Why Are You Still Running Windows XP? You’re Sacrificing More Than Just Performance
One thing everybody knows about technology is that it is always changing, and keeping your network and computer systems up-to-date sometimes means making changes that take you out of your comfort zone. For many local business owners, their comfort zone means still running Windows XP on their computers because it’s reliable, it’s what they know, it had been out for a long time, and everything just works. So, why do you need to ditch Windows XP and upgrade your systems in the first place? The truth is, if you’re still running Windows XP in your business, you could be sacrificing more than just performance.
Not Supported by Microsoft
Since April of 2014, Microsoft is no longer supporting the Windows XP operating system platform and that means you are not getting the latest in security and other critical updates. For this fact alone, hackers are targeting machines like yours that are running outdated Windows XP software. This could be a big problem for you if you keep sensitive data (like patient records, case files, or QuickBooks) on your computer because you are an easy target for hackers that are looking for vulnerabilities in your network that they can exploit. In fact, it could lead to a huge disaster for your company that not only ends up costing you a lot of money, but might even end up costing you your business.
Not Supported by Vendors
You might find out that you can’t get support from certain third-party vendors that you need to use in your business. An outside vendor may choose not to install their software, such as a critical Line of Business application, on your machine because it is running an operating system that is no longer supported by the manufacturer. This is because your outdated software may not be compatible with an application designed for the current platform; and, let’s face it, you’re just not getting the latest updates, features, and safeguards that you would with a supported operating system.
Not Supported by IT Consultants
As an IT consultant, I can honestly tell you that it would be difficult (if not impossible) for you to find a professional IT support firm that is willing to provide support for computers that are still running Windows 98, or even Windows 2000 for that matter. That’s because systems that are running these outdated formats are highly vulnerable to cyber-threats and can act like an open doorway to hackers that are looking for a way to crack your network. In my professional opinion, if you’re not upgrading your operating system from Windows XP, you’re just asking for trouble.
Things To Consider
Okay, so now that you’ve decided it’s in your best interest to keep your systems up-to-date, what should you upgrade to? First, I’d recommend that you upgrade to Windows 7 for every computer that you use in your business, and stay away from Windows 8. But buyer beware, a big mistake that I see all too often is business owner’s going down to a local computer retailer and picking up a new machine with the wrong version of Windows 7 pre-installed. If you are using Windows 7 Home Premium, or another non-commercial version of this operating system, you will not be able to connect to your business server and you are also missing out on some other commercial features. So, make sure that you install the Windows 7 Professional version if you are a business, and find an authorized vendor online (like Dell or Hewlett-Packard) if you don’t have an IT support company that you’re already working with that has computers with Windows 7 Professional pre-installed. That’s your best bet, so if you’re still running Windows XP in your business, please make the switch over to Windows 7 Professional.
about the author
Ashley Smith-Jenkins
Ashley has vast experience in the information technology field relating to computer and network services, including web development. For the past 20 years, Ashley has provided computer consulting and implementation for his customers. Ashley’s educational experience includes a Bachelor’s in Business Administration at the California State University of Fresno, as well as a being a Fluke Networks Certified Cabling Test Technician (CCTT), and CompTIA A+ Certified. | LinkedIn
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