Microsoft to finish support for Windows XP in 28 days

To drive adoption of its newer operational systems, Microsoft has declared the top of support for the favored Windows XP from Apr eight, 2014. The US-based technology big aforesaid continuing usage of the OS -- one in every of the foremost winning package from the corporate -- won't solely create Indian companies at risk of security threats however conjointly triple their annual maintenance price per computer to USD three hundred.

The company on Tuesday aforesaid the put in ‘Windows XP’ computer base for big enterprises is concerning four million units in Republic of India, of that around eighty four per cent have migrated from the software package.

“We need each computer in Republic of India to maneuver far from Windows XP before support ends on Apr eight, 2014. Our customers use Windows OS to run vital processes, that facilitate them at work and in their lives. it's necessary for them to maneuver from XP. at the moment concerning eighty four per cent have stopped victimisation this," Microsoft Republic of India decision maker Karan Bajwa told reporters here.

Windows XP, that was launched in 2001, is 3 generations behind the newest software package, Windows 8, that was launched in 2012. The Indian businesses have ‘28 operating day’ to secure their IT setting and migrate from Windows XP to a better version, the corporate aforesaid.

Of the sixteen per cent still victimisation Windows XP, share of BFSI phase and state-owned enterprises stands at thirty five per cent every roughly, followed by producing (17 per cent), communication sector (16 per cent) and IT-ITeS (6 per cent).

On the risks of continuous with XP, Bajwa aforesaid that firms are going to be exposed to vulnerabilities still as immense prices for maintenance and support. “The calculable maintenance price once XP is retired are going to be as high as $300 annually,” he said. These devices have sixfold a lot of probability of obtaining infected currently, he added. Goyal aforesaid that whereas Microsoft can offer virus support for a year, they'll not be emotional patches for the vulnerabilities these viruses are attempting to use. For the record, there are thirty security bulletins free for Windows OS within the last year alone.

Goyal side that staying with XP would mean that the businesses, particularly the banks won’t be future-ready and won’t be able to use several new technologies like biometry. However, he processed that there aren't any firms that area unit utterly on XP and have a combination of Windows operational systems. Incidentally, Bajwa aforesaid that a 3rd of the remaining firms won't have to be compelled to even buy the upgrade as they have already got devices that shipped with Windows seven or eight however were downgraded to form them compatible with the remainder of the corporate.

“This could be a real threat to Indian businesses and it's worrying to check that several organizations in vital industries, as an example banking, aren’t moving quickly enough,” Mr. Bajwa side.

As per the bi-annual counterintelligence Report printed by Microsoft, Windows XP installations area unit sixfold a lot of seemingly to be infected by malware than Windows eight machines.