businessinfomag.uk magazine 16 SOFTWARE Back in 2015, Microsoft mooted the idea that Windows 10 would be the last operating system it needed to launch. Instead of a new edition a few years down the line, it suggested that ongoing updates would be applied periodically as part of aWindows-as-a-service concept that would enable organisations to benefit from the latest patches and security indefinitely. Fast forward to October 5, 2021 and Microsoft has launchedWindows 11 to supersedeWindows 10.With the Windows 10 end-of-life date now set for October 14th 2025, organisations have some decisions to make over the next four years, such as what this means for their IT strategies. Don’t leave it too late Windows 11’s introduction and the eventual obsolescence of Windows 10 is a reminder to organisations of the finite nature of operating systems and server editions.While businesses do have almost four years to plan ahead, external circumstances can move their focus to other areas, such as remote working and front-facing systems, added to which the pace of technological change means they’ll have to consider a variety of factors in their planning for back-end systems. Another consideration is that Microsoft is already deprecating features onWindows 10 in preparation for its obsolescence.While the full list may contain features that are relatively minor for most businesses, planning sooner for a move toWindows 11 can help them avoid issues associated with the future removal of a feature that is critical to their operations. Of the options on the table, choosing to pay for Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to continue running Windows 10 is one that allows critical security updates to be added beyond 2025. But the word ‘critical’ is crucial here in communicating to businesses that ESUs are a last resort option. They do not include new features, customerrequested non-security updates, or design change requests, and only run for a maximum of three years. ESUs are also a costly option, as indicated by the price inflation of previous ESUs for Windows Server 2008, which have increased by 75% year-onyear, andWindows Server 2012, with a 75% increase in year one, 100% in year two and 125% in year three. The alternative of attempting to avoid ESUs by running an unsupported edition of Windows 10 could prove even more detrimental, with cyber-attackers easily able to exploit weaknesses in an unpatched system. This could lead to a range of unwelcome outcomes, including potential downtime for the business and significant losses in terms of productivity and costs, or a breach of sensitive data and hefty fines from regulatory bodies. Managing a migration Planning for a migration toWindows 11 as soon as possible will give organisations a secured system that’s resilient to security threats and fully able to support the business. This move, while necessary, brings its own challenges, particularly around application compatibility, that teams will need to take into account. One key consideration in the shift fromWindows 10 to 11 is the fact that Windows 11 is set to be a 64-bit-only operating system.While this doesn’t mean that 32-bit applications will suddenly be incompatible with the new system, there’s no guarantee that functionality will stay the same or that applications will remain secure without the necessary updates. Any level of incompatibility or downtime could be detrimental for an organisation, particularly in the public sector, where an application may provide a critical service to local people. To ensure capability, businesses may choose to rewrite or refactor the troublesome application. However, this process is time-consuming and can involve significant costs and require specialist skills or knowledge, placing particular strain on small to mediumsized businesses, to the extent that businesses can end up replacing or even retiring the application.Where multiple apps need to be shifted, many may do so without an issue, but it only takes one or two problematic cases to slow down the entire process. Organisations need supporting solutions that allow them to complete a smooth migration toWindows 11 while ensuring that all their critical applications continue to provide value. What Windows 11 means for IT migration strategies Two months on from the launch of Windows 11, Mat Clothier, CEO and Founder of Cloudhouse, explains why businesses should start migration planning for Windows 11 and beyond Mat Clothier
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