Some things are built to last. Unfortunately, technology isn’t one of those things. Software has a lifecycle. It does have a point where it ends, even if it takes a decade to get there. “End–of–life” or EOL is a term used by software vendors indicating that it is ending or limiting it’s support on the product and/or version to shift focus on their newer products and/or version.
While in most cases, organizations replace both computer hardware and software as they reach end-of-life stages, some find it hard to move on. They continue to use End of Life (EOL) software, which makes life far more complicated than it needs to be, even when it makes far more business sense to migrate to a new platform.
What are the dangers of EOL Software?
- Security vulnerabilities: No more security fixes being issued by the manufacturer means that you are now a minefield of security hazards. For this reason alone, you should update ASAP. You might shrug, thinking that it’s been secure so far, so why would that be an issue? Any bad actor looking to disrupt your system will have an easy time of it when dealing with a system that hasn’t been updated in forever. A firewall and anti-virus are not sufficient protection against unpatched vulnerabilities, which hackers are quick to exploit.
- Software incompatibility: New applications are optimized for the most recent OS’s. That means when using EOL operating systems you can’t upgrade to the latest and greatest versions. You be stuck with all your old applications which will soon reach the end of their life too. Eventually your whole system will reach the end of its life. This will lead to a potentially significant loss of functionality, limited access to enhancements, and various security risks.
- Compliance issues: We deal with lots of sensitive data. Entrusting your critical information to a decade-old OS or an unsecure application? STOP. In addition to security lapses, it could result in larger issues down the road, when something does happen.
- Poor performance and reliability: Chances are, if you’re still running legacy apps or old versions of macOS, then you’ve got some aging equipment and workstations. Old equipment is adding to your risk because these likely out-of-warranty devices are prone to breaking down. Consider that downtime alone could be more costly than an overdue upgrade.
EOL does not have to spell disaster. With an adequate understanding of the risks involved, advanced planning, and asking for help, you can identify and migrate away from EOL software. End of Life software can end up costing your business a considerable amount in money, and in lost productivity. So, what’s the solution? Get updated. We are here to guide you through the process!