After April 8th 2014, computers currently running Windows XP will no longer receive critical security patches and updates, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware, and the growing risk of cyber-attacks that can steal or damage personal information and business data.
“End of Service doesn’t mean XP will stop running, but over time security and performance will be severely affected,” says Rotimi Olumide, Windows Group Lead for West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. “The latest International Data Corporation (IDC) data shows that businesses are prone to spend three times more on dealing with security issues in the next year if they don’t plan to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.”
Chege Thumbi, the Director of Technology & Operations at NIC Bank says, “With Windows 8 we know that our systems are secure with the latest security hotfixes, giving us peace of mind, and everything operates more smoothly and efficiently. The startup time has been reduced from several minutes to seconds, and the range of business applications means we can continue to innovate and remain industry leaders
From consumers and smaller businesses, to large corporations, Windows 8 and Window 8.1 offer increased speed, reliability, security, a range of productivity-boosting apps, and lower-cost of ownership.
“With Windows 8, we remain true to the Bank’s new strategy ‘Move to NOW ‘that underpins our commitment to deliver solutions to our “NOW “customer who is demanding services on the go,, anytime, anywhere ” says Chege.
Here are two ways to upgrade:
- Find a local technology partner: A partner can offer a tremendous amount of support to small businesses that need help deciding which device and software combination will best meet their needs. In many cases, a partner will also help businesses set up their new technologies and even train employees on the software tools. Visit Microsoft’s Get2Modern website for more details now.
- Do-it-yourself: Tech-savvy small businesses can also upgrade their current PCs if they are compatible with the newer operating system and productivity tools. To find out if current PCs will work with modern operating systems such as Windows 8.1, visit the Windows 8.1 website.
Users won’t be able to keep any files, settings, or programs when they upgrade from Windows XP, and it is recommended to first back up all files before migration. Microsoft has also partnered with Laplink to provide XP users with a free data migration tool called PCmover Express for Windows XP, which copies all the files and settings from a Windows XP PC to a new computer running Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. Access it here: WindowsXP.com