Whew! Redmond has confirmed that it will offer Windows 7 users extended security updates, and small and medium sized businesses can avail them.
Until they plan their upgrade away from the soon-to-be-retired operating system.
Windows 7 will reach end-of-support status on January 14, 2020, and hitting this milestone means that those that continue to run this OS will need to seek paid security in the form of patches and updates that the company releases to keep the platform secure.
Microsoft detailed this latest development, saying:
“While many of you are well on your way to deploying Windows 10, we understand that everyone is at a different point in the upgrade process. With that in mind, today we are announcing that, through January 2023, we will extend the availability of paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) to businesses of all sizes.”
A sigh of relief, if ever there was one!
Prior to this development, ESUs were only on track to be available for enterprises that had volume licensing in place. But now, any business can hop on the train — no matter their size, revenue and employee base.
And just like the company’s previous plan to offer ESUs to enterprise customers, small businesses will be able to secure further updates on a per-device basis with the fee set that increases each year.
The Cloud Solution Provider program starts December 1, and this is when businesses will be able to secure their paid ESUs. These extended updates will be serviced through January of 2023, after which Windows 7 will be left to its own devices.
Microsoft also has a FAQ page set up that details its Windows 7 end-of-support plans, in case you want the details.
