viruses, malware, spyware, and other harmful applications.
- Using an operating system that does not receive updates can render you noncompliant with standards such as HIPAA.
- Third-party vendors may withdraw their services from your platform if you are running an out-of-date operating system. Developers of new applications will create their software for modern operating systems such as Windows 7 or Windows 8, which means their software will most likely not be compatible with your system.
- Hardware that is compatible with Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 will be harder to obtain, as manufacturers will no longer test the compatibility of their new hardware with Windows XP.
Conclusion
The decision on whether to upgrade from Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 is up to you, but at least you should have a basic understanding of the risks of not upgrading after reading this article. If you decide to stick with unsupported software, you will be much more vulnerable to viruses, malware, spyware, harmful code, and other malicious software that can allow an attacker to hack into your computer and steal your information. Upgrading to a newer version of Windows or Windows Server will drastically reduce this risk.
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