10 reasons you need to start your migration today
DESCRIPTION
Although the move to Windows 7 is daunting, your migration is necessary to the continued security and enhancement of your entire organization. Here are 10 Reasons You Need To Start Your Migration Today.TRANSCRIPT
Eden Technologies’ Carpe Windows 7 Series
10 Reasons You Need To Start Your Windows 7 Project Today
❿ THE XP SUPPORT DEADLINE IS CLOSER
THAN YOU THINK
Support for Windows XP expires on April 8, 2014– that’s less than 19 months from now. Gartner reports that the average Windows 7 migration takes
between 12-18 months.
You cannot delay your Windows 7 migration any longer without risking a support lapse.
Lost support means no
security updates, hotfix
patches, design
updates, or online
technical content
updates.
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❾ XP ISN’T THE ONLY THING YOU’RE LOSING
In addition to XP, come April 2014 Microsoft will also cut support for a host of business-critical applications including: Internet Explorer 6 and 7
Exchange 2003
Office 2003
SQL Server 2003
SharePoint Portal Server 2003
Many others…
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Microsoft Product Lifecycle Chart Products Released Mainstream
Support Ended
Extended
Support Ends
Access 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Excel 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Exchange Server 2003
Enterprise Edition
04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Exchange Server 2003
Standard Edition
04/14/2009 04/08/2014
InfoPath 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Office 2003 Web
Components
04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Office Professional
Edition 2003
04/14/2009 04/08/2014
OneNote 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Outlook 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
PowerPoint 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
SharePoint Portal Server
2003
04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Virtual PC 2004 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Visio Professional 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
Word 2003 04/14/2009 04/08/2014
❽ DID WE MENTION EXCHANGE?
Microsoft will also be pulling the plug on Exchange 2003 in 2014. Failing to upgrade to Exchange 2010 presents functionality issues--
while it is possible to run Outlook 2010 with Exchange 2003, it’s not optimal (especially if you rely on calendaring and scheduling).
While compromised functionality is not ideal, you can’t afford the risks associated with an unsupported and unpatched Exchange Server.
Your Exchange upgrade should
be considered part of your
Windows 7 upgrade–
doing both projects in tandem
improves efficiency, and in
order to migrate both in time you need to be on your way.
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❼ SUPPORT IS ENDING FOR YOUR OTHER
BUSINESS-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
Many independent software vendors (ISVs) have or will soon stop supporting Windows XP versions of their software. Independent vendors want to support as few application versions
as possible, so they are already phasing out XP. They also want you to pay money to upgrade to new (and improved) product editions, so this is their way of forcing your hand.
This will impact new application versions and service pack releases.
If you rely on ISVs for daily operations, you
will have to upgrade to Windows 7 to retain
functionality and support.
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❻ DON’T FORGET YOUR CUSTOM APPLICATIONS
Custom applications relying on a Microsoft application that isn’t supported in Windows 7 will need to be addressed. Evaluate your custom applications and identify what each
application consists of (on the front and back end).
If you are using a custom application that relies on Internet Explorer 6 or 7 or SQL Server 2003, for example, you will have to upgrade to the newest application versions and
test for functionality (or if possible
an off the shelf solution).
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❺ HARDWARE WILL BE IMPACTED
Many PC OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have or will stop developing drivers for XP on new machines. Failing to upgrade to Windows 7 will stifle hardware improvements
and hardware innovation.
Even if you can get XP installed on a
new desktop you may have issues
with the video, USB drives, audio, etc.
- Intel has already announced they will not
be supporting Windows XP for new
chipsets and eliminating BIOS from designs.
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❹ COMPLIANCE FAILURES!
Failing to Migrate to Windows 7 before April 2014 will leave you unsupported, unpatched, and out of compliance. PCI, SOX, HIPAA and GLBA auditors require up-to-date patching for
compliance.
Non-compliance can carry very steep penalties
- Costly penalties of up to $1 million for SOX non-compliance
- Up to $100,00 0 per month and expensive transaction fees for PCI non-compliance
If you’re not already on the way, you’re at risk.
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❸ ANTI-VIRUS IS NOT ENOUGH
If you fail to upgrade to Windows 7 before the end of support, anti-virus WILL NOT be enough to keep your organization safe. Think of anti-virus as your IT department’s motion detector–
patching is your IT department’s locks and alarm.
CONSIDER THIS: 90% of security breaches
are the result of a software vulnerability
that is caused by a missing patch that
the IT department knows about,
according to a study done by the FBI
and Carnegie Mellon
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❷ YOUR MIGRATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY– NOT A
BURDEN
WITH PROPER PLANNING AND EXECUTION, YOUR MIGRATION CAN BE A SPRINGBOARD INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF DESKTOP MANAGEMENT. While your Windows 7 project will be an exhaustive effort, it is also
an opportunity to securely manage your IT environment.
Leverage the transparency that your migration offers you into your: - Applications
- Assets
- Data
The longer you delay your Windows 7
project, the less time you’ll have to
seize other related benefits associated
with your migration.
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❶ EDEN IS MAKING IT EASIER THAN EVER TO GET
YOUR MIGRATION STARTED AT NO COST
EDEN IS CURRENTLY OFFERING FREE EXECUTIVE BRIEFINGS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP YOU GET YOUR MIGRATION OFF THE GROUND.
SEIZE YOUR EXECUTIVE BRIEFING WITH EDEN’S FOUNDING PARTNERS AND IN AS LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES, EDEN WILL:
- Conduct a customized readiness assessment, asking you the questions you need answered before getting started with your project.
- Offer a personalized project roadmap based on your specific needs and organization requirements that will help you meet your project goals.
- Show you how to turn your Windows 7 migration into application, asset (think mobility and BYOD) and data management.
TO SET UP YOUR FREE EXECUTIVE BRIEIFNG WITH EDEN’S FOUNDING PARTNERS
CALL US TODAY AT (212) 273-3266
OR EMAIL [email protected]
WWW.EDENTECHNOLOGIES.COM/CARPE-WINDOWS-7.HTML
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ABOUT EDEN TECHNOLOGIES
Eden Technologies is the northeast region’s premiere U.S.-based, enterprise-level IT consulting and managed services provider. With 10 years’ experience, over 300,000 desktops deployed and 2,000 endpoints under management, Eden stands as the company of choice for over 300 organizations, in a wide range of industries including legal services, financial services, manufacturing and health care.
For IT professionals facing a Windows 7 migration, Eden has developed fixed-priced, fixed-scope Windows 7 migration “packages” that are easy to purchase and quick to deploy, with no-nonsense results and ROI. With more than 17 flexible offerings, Eden provides fast, efficient, just-where-you-need-it help. More information is available at http://www.edentechnologies.com/it-consulting/windows-7.html.
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