An URGENT Security Warning for San Jose, Fremont, and San Francisco Businesses and Non-Profits Running Microsoft Windows Server 2008/R2 and Windows 7 Computers

Microsoft has announced that as of January 14, 2020 is the end-of-life for its 10-year-old products: Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 Desktop Operating System.

Failure to upgrade increases your company’s cybersecurity risks

If your organization is currently running either Microsoft Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 on any Dell, Lenovo or HP computer in your office, you need to know about a dangerous security threat to your organization that must be addressed very soon.

Why Should You Care?

As your local Microsoft Partner, we are aggressively reaching out to all local businesses that use Windows Server 2008/R2 and Windows 7 Desktop OS to alert you to this serious security risk to your organization. eSudo would like to inform you about what you need to do…and how to protect your company while avoiding additional costs.

Windows Server 2008/R2 and Windows 7 Migration
MUST Be Made before January 14, 2020

Microsoft has officially announced that it will retire all support for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows 7 operating system on January 14, 2020. This means any business with these operating systems still running will be completely exposed to serious hacker attacks aimed at taking control of your network, stealing data, crashing your system and inflicting a host of other business-crippling problems you do NOT want to have to deal with.

If you continue to use Windows 2008/R2 and Windows 7 Desktop OS after end-of-life, your computer may still work, but it will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.

Your server and desktop will continue to start and run, but these feature fixes for your business will end…

• Windows Updates (including Security Updates) for the operating system
• Windows Patches to the operating system
• Applications that Require Microsoft Integration - normally, companies that make software for Windows 2008 and Windows 7 OS stop providing update/patches for THEIR software. These updates/patches can directly affect applications that you use in day-to-day production. Most third-party software application providers want you to move to Windows 10 along with Microsoft

For business, eSudo is making these recommendations

• Move to Windows 10 Professional (PRO) because it is designed for business
• If your PC is less than 3 years old and has a Windows 10 sticker on it, you already have the license to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

However, if your PC is 4 years or older, consider purchasing a new PC. Older systems have hardware compatibility issues that do not work well with Windows 10. Some older drivers and chipsets will not be supported going forward.

Unless you don’t care about cybercriminals running rampant in your company’s computer network, you MUST upgrade any equipment running this software.

Will the Change to Windows 2016 and Windows 10 Be Painful?

A change of operating system can bring with it several challenges. These include:

• Software or Applications Compatibility – Will your current applications continue to work as expected or will these also need to be upgraded? Depending upon the application vendor, this may carry an additional cost. Even so, for business-critical applications, in-depth testing should be conducted. Some applications that are certified to run on the latest operating systems may have dependencies that won’t. An example of this is that Microsoft support will end for Exchange Server 2010. In this case, the upgrade will require Exchange Server 2016 or newer, which adds further complexity.
• Hardware Compatibility - If your hardware is 4 years or older, you will probably need to replace it with a newer operating system, such as Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. These operating systems require more power to drive their superior performance. Even if your device can run the latest operating system, it is recommended that you do a "clean" installation that completely overwrites the hard disk. Hence, before you start you should backup all important data and ensure you have access to the application installation files and any necessary product keys and licencing information.
• User Training Required – Windows 10 user interface is about 70% similar to Windows 7. The user experience in Windows 10 is not vastly different from Windows 7 but some users will still need training. This could be as simple as a handout or may require something more significant such as IT instructor led classroom training.
• Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute – A change of operating system in the business environment requires careful planning and the amount of time required should not be underestimated. January, 14th, 2020 is not a hard date when everything stops working but you should aim to have completed the upgrades within the first quarter of 2020 at the latest

FREE Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 Desktop OS
Migration Plan Shows You The Easiest, Most
Budget-Friendly Way To Upgrade Your Computer

At no cost, eSudo will come to your office within the Santa Clara County and conduct a full analysis of your network to help you determine what specific servers will be affected by this announcement. Additionally, we will provide a detailed analysis of all upgrade options available to you, along with the pros and cons of each option. While onsite, we will also assess other security, backup, and efficiency factors that could be costing you in productivity and hard dollars. eSudo will then put together a customized Server Migration Plan specifically customized to address your needs.

In general, Window Server migration includes Active Directory, DNS, Security Permissions, and Data Files from Windows Server 2008 to Window Server 2016 running on Dell PowerEdge server or HP ProLiant or Cloud Server running on Microsoft Azure or private data center. Network Shares and Applications are also important to consider during the migration process. We can discuss these options with you after the assessment.

With operations in San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont, and San Francisco Bay Area, eSudo provides reliable IT Support to Northern California based businesses and non-profits for over 14 years. We’re big enough to offer the facilities, services, and expertise you expect and small enough to provide the support and attention you deserve.

Complete the form on this page or Call 408-216-5800 today to get started. We are local to you and can be onsite when you need us.