Windows 7 Pro End of Life
On the 14th January 2020 Windows 7 Pro End of Life (EoL) hits us. After this date Windows 7 will no longer receive patches and security updates, leaving your devices vulnerable to security threats.
As such, if you’re running Microsoft Office on a Windows 7 PC, we recommend you upgrade to Windows 10 Pro or move to a new Windows 10 PC. For some companies this could potentially mean replacing all of the PC estate.
Sounds expensive?
Well it all depends on how you manage the process. With Endpoint Lifecycle Management from CTO, we can accurately identify the PCs in your estate, which merely need their RAM and Hard Disks upgrading to cope with the migration to Windows 10. We can then single out those PCs that need to be replaced in their entirety, so companies can optimise their IT spend in the right areas. Yes, you still have to spend money, but our Endpoint Lifecycle Management makes this expenditure more efficient and can on average save 30% vis-à-vis a ‘blanket’ replacement programme of all Windows 7 PCs often recommended by our competitors.
Plus, it is worth bearing in mind the oft forgotten economic benefits of replacing your legacy PCs with newer units recommended by CTO. Without realising it, legacy equipment will have slowed down over time and through continued use, will be affecting your productivity and efficiency. Upgrading to the latest hardware running Windows 10 will see significant gains in employee output, as they are able to take advantage of faster hardware speeds and the latest productivity features.
But what if you don’t have the capital reserves available right now to replace the PC estate?
Some companies suggest a Device-as-a Service offering where you can ‘rent’ the latest PC hardware and Windows 10 licensing on a single monthly contract. This means you pay by monthly instalments with the option to add items, and upgrade and refresh your technology when required. We agree this is one option but considering customers may keep their PCs for 4 years, Device-as-a Service could work out as a more costly option in the long term i.e. you could have bought the PC twice over in this period.
Options
An alternative is to consider finance leasing to purchase the replacement PC equipment over a more sensible period of 2 to 3 years. CTO offer specialist technology finance leasing deals that not only spread the cost, but also provide significant business benefits such as: –
- Match your costs to the return on investment – With a finance lease; costs are fixed for the entire term, and the VAT is spread too – meaning no large capital outlay. Why pay in full, up-front for assets which typically return their value over time? In addition, why pay monthly for a Device-as-a- Service model which runs forever and a day?
- Take a strategic approach to your hardware and software – Using a finance solution allows you to adopt a strategic approach to your hardware costs moving forward. Paying small, fixed amounts on a regular basis removes the pain of ad-hoc and often large demands on capital in the future.
- Not to mention the tax savings – Finance lease agreements are highly tax-efficient. Meaning the repayments, including any interest, are 100% tax deductible. Yes – you read that right – 100% tax deductible!
So, the move to Microsoft Windows 10 should not been seen as too onerous logistically and financially. CTO can assist in Endpoint Lifecycle Management to make sure you spend the money in the right areas. And, when expenditure is required CTO can recommend the best Windows 10 machines to improve productivity. Moreover, upgrades to Windows 10 can be funded via tax-efficient methods.
