14 DAY TRIAL // It’s no secret that Windows XP support is coming to an end, as Microsoft plans to pull the plug on the 12-year-old operating system on April 8, 2014, so it will no longer provide patches and security updates after this date.
That’s why Avnet Embedded, distributing and software specialist company, said that it was essential for businesses to make the move to a newer platform and avoid staying on XP beyond retirement date.
Avnet launched a new paper called “Panic? What panic? Is the industry in denial over the death of XP?” to explain that Windows XP will soon become vulnerable to attacks, especially because the flaws found by hackers in the operating system will no longer be patched by Microsoft.
“After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide regular security patches, technical assistance, or support for XP. Financial institutions, TSPs, and other third parties that use XP in personal computers, servers, and purpose-built devices such as automated teller machines (ATM), or that are dependent on applications that require use of XP could be exposed to increased operational risk,” Software Director at Avnet Embedded, Nick Donaldson, said.
And still, Avnet agrees that a quick transition from Windows XP to either Windows 7 or Windows 8 isn’t possible in many cases. Running a newer operating system on the same hardware as Windows XP isn’t really doable, especially because modern platforms have higher system requirements.
That’s actually the problem that Microsoft is facing right now, as some businesses are delaying the move to newer software because of the high costs of the transition. At this point, Windows XP is still powering more than 30 percent of the world’s computers, according to data provided by Net Applications.
“The businesses that manufacture, distribute and use these payment devices and mechanisms have been lulled into a false sense of security that they can simply deploy Windows 7 or 8 to do the same job as XP – but this just isn't true. Basically, if these businesses don’t identify workable, PCI-compliant alternatives soon, there will be wide scale consequences,” Donaldson concluded.