Microsoft Corp. officially stopped supporting the Windows 7 operating system. Windows 7 still will run on machines after January 14. There is no “kill switch,” in which your computer will explode or just stop working. Microsoft’s decision means there no longer will be any support for the operating system. No security patches. No updates with fixes. Should a new flaw emerge in Windows 7, Microsoft says it will not patch it—and anyone running Windows 7 will be vulnerable to the latest malware, ransomware, and other security risk.
The reason? The company wants to continue moving personal and professional computer users toward its Windows 10 platform.
Now, in light of this news, it’s also important to keep this in mind: When Microsoft phased out previous operating systems, dating all the way back to Windows XP, it still provided periodic patches for major vulnerabilities long after support for those operating systems technically expired.
Microsoft has to carefully encourage users and organizations to upgrade to the latest, supported versions without recklessly exposing the millions who have yet to upgrade to any new vulnerabilities. But also bear in mind that the few times Microsoft provided those patches, they were for specific, massive security issues. Other, lesser threats and problems still went unaddressed.
Options for upgrading
There are many affordable ways to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Buying new hardware that comes with Windows 10 is the easiest way, and as the costs for technology continue to decrease, such a strategy might prove beneficial.
If you prefer to keep your church’s existing hardware, then an alternative is to check to see whether you have any sort of licensing arrangement directly with Microsoft. If so, then you probably already have an upgrade to Windows 10 available. Review your Microsoft licensing agreements to find out how to get the upgrade. If no upgrade is available through an agreement, though, then you will have to start over and purchase a license for Windows.
Do we really have to upgrade?
The short answer is yes. Any computer running Windows 7 that is connected to the internet, even behind a firewall, will be a target and a security vulnerability for your entire network. Phishing and spam emails will target weaknesses in Windows 7 – and phishing email scams are particularly problematic because getting them through a firewall is each.
Some exceptions
There are some exceptions. Your church can still run Windows 7 but make sure these machines are not on the internet and that users cannot access the internet with the machines. This ensures any security holes found after the end of support cannot be exploited, since the only way to use the machine running an unsupported version of Windows is to be physically at the machine.
Looking ahead
This development with Windows 7 serves as a larger reminder. With technology, the clock is always ticking. The longer a church waits to make changes and upgrades, the larger the gaps become and that often leads to a massive drain on resources trying to get current – rather than simply keeping current. Once your church successfully retires Windows 7, the next step should be to set a plan to keep current. At some point, all technology eventually becomes irrelevant and falls out of support. Plan for future success so you aren’t scrambling to manage a crisis.
Excerpts from author Jonathan Smith, Director of Technology, Faith Ministries, Lafayette, Indiana