Why is Microsoft ending support for Window XP and Office 2003?
In 2002 Microsoft
introduced its Support Lifecycle policy based on customer feedback to
have more transparency and predictability of support for Microsoft
products. As per this policy, Microsoft Business and Developer products,
including Windows and Office products, receive a minimum of 10 years of
support (5 years Mainstream Support and 5 years Extended Support), at
the supported service pack level.
Windows XP SP3
and Office 2003 will go out of support on April 8, 2014, if your
organization has not started the migration to a modern PC, you are late.
Based on historical customer deployment data, the average enterprise
deployment can take 18 to 32 months from business case through full
deployment. To ensure you remain on supported versions of Windows and
Office, you should begin your planning and application testing
immediately to ensure you deploy before end of support.
To help you get started in deploying a modern PC today, download the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. Download Free tool now.
What does end of support mean to customers?
It means you
should take action. After April 8, 2014, there will be no new security
updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or
online technical content updates.
Running Windows
XP SP3 and Office 2003 in your environment after their end of support
date may expose your company to potential risks, such as:
Security &
Compliance Risks — Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable
to security risks. This may result in an officially recognized control
failure by an internal or external audit body, leading to suspension of
certifications, and/or public notification of the organization’s
inability to maintain its systems and customer information.
Lack of
Independent Software Vendor (ISV) & Hardware Manufacturers support —
A recent industry report from Gartner Research suggests "many
independent software vendors (ISVs) are unlikely to support new versions
of applications on Windows XP in 2011; in 2012, it will become common."
And it may stifle access to hardware innovation: Gartner Research
further notes that in 2012, most PC hardware manufacturers will stop
supporting Windows XP on the majority of their new PC models. See
Creating a Timeline for Deploying Windows 7 and Eliminating Windows XP SP3, June 2011.
Get current with Windows 7
and Office 2010. This option has upside well beyond keeping you
supported. It offers more flexibility to empower employees to be more
productive, while increasing operational efficiency through improved PC
security and management. It also enables your organization to take
advantage of latest technology trends such as virtualization and the
cloud.
How will Microsoft help customers?
Enterprise
Customers — Microsoft offers large organizations in-depth technical
resources, tools, and expert guidance to ease the deployment and
management of Windows 7, Internet Explorer 9, and Office 2010. To learn more about migration and deployment programs, please contact your Microsoft sales representative or Certified Microsoft Partner. Learn how to pilot and deploy a modern PC with Windows 7 and Office 2010 yourself, download the free Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and begin deploying today
Small to Medium
Business — There are many options for small and medium businesses
considering moving to a modern PC with the latest productivity and
collaboration tools. Small to mid-size organizations should locate a
Microsoft Certified Partner to understand the best options to meet your
business needs. If your current PC meets the system requirements for Windows 7, you can buy Windows 7
Professional from local retailer or Microsoft Certified Partner. If
your PC does not meet system requirements, consider purchasing a new business PC with Windows Professional. If you’re ready to upgrade your productivity software, consider Office Professional 2010.
To help you get started in deploying a modern PC today, download the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. Download Free tool now.
If you want additional deployment guidance and resources to help streamline your deployment, please visit the Springboard Series on TechNet for additional technical guidance.
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