Windows XP: The clock is ticking

The cost of staying with XP could be triple that of moving to Windows 7.

A report by data analysis major International Data Corporation (IDC) titled The Risks of Staying with XP The Financial and Business Imperative* says with the looming end-of-support deadline for Windows XP,organisations should make a plan to migrate to Windows 7 or 8. The cost of staying with XP could be triple that of moving to Windows 7.

Microsoft XP was launched: October 25,2001

Microsoft will stop releasing security updates for XP: April 8,2014

Why migrate?

* Security risks are the key driver for switching to newer versions of Windows. The IDC report says Sony suffered massive data breaches on the PlayStation Network in 2011 due to outdated/unpatched software.

* In India,as many as 60 per cent of financial firms use Windows XP. They run the risk of losing sensitive data once Microsoft stops supporting the operating system (OS). They will also fail to meet RBI guidelines on security since the OS will be vulnerable,Microsoft says.

KEY STATISTICS

Windows XP

84 attacks on Windows XP per month

242 minutes taken to patch XP after attacks

6 reboots per month

4 minutes taken per reboot

Windows 7

67 attacks on Windows 7

24 minutes taken to patch Win 7

1 reboot per month

1 minute taken per reboot

Microsoft will provide paid support after the deadline,if companies ask for it. The cost,however,is prohibitive. Should companies choose to upgrade,Microsoft offers tools that make installation easy.

Cost of upgrade

PER USER COST OF UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 7 OR 8

Rs 3,300 three-year OS licence

Rs 825 for manpower needed to upgrade

Rs 1,000 for hardware upgrades

(one-time; will rise if hardware is very old)

Rs 5,125 total

Cost of staying put

PER USER COST OF STAYING WITH XP AFTER DEADLINE

Rs 10,000 extended support for Windows XP (first year only)

Rs 5,000 additional software upgrades

Rs 15,000 per year