At risk of a security breach, experts say one in three active computers will likely need to be replaced within a year.
In April 2014, Microsoft plans to end mainstream support for Windows XP, opening up hardware to new viruses and malware. It”™s not like computers running XP will suddenly stop working, but anyone who cares about the data on their computers will need to replace their operating system, said Linda Kuppersmith, president of CMIT Solutions of Stamford.
“Unfortunately we live in a world that is filled with hackers, malware and Internet plague, as I like say,” Kuppersmith said. “Hackers will find new, creative ways to expose computers. They”™ll be more vulnerable without support.”
Microsoft released Windows XP nearly 12 years ago and has since released three additional operating systems: Vista in 2006, Windows 7 in 2009 and Windows 8 in 2012. Yet, some 37 percent of all computers connected to the Internet are run by Windows XP, according to web analytic company Net Applications.
Any medical, finance and any other business that store credit card information will be at risk, Kuppersmith said.
“Hackers want that data,” she said. “(Businesses) are going to have to get rid of XP and get something that is compliant and safe. They don”™t really have a choice.”
CMIT Solutions is a national computer consulting franchise with three offices in Fairfield County and two offices in Westchester County, N.Y. The company is currently undergoing an aggressive growth strategy in Fairfield County.
As a rule of thumb, Kuppersmith said she recommends upgrading a machine if it”™s more than two years old. Given the advances in technology, the time efficiency will be worth it, she said. A point-to-point click should take no more than two to three seconds to load. Additionally, new software often requires more horsepower now and is designed for the latest hardware.
Still, change can be hard for many. But as Microsoft ends its support, XP users will likely see other programs on their computers stop working, as programmers will no longer be writing for the operating system, Kuppersmith said. Software developers have been undeserving XP machine since 2010 when they began designing for Windows 7, with XP as an afterthought, she said.
“Change is hard for everyone, but it is inevitable,” Kuppersmith said. “I encourage people to embrace change rather than be scared of it.”
For most businesses considering an upgrade, it will likely be an expensive commitment. But Kuppersmith urged company leaders to seek professional advice, rather than purchasing whatever computers are on sale at consumer retail stores. They often don”™t sell business-grade machines that allow for network file sharing and proper security. There are no deals for business machines at consumer grade stores, she said, only lesser equipment.
“You get what you pay for,” Kuppersmith said. “Don”™t ignore it and get educated.
“It will be expensive when all”™s said and done,” she said. “People need to budget and plan ahead.”
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