What are my options in a post-Windows XP era?

The April 8th deadline has been and gone; Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP. So what does this mean exactly? This means that Microsoft will no longer patch updates for Windows XP; so any security holes and bugs found in Windows XP will no longer be repaired.

If you’re asking yourself, ‘what does this mean for me?’ We can tell you. As a business owner running Windows XP it means that the longer you keep Windows XP the larger your risk becomes. We mean the risk to your data. If bugs and security issues are not going to be fixed, and your data is taken maliciously, you will not have any recourse. Your business could be in an extremely vulnerable position. If this isn’t worrying enough, the ICO issues fines of up to £500,000 to UK business who have suffered data breeches. Click here to look at recent fines from the ICO.

It’s easy to see that continuing to run Windows XP could in the long-term be a lot more costly to your business than just upgrading machines.

These are your options…
There are several to choose from. We’ll give you some of the pros and cons of each, and costs.

1 - The easiest option is to simply upgrade your computer/s’ operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, this would cost about £85 to 135 per machine.
Pros:
No new hardware required; relatively cheap; most of your existing software will continue to work.
Cons:
Not always a long-term solution as your hardware may need to be replaced in the near future. The newer version of Windows is not compatible with all Windows XP hardware, and whilst it may run and install, your hardware might still struggle and may need to be upgraded anyway.

2 - Replace your computers altogether. This could cost in the region of £400 to £500 per machine.
Pros:
Your hardware is modern and up to date, and should last longer without any major expense, and runs the latest version of Windows.
Cons:
This is one of the most expensive options.

Move to the cloud. There are options available for moving to the cloud and you don’t have to rely on Windows XP: going Google, or converting your old PC to a thin client to connect to a virtualised environment.

3 - Going Google: move all your email, documents, and communications to the Google cloud. Google Apps is a relatively cheap option at about £3.3 per month per user, plus support and management fees. Google Apps allows you to work from any device and have full access to all your files and documents and still be able to communicate with web-based apps on any device and native apps for smartphones and tablets. With Google Apps you can either buy a Chromebook, which is about £250 to £300 per device, but does not require an antivirus, and is much cheaper than a brand new Windows-based machine.
Pros:
Works with any hardware and operating system; low cost; accessible; doesn’t require a constant internet connection.
Cons:
Google Drive and Google Documents isn’t quite the same as Microsoft Office and may require some training.

4 - Take out the Cultrix Cloud with a virtual environment and lock down your old Windows XP machines. This means your data won’t be at risk at all as it’s stored in the cloud. This is about £50 per user per month.
Pros:
Data stored securely in a UK data centre; keep your old hardware; most of your software works in the Cultrix Cloud.
Cons:
Maybe some learning curve; require constant internet connection.

For more information on moving on from Windows XP, give Dawn a call on 01226 736673, or email dawn@cultrix.co.uk

NB. Please note that all costs are ballpark figures and should not be taken as definitive estimates. Prices on hardware and software may vary depending on variation and promotional offers available, or not, at the time of purchase.

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