Users who still have versions of the Windows 7 operating system and the Office 2010 application suite active need to be aware: from 2020 both will lose security support, according to information published by Microsoft.
The recommendation, in both cases, is to get the latest update as soon as possible . In the case of the operating system, Windows 10 is the most current version while for Office the solution is to go for Office 365. The end of support will not prevent the software from working, but they could be vulnerable without the periodic security updates provided by Microsoft.
Windows 7: end of support on January 14th
Windows 7 support will only be offered until the next January 14th. So, between the two apps, this is the biggest urgency in terms of updating. Launched in July 2009, Windows 7 is already a decade old. During this period some versions of Windows 8 and Windows 10 have already been released – the most current and recommended.
A report published by NetApplications in March this year pointed out that Windows 7 was still present on about 40% of desktops. As already mentioned, the end of support will not end the operation of the operating system – it will continue to run perfectly on your machine.
However, this means that Microsoft will no longer release security updates or make bug fixes. Thus, those who choose to continue with this version will certainly be more vulnerable to possible virus and malware attacks. The end of Windows 7 support also marks the end of Internet Explorer activities – Microsoft Edge will take its place for good.
One of the exceptions will be on account of users who have contracted extended support for the operating system. These will receive security updates until 2023. However, the support conditions will be informed on a case-by-case basis and it is recommended that those responsible for your IT team contact the company for more detailed information.
For those using Windows 8, there is nothing to worry about: this version will continue to receive updates until January 10, 2023.
Office 2010: goodbye after a decade
Also no longer supported in 2020 is Office 2010. The office application suite is scheduled to end on October 13, 2020. After this date, users will also no longer receive security updates or assisted support, either it paid or free.
In this case, Microsoft’s recommendation is for users to migrate to newer versions such as Office 2013, Office 2016 or Office 2019. Another option – the most recommended by the way – is to hire Office 365. The online solution from Microsoft offers annual licenses to consumers, in addition to a number of benefits such as storage space on OneDrive and syncing content between devices.
Some services within Office stop working even before October 2020. This is the case, for example, with Microsoft Forepoint Endpoint Protection 2010 (discontinued since July 7, 2019. On January 14, 2020 it is the turn of Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Standard are no longer supported).
Then, on April 14, 2020, support for Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 Enterprise, Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 Standard, and Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 ends.
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Whether you are buying a more up-to-date version of software, such as Office 365 or Windows 10, or purchasing a new machine that already comes with these versions of the embedded applications, Accountant offers all possible solutions. Include the update of your licenses in your shopping list for 2020 and avoid that the lack of technical support leaves your company data in hand.
