If your business is among those still running the Windows XP operating system, the time to upgrade to a new operating system or hardware is running out, according to local information technology experts.
After April 8, Microsoft will no longer offer support for XP users, said Paul Sponcia, CEO of The IT Company, a Knoxville-based information technology consultancy.
“Microsoft even has a website that counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until support for Windows XP ends,” Sponcia said.
Introduced in 2001, Windows XP is the second most popular operating system among desktop PC users with almost 30 percent market share in 2013, according to trade magazine Information Week.
“It’s a big deal. We’ve been talking to a lot of our clients about it,” said Josh Cantrell, marketing director at Claris Networks, an IT consultancy in Knoxville.
The key issues for businesses that have not made the transition include lack of time to make the move and security risks. Microsoft has told users that PCs running the XP system after April 8 should not be considered protected.
“Security is a big issue,” Cantrell said.
Under the existing support structure Microsoft keeps current with the latest threats to the XP operating system. After the support ends, the hacking community will be able to introduce new threats without fear of Microsoft providing updated protection.
Businesses may be able to upgrade their current computers to more updated operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Windows 8.1 Professional. Purchasing new computers is also an option, Sponcia said.
The upgrading process may not be easy for the uninitiated and must be carried out carefully, Sponcia said. Typically most of the programs, files or settings already running will have to be reinstalled.
One mistake businesses have been making is to assume that their systems are upgradable. Those who wait until April to attempt the upgrade might find themselves facing a more difficult task than first envisioned.
“They’re already badly behind,” Sponcia said.
It’s not just businesses that should be concerned. Home PCs running XP will also be more at risk of malware and viruses after support ends.
Some businesses that decide to purchase new computers might consider Apple’s Mac operating system. However, business users that are comfortable with the Microsoft platform probably will want to upgrade the operating system rather than move to an entirely new format with Apple, Sponcia said.
PC users should also be aware that Microsoft will no longer support Office 2003 after the same April deadline, and that Windows Server 2003 will not be supported after July 2015, Sponcia said
“All software support has a life cycle,” he said.
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