How to Prevent Windows OS Vulnerabilities

Windows 7 is officially on life support, and with its final days ticking down, it’s time for businesses to start thinking about other options. Change can be difficult, but instead of signing up for Windows 7 extended support, it’s better to move on now. Waiting too long to support your infrastructure with Windows 10 may open the door to a multitude of security threats, and some are dangerous enough to compromise your most valuable assets.

If you’re still on the fence about Windows 10, fear not because Microsoft’s latest OS model provides a strong layer of security that shields you from hazards circulating around the cyber landscape. And as an added bonus, the migration process is easy.

In this blog, we’ve identified everything you need to know as you gear up for the Windows 10 migration process.

When it comes to IT security and network protection, it’s always best to be proactive. Extended life support is a viable option in the short term, but Windows 7 will become obsolete no matter what. So why waste your money keeping the system running for just a couple extra months? It’s wise to take the initiative and leave Windows 7 in the rearview now; otherwise, you may just open the floodgates to a variety of network hazards, most notably:

• Malware Viruses
• Adware Scams
• Ransomware Invasions
• Zero-Day Attacks
• Crypto-Jacking
• Computer Worms
• Trojan Horses
• Phishing Attacks
• IoT Attacks
• Malicious Bots

These threats can have a crippling effect on your business, but there are plenty of steps you can take to prevent that from happening. Keep your infrastructure ahead of the curve and build a defense strategy that involves these six critical steps:

• IT auditing: Closely examine your IT system and document any concerns you identify along the way. Keep a record of any hardware or software that needs to be updated or replaced.
  Trigger the update or force an extension: If you’re truly not ready to move to Windows 10, then extended support is an option. There’s a limited timeline on this solution, though, so it probably makes the most sense just to wrap up any major projects and initiate the update as soon as possible.
• Data prioritizing: Once you figure out what to do with your IT system, you’ll need to determine what’s most important. Work with a professional IT consultant and create a strategy that keeps your sensitive data in a secure environment. Start by migrating your most important documents in Windows’ latest OS.
• Call for more security: When protecting your data, you can never be too careful. Calling for managed security is one of the smartest investments you could make. But even with this support team in your corner, you can always use extra layers of protection. Windows 10 is a sophisticated model engineered to protect against malicious cyberattacks. The software undergoes multiple updates to adjust to new threats as they emerge within the cyber landscape.
• Staff training: Constantly educate your team to encourage proper risk management. Host training sessions to show employees how to use the operating system properly. Make sure your instructions are clear and cap things off by offering best practice advice.
• Call for backup: Take advantage of multiple storage options to keep a firm grip on your most important information. Establish a disaster recovery and data backup strategy and make sure it activates automatically. This ensures you always have access to your documents in their most usable form.

At Outsource My IT, we work tirelessly to keep your data out of harm’s way. Whether it’s a ransomware attack or any other type of malware on the horizon, we have the solutions to keep these threats at bay. We’ll help provide the proper support for Windows 10 and deliver the guidance to help you leverage the most from your IT system. So whether you are ready to bring Windows 10 into your home or office, or you just have concerns about Windows 7 end of life, you can count on us to help you find peace of mind through it all.

Contact our security team to schedule your free IT evaluation with one of our certified technicians.