Should I Upgrade to Windows 10?

Microsoft released some exciting news that, as of July 29, Windows users are able to upgrade their operating system (OS) to Windows 10 for free (for Windows 7 & 8 users) when before OS upgrades had to be purchased. While Microsoft has released some new (and returned some old) features for Windows 10, there are some things to consider before making the plunge into Windows 10.

Do your applications/software run smoothly on Windows 10?

This can be especially important for businesses if programs core to running your business won’t work well on the new OS. If you are interested in moving to Windows 10 you might want to consider a transition plan. Employees will need to adjust to the new operating system which can lead to a slowdown in operations if all employees are trying to learn the new OS at the same time.

It’s important to note, that it often takes time for developers of apps and software to ensure that their programs run smoothly on a new OS.

New Systems often have bugs that need fixed

The free upgrade allows Microsoft to have a large public testing period. Most likely you will encounter bugs that will be fixed in updates over time. In the event that you might upgrade and then decide to wait until bugs are resolved an article, from Gizmodo, highlights some issues removing Windows 10 from a PC.

Security Issues

In the article, What Businesses need to know about Windows 10 Security, from PC World, highlights many of the new security features but advises businesses to move cautiously into the new OS.

Also, scammers are using the upgrade as an opportunity to infect PCs with ransomware. They are sending out emails stating that upgrades are available by opening an attachment. Users could fall prey to this scam because, for some, getting their Windows 10 upgrade may not be instantaneous. Microsoft has said:

“Starting on July 29, we will start rolling out Windows 10 to our Windows Insiders. From there, we will start notifying reserved systems in waves, slowly scaling up after July 29th. Each day of the roll-out, we will listen, learn and update the experience for all Windows 10 users.

If you reserved your copy of Windows 10, we will notify you once our compatibility work confirms you will have a great experience, and Windows 10 has been downloaded on your system.

If your system is not ready yet for your upgrade to Windows 10, we will provide more details during the upgrade experience.”

Microsoft WILL NOT be notifying users via email but rather through your PC desktop. Do not open any email attachments stating that your Free Windows Upgrade is available. A ransomware infection will encrypt the files on your computer making them inaccessible unless a ransom be paid for the encryption key.

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it

There are many businesses that may not want to upgrade to Windows 10, reasoning that their systems are running fine and they aren’t interested in the disruptions that can be caused by an upgrade. However, Windows 7 support will end in 2020 (about four and a half years from now). Being caught on and waiting too long to upgrade, can leave your system open to security vulnerabilities (as seen with Windows XP machines becoming unsupported). We encourage businesses running Windows 7, to consider when and how they will transition their operating systems before 2020 arrives. If you think you will want to upgrade in the future, it’s important to remember that the free upgrade is only valid for one year from the release date.

If you are considering a transition plan or upgrading right away we are available to assist you in reviewing known issues and troubleshooting issues that may be particular to your systems.

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