Windows 7 and Office 2010 have been the bedrock for many schools’ office productivity solutions.

Windows 7

Office 2010

Windows 7 launched less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista, on 22nd July 2009 and became generally available in October of that year.

As of May 2019, 33.59% of computers worldwide running Windows are running Windows 7, with 21.94% being in the UK.

Office 2010 launched in June 2010 as the successor to Office 2007, and was the first productivity suite to feature Office Online, the collection of web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Around 200 million licences of the software have been sold since its launch.

33.59% of computers running Windows are running

Windows 7

200 million Office 2010 licenses sold

Windows 7 and Office 2010 End Of SupportWhat this means

Microsoft has announced the end of support dates for Windows 7 and Office 2010 as 14th January 2020 and 13th October 2020 respectively. Following these dates, Microsoft will no longer provide updates, bug or security fixes, meaning that Windows 7 and Office 2010 will become increasingly vulnerable.

The workplace and IT have moved on since 2009

Since the release of Windows 7 and Office 2010, the world has moved on and changes in the workplace have prompted new developments in software.

Productivity

Ten years ago, most work in the office was carried out using a desktop computer (and only occasionally a laptop). In the intervening years, the laptop has all but replaced the deskbound computer, with tablets becoming increasingly used in the workplace - and meaning that employees can work anywhere from any device. Windows 7 and Office 2010 were not designed to work on the mobile devices many people now use and expect in the workplace.

Identity and security

The threat of cybercrime to businesses is rising fast. Hardly a day goes by without news of another security breach being reported. Encrypting documents can also be more difficult to carry out using older versions of Windows and Office, in particular, without the expertise beyond the skills of most employees.

Mobility

Today’s worker needs to access documents, not just from any device, but from any location. Cloud-based storage enables secure access from anywhere and has allowed workers to break free from on-premises file servers.

Flexible working

Remote working on a flexible time basis has become the norm for many employees, so the rigid framework of having a set desk in a set location no longer applies. Workers need to be able to treat anywhere as their office.

Migration option for Windows 7

Moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 can bring an array of benefits and improvements.

Speed

Your school will see an immediate improvement in operating speed with Windows 10. The start-up experience is also enhanced, as bloatware (applications installed by manufacturers that may not be wanted by the end user) and unnecessary start-up processes have been cut out, resulting in a faster user experience.

Usability

There are also substantial enhancements in functionality and usability. The start button provides you with easy access to programs (as per Windows 7), but also resizable Live Tiles, so you can check on items, such as unread mail or calendar appointments.

Security

There are many security improvements in Windows 10. Secure Boot prevents malicious software applications and ‘unauthorised’ operating systems from loading during the system start-up process. Other key security features include Device Guard, which locks down devices, providing protection against known malware, Microsoft Passport, enabling users to access applications and website content without the need for a password, and Windows Hello, which uses facial or fingerprint recognition to allow access to a computer. These are in addition to the more recent increases in ransomware and exploit/threat protection.

You will see instant benefits from a move to Windows 10. Contributing increased safety, usability and speed, Windows 10 also provides an exceptional user experience.

Migration options

51.8% of PCs running Windows, run Windows 10

Some additional factors to consider…Most hardware that runs Windows 7 should be able to run Windows 10, although in rare circumstances, some devices will not be able to. Before upgrading, Cantium will check your systems to ensure they meet adequate hardware requirements to run the operating system and any other applications required.

You should also identify applications used internally that currently work only on Windows 7. Some can be updated to run on the new operating system or can be run using a Windows compatibility tool. Windows 10 Compatibility Mode is a tool that can help older applications run on the new operating system. It works by changing settings on a program-by-program basis, attempting to enable the old app to operate without the potential to conflict with other apps in the process.

It’s not only desktops and laptops that have to be considered device-wise when upgrading to Windows 10, there are systems, such as digital signage that run the operating system. As with laptops and desktops, these need to be identified via an audit, and their requirements considered as part of any migration plan. If you have any of this type of system, you may need to contact the system vendor for information about how best to proceed.

Migration option for Office 2010

When it comes to upgrading Office, the most advantageous and widely adopted plan across schools in the UK is to upgrade to Office 365. Microsoft’s cloud-based Office offering incorporates the traditional Office tools, with which employees are most familiar, along with next-generation communication and collaboration tools - such as the social media platform, Yammer, the team-hub, Teams, and cloud storage with OneDrive.

Office 365 has many advantages over Office 2010:

• The productivity suite allows users to work from anywhere. Employees can access email, files and Office programmes (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) from any location on any device.

• Also offered, is a desktop version of Office*, that’s useful for schools with employees that work remotely.

• Office 365 also enables access to the latest versions of Office at no extra charge. Customers will always have the latest features - and without having to uninstall and reinstall Office on their systems.

*The latest versions of Office 365 apps may not run on older hardware. However, there are web-based versions of Office apps that can be used on this older hardware instead, and perhaps as a temporary measure, if hardware replacement is not immediately possible.

Microsoft Teamsused by 500,000+ organisations worldwide

Office 365155 million monthly active users, 3 million more each month

Migration option for Windows 7 & Office 2010

Arguably, the best strategy for migrating away from Windows 7 and Office 2010 is to move to Microsoft 365, comprising Office 365, Windows 10 and EM+S (Microsoft’s Enterprise & Mobility Suite and intelligent mobility management and security platform), which brings even greater protection, whilst empowering employees to work in even more flexible ways.

Microsoft 365 provides you with access to the latest Microsoft software as well as enterprise grade mobile device management and security tools, running on Windows 10.

With Microsoft 365, Windows 10 and Office 365 applications are kept up to date with new features as well as security updates to keep systems safe.

The solution is GDPR compliant and protects the Office applications installed on user devices and provides you with the ability to manage school data stored within them. Every PC running Windows 10 can be centrally managed within the network using an easy-to-use admin console.

“In today’s world, users want to work anywhere using any device,”

Brad Anderson,Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Enterprise Experiences and Management.

“Having a consistent set of productivity tools working across any device unleashes users to be more creative.”

Additional migration options

While upgrading to Microsoft 365 remains a schools’ best option when it comes to migration away from Windows 7 and Office 2010, if you have various older systems that can’t run Windows 10 or upgrade from Office 2010, there are other options to consider.

Firstly, we advise that old hardware that cannot be upgraded, but that also can’t be discarded for whatever reason, should be moved to a quarantined network on your infrastructure, for security reasons.

And, if you decide to embark on a programme of rolling upgrades for budgeting reasons, perhaps, you may like to consider the use of remote desktops, providing you with PCs in the cloud that your staff can log into from any device and location. Remote Desktop provides the familiar Windows desktop experience and enables you to run all the programs and applications run on a normal PC or laptop, reducing costs and IT infrastructure requirements, as well as enhancing security and productivity.

If you can upgrade systems to Windows 10, but still need access to applications that only run on Windows 7, Windows 7 can be run on a virtual desktop.

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Next steps - and the greater opportunityThe typical evolving nature of a schools’ structure and practices, along with the developments in IT, mean that a school’s devices and application licences have often been purchased piecemeal, resulting in a jumble of licences held with numerous vendors with differing renewal dates and licensing diverse software versions.

As a result, many schools are over-licensed – with the attendant cost waste that brings - and many are under-licensed, with the compliance risks that carries.

Cantium will carry out an audit to identify devices with Windows 7 and/or Office 2010 to get a complete picture of exactly what systems you are running on, and see in which other areas we can help.

At Cantium we have over 35 years’ experience supporting schools with their ICT, including migrations from one system or solution to another, and as a Microsoft Gold Partner, we are recognised in the top 1% of Microsoft providers in the world.

How to contact usIf you’d like more information about migrating from Windows 7 and/or Office 10, we can help.

Website: cantium.solutions

Email: info@cantium.solutions

Telephone: +44 3000 411 115

About Cantium

Cantium partners with your school to deliver insight-driven IT solutions that help you achieve your goals. By providing tailored back-office support, we enable you to perform more efficiently.

Over 1000 organisations choose us for IT support

With over 400 staff and a wealth of IT expertise, we are on-hand to ensure your systems and applications are aligned to your processes whilst providing you with a competitive edge. As your trusted partner, we will deliver your most important IT projects and services whilst saving you valuable time to channel into running your school.

Cantium is trusted to design and deliver bespoke IT solutions to over 1000 organisations

By choosing Cantium as your IT solutions provider, you will benefit from our technical expertise and resilient IT services, which provide you with strategic insight and planning as well as time savings, reduced costs, and less downtime, whilst we manage the risks and protect what’s important to your school.

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See what our customers have to say…

“We sought a number of companies that offer computing services related to what we needed and, Cantium were the best. We had a number of scoping meetings with Cantium members who came and talked to us about what we exactly needed and what they could provide.”

– Sarah Barwick, Branch Secretary for Unison Maidstone

Click here to learn how Cantium helped Unison’s Maidstone branch move to the cloud