Deconstructing Three Technology End-of-Service Myths.
At Step Fwd IT we believe it’s critical to keep all software and hardware up to date, in order to cultivate optimal disaster recovery protection for your business. If you don’t, cybercriminals can readily infiltrate your network infrastructure, whilst your chances of downtime also increase drastically. However, outdated software & hardware remains one of the most underestimated security risks in disaster recovery readiness, making it incredibly unsuspecting and dangerous to a business.
New Legislation for Poor IT Practices
Given all the action across the cybersecurity realm in the back half of 2022, new legislation is being introduced – making the penalties for poor technological practices far more severe.
From what was previously a maximum of a $2.2 million fine, a business will now face one of:
- $50 million fine
- Three times the value of any benefit obtained through the theft of valuable customer data.
- 30 percent of the company’s turnover across a relevant period.
Therefore, if you are among those who continue to use unsupported software & hardware until it completely fails to function, keep in mind that it could progress into crippling damage to your company’s operations and reputation. If you don’t want to take our word for it, have a read of the Federal Government’s recommendations for software updating in business.
We know there are many myths surrounding End of Service (EOS) or End of Life (EOL) that create a great deal of confusion for businesses. Hence, this blog is intended to help clear these up.
Debunking the Myths
Without further ado, let’s debunk the most common myths in the EOS and EOL space:
Myth #1 - If it's not Broken, Don't Fix (or Replace) It.
The old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is popular and often valid, but it would not be wise to follow this when it comes to software & hardware. The truth is that if you fail to update these when the time comes, you expose your network to a variety of security vulnerabilities, bugs and other issues.
There are several obvious reasons to keep your software & hardware up to date:
- Newer software and hardware versions are usually more stable and less prone to crashes and glitches.
- New updates frequently include security patches that keep you safe from cyberattacks.
- Updates may include new features and enhancements that can make your life easier.
Next time you’re tempted to skip an update, or put it off for another week, remember you could be kickstarting a chain of events that could dismantle your entire organisation.
Myth #2 - End of Life means the product will no longer exist.
Although the product will still be available, it will no longer receive security updates, new features, or tech support from its manufacturer. Without these supportive inputs, it will become increasingly vulnerable to security risks and will likely struggle to keep up with your workload.
From our perspective as an IT Partner, it also makes our job more difficult in trying to keep your technological network and devices secure from cyberthreats. Therefore, we plead with those using network infrastructure technology that has reached the end of its life cycle, you must at least consider investing into a newer model or software license for your business’ data recovery security.
Myth #3 - End of Service means I can still use the product until it breaks.
While the software & hardware might still physically work, being in EOL or EOS state means there’s no longer a team of people working to not only improve the product but also look after, communicate, create, and release patches should a new security vulnerability arise.
This could leave you prone to attacks, as well as being unable to use new features and capabilities that are released. Knowing the EOS dates for your software & hardware can help you plan ahead, and ensure you’re not left in the dark when support ends.
Let's tackle these Together!
One of your top priorities should be to keep your software & hardware up to date – so your business doesn’t suffer avoidable and potentially irreversible consequences. However, whilst juggling all other elements of a business, staying on top of this can be difficult for an organisation to do on its own. This is where we’d love to help out.
At Step Fwd IT, we can deliver support to you by offering critical guidance and expertise so that you can decide what steps to take to keep your IT systems running smoothly and securely.
If you’re interested in learning more, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Step Fwd IT Team today!
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