Windows 7, the end is near

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In a year from now, on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer offer any technical support or security updates for Windows 7. Launched in 2009, Windows 7 came with regular support until January 2015, the year Windows 10 appeared. Since then, the operating system got along with “extended support”, which only remedied security vulnerabilities. According to NetMarketShare, as of the last quarter of 2018, Windows 7 is still installed on 44.2% of PCs, roughly the same figure as Windows 10 (44.4%). This suggests that many PCs will be exposed to security risks next year. Almost 5% of PCs still run on Windows XP ...

However, large companies will have a reprieve ... for a price. Microsoft will sell “Extended Security Updates” (ESUs) for Windows 7. The price will be based on the number of terminals, and increasing year over year. These ESUs will only be available for users with a Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Enterprise volume licensing agreement, and only until January 2023.

⇨ NetMarketShare, Windows share by version in the last quarter of 2018.

⇨ ZDNet, “Microsoft’s Windows 7 has one year of free support left.”