Microsoft is preparing for the Windows 7 end of support in January 2020 with special tools aimed at enterprises that may need more time to complete the upgrade to Windows 10.
And one of these offerings is none other than the overly-discussed custom Windows 7 support, which allows businesses to continue receiving security updates for the operating system in exchange of a fee.
Microsoft announced earlier this week that Windows 7 custom support would be available beginning with April 1, 2019, and customers can purchase Extended Security Updates per each device. The price will increase every year, Microsoft reminds, so this solution should be used only until enterprises complete the upgrade to Windows 10.
“Security remains our biggest priority, and Windows 10 provides the most secure experience. For those of you who aren’t able to migrate all of your apps and devices to Windows 10 by the January 14, 2020, end of support date and need additional time to make the transition, we’ve got you covered with new options,” Bernardo Caldas, General Manager of Microsoft 365, explains.
Custom support prices
According to information that leaked earlier this year, enterprises will have to pay $25 per each device running Windows 7 Enterprise in order to get custom updates in the first year. The price will double in the second year and will eventually cost $100 per each device in the third and last year of custom support.
Customers running Windows 7 Pro will have to pay double the price of custom updates for the Enterprise SKU. The prices are $50, $100, and $200 per each device in the first, second, and third year of custom support.
Microsoft says app compatibility shouldn’t be a concern for customers because Windows 10 runs over 90 percent of the Windows 7 software without any issue.