Number: IN19-003
Date: 15 March 2019
Purpose
The purpose of this Information Note is to draw attention to the end of support for Microsoft Windows 7. Effective 14 January 2020 Microsoft will no longer provide automatic fixes, security updates, or online technical assistance for this product.
Assessment
Effective 14 January 2020, Microsoft will no longer support the Windows 7 operating system. Organizations and individuals running this operating system after the end of support date will no longer receive security updates or support, and may be exposed to future security risks. Hardware and software compatibility issues may also arise when implementing current technologies which may not have been designed for use with a Windows 7 operating system.
Migration to a newer operating system can present unique challenges and it is critical that organizations and individuals currently running Windows 7 plan and test a migration solution before the deadline. Applications and hardware designed for Windows 7 may have compatibility issues with more recent Windows products and/or alternate operating systems. Organizations will need to ensure that their critical applications are compatible with the operating system chosen for migration. Support for Internet Explorer 10 will also be discontinued on 14 January 2020.
For issues regarding application compatibility with newer Windows operating systems, it is possible to utilize Microsoft’s Desktop App Assure service for assistance with migration and compatibility. Organizations will need to identify all infrastructure, application and hardware dependencies when planning an operating system migration. The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) can be used to enumerate Windows 7 instances and assess hardware compatibility for newer Windows operating systems.
CCCS recommends that the planning process for the migration of Windows 7 operating systems include the following:
- Have an accurate inventory of systems with operating systems reaching end of life.
- Prioritize the systems to be migrated.
- Decide on a destination for systems being migrated.
- Decide on a supported operating system.
Options are available to purchase Extended Security Updates for up to 3 years for operating systems environments that cannot be migrated by 14 January 2020. These updates will only cover security vulnerabilities deemed to be “critical” by Microsoft.
Suggested Action
CCCS strongly encourages Information Technology owners and operators relying on Windows 7 to begin planning their migration to a supported operating system as soon as possible.
References
- Prepare for Windows 7 End of Support
- Microsoft Desktop App Assure service
- Microsoft Product Lifecycle
Note to readers
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) operates as part of the Communications Security Establishment. We are Canada's national authority on cyber security and we lead the government's response to cyber security events. As Canada's national computer security incident response team, the Cyber Centre works in close collaboration with government departments, critical infrastructure, Canadian businesses and international partners to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from cyber events. We do this by providing authoritative advice and support, and coordinating information sharing and incident response. The Cyber Centre is outward-facing, welcoming partnerships that help build a stronger, more resilient cyber space in Canada.