Diebold Nixdorf is the first company to perform the switch

Apr 10, 2017 12:02 GMT  ·  By

Windows 10 is here with so many new features, but for some reason, there still are millions of ATMs out there that continue running Windows XP, even though upgrading to the latest operating system obviously has so many security benefits.

Fortunately, the transition to Windows 10 has started for ATMs too, and Diebold Nixdorf is the first to do it, with the company announcing today that it’s working with partners to provide a smooth experience for customers and reduce the impact caused by the upgrade to a new operating system.

“We are not only the first ATM manufacturer readily available to support Windows 10, but have been shipping processors that are Windows 10 compatible since mid-2014,” Senior Vice President, Systems, Ulrich Näher, was quoted as saying. “This is a true testament to our company’s ‘future-proof’ development mentality and protecting our customers’ investments - that meet the needs of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.”

Windows XP Embedded

Even though most ATMs were running the embedded version of Windows XP, the security risks remain, especially when taking into account that it’s an old platform we’re talking about here.

Windows XP was launched in 2001 and support ended in 2014, but the Embedded version‘s end of life is as follows: Embedded Service Pack 3 on January 12, 2016, Windows Embedded for Point of Service SP3 on April 12, 2016, Windows Embedded Standard 2009 on January 8, 2019, and Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 on April 9, 2019.

There is currently no information as to other ATM vendors that are planning the migration to Windows 10, but it’s expected that this trend would continue, especially given Microsoft’s push that also involves partners across the world.

“We have been working diligently with other industry groups to ensure our customers are better prepared and to make this migration as easy as possible,” Senior Vice President for Software Alan Kerr added. “Migrating to Windows 10 is an important next step for any financial institution interested in leading the future of consumer transactions and we are uniquely positioned to support them.”