If you’re on the fence about upgrading to Windows 10, you’re not alone. Plenty of other users, from business leaders to home users, are unsure about the upgrade. But do you know who’s not unsure? IT support experts.
As far as the pros are concerned, you absolutely need to upgrade. And in this article, we’re going to give you 6 solid reasons to back up that claim. But first, let’s talk about what might be holding you back.
Why are some SMB leaders hesitant to upgrade?
Before we get to the reasons why you should upgrade, we’d like to address some of the common objections we hear.
Feeling forced
This is a big one. Some business leaders feel like Microsoft is giving them no choice, and that can leave a sour taste in their mouths.
On the one hand, it’s true. Microsoft is forcing this issue. But for good reasons. They can’t support every old version of their OS forever. That’s not pragmatic. So while it’s understandable to feel frustrated at being forced to upgrade, it’s also understandable that Microsoft is pushing.
The expense
You can still upgrade a personal copy of Windows to Windows 10 at no cost, but if you’re using the professional version there will be an expense.
There’s no way to soften the blow here. We freely admit this is a legitimate concern for SMB leaders who are very budget-conscious. However, as we’ll explain below, the cost of not upgrading can be far greater.
The time
Finally, there’s the time it will take to upgrade all your machines. If you’re working with an IT support professional, it’s time to give them a call. They can help get all the upgrades done with minimal interruption to your business.
If you’re tackling this on your own, we recommend doing upgrades during a slow time—after hours, on the weekend, or on your slowest day of the week.
6 reasons to make the move to Windows 10
Even as legitimate as the above objections are, the reasons for upgrading are compelling. So much so that we consider it a necessary strategic move. Here’s why.
1. Windows 7 end of support
Microsoft plans to end Windows 7 support in 2020. After that, Windows 7 won’t receive any more patches, updates or upgrades. Any issues you run into with the OS will be outside the scope of what Microsoft has agreed to address.
That’s it. The end of the road. Windows 7 was great, but Microsoft is retiring it.
2. Cybersecurity
The first reason leads us right into the second. Those updates and patches you won’t be getting anymore? While they sometimes include new features, the real benefit is cybersecurity.
Without security updates, your network will be wide open to attack. While upgrading to Windows 10 will mean incurring an expense, the cost of just one successful cyberattack will almost certainly be much higher. It’s worth it to upgrade for this reason alone.
“There’s one key feature that makes Windows 10 a must-do upgrade: Security.”
– ZDNet
3. Improved functionality
Not only will your security be better, but your everyday experience with your computer will be better, too.
Windows 10 is full of user-friendly options that can make you more productive and more efficient. You’ll get more done with less stress. That’s certainly worth something.
4. Faster configuration and deployment
For those of you in growth mode, Windows 10 is also better for configuration and deployment as you onboard new team members. (That goes for the upgrade process, too. It’s not as bad as you might fear.)
The sooner you can get new staff members up to full speed, including all their tech tools, the better. Windows 10 will help.
Related: Planning for future technology and IT needs
5. Remote desktop access
Windows 10 Remote Desktop Connections make troubleshooting and support at a distance a breeze. It’s never been as easy to securely access another machine as it is with Windows 10.
This is particularly compelling if you travel a lot or if you have remote employees.
6. It’s probably time to upgrade anyway
Finally, if you’re still using machines that came with Windows 7, you’re long overdue for an upgrade, anyway. In fact, if that’s the case we recommend you upgrade not only your OS but your hardware, as well.
Older machines are slower, less secure, and generally more prone to downtime. While it’s admirable to get as much use as possible out of your technology before retiring it, machines that are more than 5 years old have definitely put in their time.
Related: The quick guide to hardware asset management
Get it done
Whether you have an IT partner who can assist or you plan to do your upgrades to Windows 10 on your own, we recommend that you upgrade right away—certainly before 2020! It’s the surest way to protect your business data and remain as productive as possible.
Keep reading: What SMB owners should look for in outsourced IT support