BY EMEKA AGINAM
Barely eight months to the end of support for widely used operating system (OS) Windows XP, the software giant yesterday warned that organizations must have migration plans ahead of time or face compliance issues.

Some of the risks to face by non compliance, according to Microsoft will include the loss of new security updates, non-security fixes or online technical support after deadline set for migration.

According to Microsoft, the average enterprise deployment can take not less 18 months from business case through full deployment.

This notification, according the Acting Country Manager of Microsoft West Africa, Awawu Olumide-Sojinrin in a press conference yesterday in Lagos has become necessary to enlighten IT consumers, especially corporate organizations and businesses on the dangers inherent in the continued use of Windows XP after April 08, 2014.

She advised that companies should start planning ahead of time because of what average enterprise deployment can take through full deployment.
“Microsoft will end support for Windows XP and Office 2003 by 8 April, 2014. Organisation must start the migration to a modern desktop. 

The message is urgent and critical. The set date will mark the end of support from Microsoft. There will be no security updates as PCs that fail to migrate will be vulnerable to security threats. They will be open to malware, spyware. You cannot call for support if your PCs run into security threats. This is the time to begin planning.

“The key issue in Windows 8 is that data is secured, productivity is enhanced among other advantages.

“I can tell you that many applications will no longer be supported while running on Windows XP after the date. Comepnaies will be on their own to resolve issues. It is all about protecting PCs and networks. Companies must be prepared on the dangers of non compliance to migration as Microsoft will not be responsible after the April 8, 2014 deadline. That is the apparent truth about the migration” she said.

Accordingly, she advised that companies should begin their planning and application testing to the new upgrade immediately to ensure that deployment is done before end of support which is less than one year.

Also speaking, Microsoft Datacenter Solutions Sales, Oluyomi Alarape explained that companies that fail to migrate will run their businesses at higher cost and risk, adding that a lot of attacks and threats may arise by failing to migrate Windows 8 software.

“This is the time for companies to start planning for upgrade to avoid possible security risk. Windows 8 is the future functionality and will enhance production. You do not have to wait until your system is infected.” he said.

For Microsoft partners, companies need to guarantee that they are keeping pace and adapting their workplace to suit the new paradigm shift which is critical for productivity in the 21st century knowledge society.

Marketing Lead, Ha-shem network services limited, one of the Microsoft partners, Abiodun Ogunjobi explained that they have been talking to customers on the need to migrate, adding that businesses may be slowed down if it is not done ahead of time.

Meanwhile, research firm Gartner has predicted that more than 15% of medium and large enterprises will still have Windows XP running on at least 10% of their PCs after Microsoft support ends in April 2014.