Why Your Business Needs To Upgrade To Windows 10 By 2018

December 5th, 2017
Why Your Business Needs To Upgrade To Windows 10 By 2018

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All good things must come to an end, and for Microsoft, January 1, 2018 marks the end of free upgrades to Windows 10.

The actual free transition period has passed. However the free upgrade can still happen, through an exception for users who use assistive technologies. If you use any assistive technology, such as the magnifier, narrator, speech recognition, etc. you are eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 without paying a cent. Microsoft also does not ask for any additional proof that you use such tools.

If you’re one of the many small businesses that hasn’t gotten around to upgrading to Windows 10, now is the time to consider making a change. More specifically, upgrading and whether or not it’s right for you.

Should You Upgrade to Windows 10 Before 2018?

In short, yes. If you use Windows 7 or 8, this is your last chance to upgrade for free to the newer platform. Starting January 1, 2018, it’ll cost you.

There are a few other critical reasons beyond the price tag too.

Upgrading to Windows 10 will also likely improve your business’s speed, give you a more user friendly interface, and give your business more options to compatible software. Those options are all nice to have but they’re not necessary. What is necessary is your business’s security.

An upgrade to Windows 10 will keep your business more secure. Not only will security software developers eventually stop offering support for Windows 7, but so will Microsoft in 2020. That means you’ll soon be left completely unsupported and unprotected.

Convinced that upgrading for free to Windows 10 is right for you? If so, you’re probably ready to hit the illusive Go button before time runs out to do the upgrade for free, but wait! Before you do, it’s important to ensure your system is fully prepared for such a big transition.

Before You Power Forward With the Upgrade

Making this upgrade on your own is risky at best. You could lose files, applications, and ultimately slow down your productivity. The best way to have confidence that you’ll experience a smooth transition without any lost profits is to contract a little bit of help – specifically, from a IT company in Winnipeg, such as a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

Here’s why.

Faster Upgrade Experience

Do you know how much disc space you have on your computer? Do you know how much disc space you’ll need to make the upgrade?

It’s not uncommon for business owners to shrug their shoulders with uncertainty at these questions. And, it’s not your fault if you don’t have the answers. Your job is to keep your business productive. Your job isn’t to manage all of the nitty gritty details of your IT.

Still, you’ll need to know these answers before you upgrade.

If you try to make the free upgrade to Windows 10 without enough disc space, you could have the upgrade pause, and fail halfway through. Worse yet, several issues could arise because of the lack of room on your system.

Safer Upgrade

You’ve worked hard to get all of the pieces in place to protect your data. That includes installing and maintaining anti-virus software. But what will happen to these protective measures after you upgrade?

You might assume that your anti-virus will continue working as usual, especially since you’re upgrading from one Microsoft product to another. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

IT companies in Winnipeg can ensure your anti-virus is compatible with Windows 10 after you upgrade, so you can continue protecting yourself, your business, your customers, and your employees from the consequences of an attack.

More Productivity After It’s Complete

You don’t want to skip a beat when it comes to your business. That means, once the upgrade is complete, you want to dive right back into work.

With an MSP helping you maneuver the upgrade, you’ll have all of the applications you used prior to making the switch available and working. You’ll also have your settings and configurations in place.

If you want to transition, an IT Company in Winnipeg can help.

Anytime you make a shift in your business’s technology, there are risks. Switching to a new system, even if it is an upgrade can be risky.

To manage this correctly, it’s imperative that you have an IT company in Winnipeg on your side from start to finish. This will ensure you don’t lose data, your network stays secure, and your employees remain productive. Contact ConstantC Technology Group to see how we can help you out with this transition, and all your IT needs.