Believe it or not, it’s almost time for Windows 7 replacement. I realize we are 18 months away, but that will fly by before you know it. A Windows 7 replacement project is not something that is done quickly. It needs to be budgeted and planned. If you are a practice that needs 36 new PC’s, you may be better off starting now by purchasing 2 per month, for the next 18 months. It will also save you money on installation charges, and it becomes more manageable for your IT department, and your staff. Installing PC’s, as easy as it seems, could be very disruptive to your staff.
Windows 7 Replacement
Microsoft actually ended mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 13, 2015 and now consider the operating system in what is called “extended support”. If you have service pack 1 installed, you are considered extended support until January 14, 2020. Once an operating system is considered being in extended support, you are still safe to use it. Microsoft will continue to patch any security threats that arise, but they won’t be adding new features like they do with “mainstream” support.
For your practice, when Windows 7 ends in January 2020, they will stop adding critical patches and updates. This will expose the operating system to hackers and thieves, and will definitely jeopardize your network along with your sensitive patient information.
Another problem you have with Windows 7, which you may have already encountered, is that if you need to reload your existing copy of Windows 7 for any reason, you will most likely have to reinstall all the patches and updates from 2011 up until the current date. Not fun!
Lastly, be very careful when you are doing updates to your extended life operating system. If something goes wrong, you could be in put in a position where you have to reload, and start from scratch. That means a new operating system, patches, updates, drivers, software applications, etc. At that point, you may as well get a new computer.
A Windows 7 replacement is definitely in order. Start thinking about it, budget it, and get it going. You’re going to have to do it anyway, so you may as well get started!