We have bad news and good news: A major change has ocurred within Microsoft. If you do nothing, your computer system, customer data, and business data are at risk. The good news is that this situation is easy to address, and you’ll enjoy improved functionality as a result.

As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft has ended support for Windows XP and Windows Office 2003. This means hot fixes, technical support, and product updates are no longer available for these products. Even more importantly, Microsoft will not be providing security updates for XP and Office 2003 in the future. It is extremely important for businesses as well as individuals to pay attention and take measures to protect themselves before outdated software puts their entire systems at risk.

What does this mean for your business?

Your system will no longer be protected from any new vulnerabilities which may develop in Windows XP or Office 2003. Attacks which take advantage of these vulnerabilities can put your entire operation at risk. Your business data, as well as that of your customers, could be compromised.

network securityAlso, since hardware and software vendors no longer have access to XP or Office 2003 updates, most will not continue to support products which are running on these systems. This can make your day-to-day business operations difficult or impossible.

Your system will be at risk of failure, causing costly downtime and financial harm to your business.

What’s the good news?

It’s easy to upgrade your software to a newer version of Windows. You can keep all of your familiar folders and icons, but the upgrade will make your work easier and more efficient. Your business will also enjoy Microsoft product support, and will be better protected from security threats.

If you have further questions about this issue, please contact us.  We can assist you in upgrading your system and keep your business running smoothly.