End-of-life software’s: does it really affect your business? There are so many reasons why you think your business will be fine without updating the software you use - but, this is not the best mindset. Read this article originally posted by Spiceworks on the dangers of EOL software’s.
The pyramids in Egypt and the Great Wall of China were built to last forever. Computer hardware and software? Not so much. With considerably short lifecycles, most IT departments replace their workstations, servers, and phones regularly when they grow slow over time, stop receiving operating system updates, and/or fall out of warranty.
In other cases, end users may be forced to move on due to liabilities caused by product end-of-life (EOL). Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are good examples. When Microsoft stopped issuing updates and patches, those OSes effectively became orders of magnitude more vulnerable to security threats. Additionally, software vendors stopped guaranteeing that new applications would be compatible with the old OSes. Still, even after EOL, some individuals and companies find it hard to let go, and they keep using EOL software at their own peril (breaking up is hard to do).
According to a Spiceworks report sponsored by SanDisk in 2015, about 25 percent of organizations did not plan to migrate from Windows Server 2003 until after EOL. Just what are such holdouts really risking?
Perhaps you’re trying to save a few bucks by using an outdated platform like Windows Server 2003. Or maybe you’re running legacy applications that are past their prime to cut costs. Not to be alarmist: but there really ARE some risks.
Simply put, there’s no bulletproof way to run EOL software. The potential risks typically outweigh the rewards, even if you’re tight on budget. Security, compatibility, and compliance are all big problems with EOL software. So, what’s the solution?
Risky EOL software, and out-of-warranty hardware could be hiding in the dark corners of your server room or in some underutilized VM that you never really touch.
It can be a challenge to discover these at-risk systems, especially if you have hundreds of devices on your network. Need to know what hardware and software you've got? A network inventory can help you.
In summary, end-of-life hardware and software pose a huge risk to IT departments around the world. However, EOL does not have to spell disaster. With an adequate understanding of the risks involved, advanced planning, and help from tools like a network inventory, you can identify and migrate away from end-of-life hardware and software.
This blog was originally posted on Spiceworks
Source: Spiceworks. End-of-life software: What are the dangers? (Article). Retrieved from https://www.spiceworks.com/it-articles/end-of-life-software-dangers/