Why unsupported end-of-life software is a no-go

We’ve been talking a lot of late about Windows 10 end-of-life (EOL). But we know that some people might wonder why they can’t subscribe to the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

If this thought has passed through your head, and you want to know WHY it’s essential to upgrade your software before the EOL date, this blog post is for you.

Here are the key reasons that EOL software is a big no-go.

If you have a managed services plan with Colton, you don’t need to worry about applying software updates to your business-related software. But just like your iPhone and Android regularly send you those pesky notifications that there is a new upgrade, so do all of the business software vendors.

While an update may give you access to new fun features or an easier-to-use interface, these updates are also used to fix any possible security gaps in the software that hackers may exploit. When a security vulnerability is identified, the vendor will create what is called a “patch.” Like patching a hole in your fence, the update strengthens your company’s cybersecurity perimeter.

Equally, if a fault or issue is causing the software not to work as intended, vendors will release updates to correct the problem and give users the best experience possible.

No updates? Minor annoyances or vulnerabilities could become major issues (think crashes, data loss, compatibility issues and downtime).

An EOL announcement from a software vendor is basically an announcement that they will no longer support this software. If you have an issue, query, or problem relating to it, you are on your own (see the above for examples of what might go wrong!).

Because of the raft of different problems that can occur with EOL software, unfortunately, Colton is also unable to continue to support a device running out-of-date software. There are too many associated risks.

Compliance and regulatory requirements are also essential to take into account. Because of the associated security risks, companies using EOL software may not comply with data protection requirements. In the event of a cyber-attack, this lack of compliance could leave you open to legal liabilities in the case of a data breach (gulp. No one wants that).

And as we all know, if you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a data breach, cyber insurance is a must. Unfortunately, given all the minefields we’ve listed above, businesses using unsupported software will no longer be covered by cyber insurance.

As always, if you’re unsure of how this applies to your business, the team is always happy to help. And if you’ve filed any recent emails from us about non-compatible computers under “worry about that in the new year,” this is your friendly reminder. Running EOL software simply isn’t worth the risk.