Windows 7 End of Life

Windows 7 End of Support Announcement

Starting on January 14^th, 2020, Centracomp will no longer support Windows 7 machines under our normal support agreement.

Why are we doing this?

Microsoft stopped mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 13, 2015. That means there have been no platform updates since then, and even security patches have been limited. Starting January 14, 2020, Microsoft will stop producing security patches too. This will mean that any device running Windows 7 will be vulnerable to getting hacked, and hackers are getting more aggressive each and every day. On top of the security risks, many vendors have already stopped releasing software updates for applications running on Windows 7.

What can we do to prepare?

Centracomp Inc. is currently pulling together inventories of all Windows 7 devices you own (listed below). Soon, we will reach out to you with a high-level plan covering our upgrade recommendations. Don’t worry, we will help with every step.

Microsoft stopped retail sales of the Windows 7 operating system on October 31, 2013. While some PC manufactures continued to sell PCs preinstalled with Windows 7 until October 31, 2016, even these PCs are considered outdated and probably will not support Windows 10. We will review each PC you own and let you know if you can simply upgrade the Operating System, or if you will need to purchase new PC.

Note: More information about supported versions of Windows is in the table at the bottom of this email.

What happens if we do not upgrade?

We understand that there are a few reasons that may force you to keep a Windows 7 device. You may have an old application that does not run on newer versions of Windows, or you may not have upgrades in your 2019 budget. In any case, if you must keep you Windows 7 devices beyond 2019, please understand that these devices will no longer be supported under our standard support agreements.

If something happens to a Windows 7 machine that requires our support, the end of vendor support rate is $100 per hour. We must charge on top of the monthly rate because as mentioned, Microsoft, as well as every other application vendor, will not provide support. Addressing issues requires additional time and resources, and there is no guarantee that the issue can be addressed.

Note: while functionality is a major concern, security vulnerabilities are of greater concern. Keep in mind, Microsoft will not release any fixes, including Security Vulnerabilities, after January 14, 2020. Unpatched systems make it easier for hackers to find vulnerabilities and take control of a machine. Once a hacker gets control of a machine inside your network, it makes it much easier to access other devices and data.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at customer@centracomp.com