Guest post by Laplink Software
April 8th marked the end of support for Windows XP bringing an end to hot-fixes, security updates, and technical support for Windows XP users.
The reality of the end of Windows XP support was difficult for many to swallow. Windows XP already had an infection rate six times higher than Windows 8 before the April 8 deadline. Now, with known vulnerabilities leaving XP consumers and businesses exposed to hackers, viruses, and other malware, this number is likely to be much higher.
Recent statistics show that 20-25% of users are still using Windows XP despite these security risks. However, we at Laplink don’t believe this will be the case for very much longer. As shown in the graph below, migrations with PCmover jumped by a drastic 300% as April 8th drew nearer.
So why are people finally deciding to make the move? One reason that we already touched on is security. As updates come out for Windows 7 and 8, analysts predict that hackers will investigate XP for these same vulnerabilities. If they are shared, the hacker now has an open doorway into unprotected Windows XP machines.
Another major factor is cost. According to a report by IDC, the annual cost per PC per year for Windows XP is a whopping $870, while a comparable Windows 7 installation costs only $168 per PC per year. Depending on the number of PCs in your office, this cost could easily explode.
Productivity is another concern for many Windows XP users. As demonstrated in the table below, Windows XP PCs experience more user downtime, more help desk hours, longer reboot times, and more. IT resources are wasted on old machines and operating systems, and the end-user ultimately suffers as these old systems don’t support newer productivity-boosting applications and peripherals.
A final motivator is compliance. Many industries have specific regulatory requirements that require software to be maintained with patches and fixes. In fact, 46 US states have data privacy laws with non-compliance penalties, each requiring due diligence in the protection of private information. Companies that fall under these industry-specific categories must migrate now or suffer the consequences.
The end of Windows XP support is finally here, and we’ve seen that consumers and businesses alike aren’t willing to compromise their safety. That’s why Microsoft partnered with us to provide the official migration solution for moving off of Windows XP. For more information about Laplink’s migration solutions, visit www.laplink.com. To get a free evaluation of PCmover Enterprise, click here.
About Laplink Software
For over 30 years, Laplink has been the leader in providing software used for PC migration, remote access, file transfer, and synchronization. The privately-held company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.
