Are You Prepared for Windows 7 End of Life? 3 OS Migration Tips

April 16, 2019

Is your business ready for January 14, 2020? That is the official Windows 7 end of life (EOL) date, where Microsoft will end all updates and support for Windows CE and Embedded Handheld. Although this has been announced well in advance, Windows 7 still holds around 37% market share of desktop operating systems, meaning over 1/3 of devices still need  to make the switch to a new OS. We’ll give you the top 3 OS migration tips, so your business can be fully prepared for January.

1. Face The Facts

When looking for OS migration tips, one of the first key things to do is to face the facts. Businesses who prepare themselves with the details of Windows 7 end of life will be further ahead than those who don’t. First, make sure you fully understand the change and risks involved. Doing some basic research on the EOL dates and details is crucial to a successful migration, and the Microsoft website is a good place to start.

When preparing, one of the most important details to note are all of the risks involved if you don’t upgrade your Windows 7 devices. Some of the main consequences at risk if you don’t upgrade are:

• Data breaches
• Cyberattacks
• Loss of cybersecurity insurance coverage
• Expensive disaster recovery costs

Overall, the more armed with information you are, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to make changes­. So before you make any decisions, ensure you take the time to properly educate yourself and your team on Windows 7 end of life.

2. Assess Your Tech

After you feel confident with the EOL details, it’s time to assess your tech. This OS migration tip can be overwhelming at first, so the earlier you can start the better. You’ll want to take a full inventory of all company devices, and note both the hardware and software in use. This information will give you visibility into which devices need an upgrade, and which operating systems they are capable of running. For example, if you’re planning on upgrading to Windows 10, the hardware requirements are:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
• Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: 800×600

3. Create an Action Plan

Now that you’re prepared with the Windows 7 end of life details and have assessed your company devices, the next OS migration tip is to create an action plan. The two most important factors in this plan are your overall budget and timeline for the migration. How much can you spend on updates? When do you want to start making changes, and when do you want the migration to be complete? These are all crucial questions you need to prepare for at the beginning, so that you have a set plan and can stick to it.

Once you have the overall goals in mind, it’s important to implement security controls before making any tech changes. Your company data is extremely valuable– the last thing you want is to lose any of it during an OS migration. Make sure data backups are in place on all devices, whether you plan to transfer them to a new system or not.

After you have your top option or options for an upgrade, make plans for demos. The earlier you can start the process, the better. Reach out for professional support on the details of the new operating system to discover exactly what you need to do to prepare for the move.

When it comes to planning for Windows 7 end of life, you can never be over prepared. Your company should start planning for the transition as soon as possible to ensure a smooth, successful OS migration. Contact TallySoft today to discuss your OS migration plan, and which of our business solutions can help with your move.