Windows 7, the almost decade-old operating system, is expected to reach end-of-life status as of January 14, 2020. While that may seem like a long way out, the reality is you need to start planning now so you can be ready when the switch is made.
At the surface, it seems like the best option would be to upgrade users directly from Windows 7 to Windows 10, but the switch can have unexpected consequences. For one, the upgrade may affect the usage and memory of the system, requiring new hard drives or other physical updates, turning the simple upgrade into a significant expense.
3 Ways to Manage the Windows 7 EOL transition
There are many ways an enterprise can manage the transition out of Windows 7 aside from an upgrade to Windows 10. Here are just 3:
Migrate to a different operating system – Open source systems have come a long way since their inception in providing a stable business environment, but they typically require a higher level of IT Support and may not be feasible in a full deployment. Other operating systems, such as a complete switch to Apple OS and devices are also an option, but the costs of a complete transition for an enterprise can be a barrier.
Bring Your Own Device – This option is gaining popularity in businesses of all sizes. By shifting the burden of maintenance costs and procurement to the user, IT can focus on providing other essential needs of the business. However, this can increase the complexity of the IT environment, including access to company devices, such as printers and scanners, and security.
Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) – Desktop-as-a-Service moves the entire burden of migrations, updates, security of your data from outside of your physical location to the service provider. This seems, by far, the best option to explore. With DaaS, even the problem of aging devices is solved, as the processing power is found in the cloud and not on the physical device used to access the workspace. Businesses that utilize a DaaS solution can even migrate all users to a thin client and still maintain the processing power and efficiency of a standard desktop.
dinCloud Desktop-as-a-Service eases Windows 7 Migration Challenges
dinCloud DaaS provides a best-in-class, innovative and secure desktop-as-a-service solution. As a “born-in-the-cloud” provider, we have been innovating in the space for over five years, and customers increasingly choose us because of our promise to deliver secure, high performing, and resilient systems while ensure flat-rate and transparent pricing on an easy to use platform. Learn more about how dinCloud can aid your transition out of Windows 7 and remove your migration challenges.
