The time has finally come. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft officially ended its extended support and discontinued patching of Windows 7. If you’re still operating systems on Windows 7, the end of support means these devices are open to potential risks, exploits, and vulnerabilities. You will no longer receive any security patches or Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus definitions.
If you hadn’t thought about it before this, it’s time to consider an upgrade to Windows 10.
Is an Upgrade to Windows 10 Free?
Until mid-2016, it was possible to obtain a free Windows 10 license through Microsoft. But, that time has passed. Now your options are simple: you must purchase Windows 10 licenses from Microsoft, or you can buy a new computer with Windows 10 installed.
How to Purchase a Windows 10 License
Following are options for purchasing licenses based on your need:
- For an individual license, you can purchase and download Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro operating systems through the Microsoft Store.
- If your organization needs to buy a number of licenses to cover your existing workforce, you can work with the Microsoft Volume Licensing team to do that.
Depending on the specifications and age of the computers you’re upgrading, installing Windows 10 on these computers may not be optimal or even possible. Windows 10 is a high performant OS, but like any modern application it may need more resources than what your current computers have. While the listed minimum requirements are quite low for a Windows 10 upgrade, the experience on your computers may not be what you want.
If your existing devices perform poorly with Windows 10, you should work with your preferred vendor to purchase new computers for your business. Modern systems run much faster, have newer features, and can come pre-installed with Windows 10.
Windows 7 to 10 Upgrade… What Does It Get Me?
Upgrading an entire company, or even your own computer, from Windows 7 to Windows 10 can seem daunting and not worth the effort. Many thought this when Windows XP neared its end of life for support, so many devices continued to use it passed its support date. Given our current digital landscape, these delays and gaps in patching coverage bring with them the potential for huge risk.
By upgrading to Windows 10, you’re ensuring you can keep your systems protected and more secure because you’ll be receiving the necessary security patches, features updates, and Windows Defender antivirus definitions. More than that, though, an upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 provides faster app responsiveness and boot times, touch screen and digital pen options, access to new application technology, stronger native security features, and cloud-account integrations. Keeping your digital landscape up-to-date helps you to be a smaller target from malicious threats.
You may have other questions about what upgrading existing devices will be like. How long does an in-place upgrade take? Will my applications work? What happens to my files during the upgrade? These questions can be answered in the Windows 10 upgrade FAQ.
Will Automox Continue Working on Windows 7 Devices?
Yes, the Automox agent will continue to run and apply policies to your Windows 7 devices. After the first Patch Tuesday in 2020, you will stop seeing new Windows 7 OS patches every month. Third-party patches, required software, and Worklets will continue to apply and be relevant so long as they continue support for Windows 7.
For Automox customers working with Microsoft for paid Extended Security Updates, you will see those display in the Automox Console like normal with your policies configured to route through a WSUS server (as instructed by Microsoft for extended support).
About Automox Automated Patch Management
Facing growing threats and a rapidly expanding attack surface, understaffed and alert-fatigued organizations need more efficient ways to eliminate their exposure to vulnerabilities. Automox is a modern cyber hygiene platform that closes the aperture of attack by more than 80% with just half the effort of traditional solutions.
Cloud-native and globally available, Automox enforces OS & third-party patch management, security configurations, and custom scripting across Windows, Mac, and Linux from a single intuitive console. IT and SecOps can quickly gain control and share visibility of on-prem, remote and virtual endpoints without the need to deploy costly infrastructure.
Experience modern, cloud-native patch management today with a 15-day free trial of Automox and start recapturing more than half the time you're currently spending on managing your attack surface. Automox dramatically reduces corporate risk while raising operational efficiency to deliver best-in-class security outcomes, faster and with fewer resources.
