The bad news: End of Life (EOL) or End of Service (EOS) of software or hardware means that it is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
Why it’s bad news: The EOL or EOS of your software or hardware can result in vulnerabilities, since the unsupported technologies will have no routine internal security measures.
The good news: You can take steps to mitigate risks and protect your business.
Step 1: Prioritize Security
The first step you can take with EOL/EOS for your software or hardware is to prioritize security immediately. We can provide you with essential security protocols and tools to keep your data safe as well as create a plan to keep any potential security risks to a minimum. This includes but is not limited to implementing security measures, as two-factor authentication (TFA/2FA/MFA) and increased monitoring of high-risk areas in your network.
Step 2: Measure Productivity
As your software or hardware nears its EOL, it is crucial to measure its productivity so your organization doesn’t suffer. To minimize any negative impact on productivity by EOL of software or hardware:
- Keep track of the performance of the software or hardware due to expire, before it’s too late.
- Ensure employees using the software or hardware are away of its status.
- Have a contingency plan in case the software or hardware completely fails before its expiration date.
Step 3: Evaluate Long-term Needs
When planning for future growth and success, consider: what are your objectives and which systems are crucial to reaching them?
When deciding whether to upgrade a system, whether it be software or hardware, it is crucial to evaluate whether you will be able to succeed without it.
You will also need to examine short-term goals and make sure they lead toward achieving your long-term goals and needs.
If a system, whether software or hardware, is inconsequential to your goals, you may be able to do without it; however, you must be certain that it is really unnecessary. We can help you know what’s essential and what’s not!
Step 4: Test Compatibility before Migration
The EOL date for a system could be months or years away, but the planning for the migration should begin well before then. This way, you can better avoid disruptions that may occur during the migration process. And the first thing you should do when migrating to a new system is test for compatibility, making sure all data and applications can be transferred to the new system. The best way to do this is by setting up a test environment and running tests in it.
Collaborate for Success!
All this can seem a bit much for a business owner like yourself, but have no fear! We are here to support you! We can help you implement these four practical steps as well as others to safeguard your organization from the vulnerabilities that can come with EOL and EOS with software and hardware. Contact us today to learn more about how we already support so many organizations like your own.