With 2018 in the sunset it brings us closer to when Windows 7, Server 2008/R2, SQL 2008/R2, Exchange 2010 and Office 2010 are no longer supported

There are a considerable amount of machines running these products in the world, and you have 1 year to decide what you are going to do….. or less. Thinking about this now also allows you to put the migration costs in the budget for next year if you do not have the budget this year.

So what are the dates and applications I hear you ask?

  • Windows 7 – End of life on January 14th 2020
  • Server 2008 and Server 2008R2 – End of life on January 14th 2020:
  • Exchange 2010 – End of life on January 14th 2020:
  • End of Life on October 13th 2020:-
  • Office 2010 – October 13th 2020
  • SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008R2 – July 9th 2019

What’s the right upgrade path for me and my business?

I have always loved running the latest version and embracing the new technology….and now is the perfect time to review what you are doing as a business and assess. Ask yourself is this the way you want your business to work in 5 years, do my IT Systems allow the flexibility for the company to grow or shrink, should I move to a subscription-based model of software and hardware and should I go cloud are a few questions to start with. A few years ago in IT, there was 1 way to do everything, and now there are 101 ways to do everything, so you have to find what’s the best for you, your staff, your business and does it fit in with your budget. Then engage with the right IT Provider that specialises in those services or the way you want to work.

Being an IT Professional, we see a host of different options, setups and we know what works and does not work. Engage with an IT Professional and talk about the possibilities that you have available to you because now is a good time to talk as there is still plenty of time to get it right and choose the right IT Provider.

So where do I start?

  • Assess your current Inventory and identify which software you are running on and which devices/hardware
  • Sit down and discuss the options, current pain points of your business with your IT Provider
  • Choose the right upgrade path for you and your business


The conclusion

Office 365 for me is one of the best things you can do for your business. It does not work for everyone, and it depends what applications you use, for a majority of companies under 50 staff its the perfect fit, I am a firm believer of keeping it simple because IT, Business and life are complicated enough.

It does not have to be scary, and while its a significant change to the business and there is a bit of learning required from the staff, it does not have to have a large impact on the company (if done correctly).

At Inspired IT, we are finding that majority of our clients with Office 365 and then coupled with our Office 365 designed Managed Services it allows the business owners and staff to concentrate on what they are employed to do. Whether that be working on the business, interacting with your clients, adding value to your clients or servicing their needs while giving that collaboration between your staff and building that strong team ethic which you need in today’s business.

If you want to talk about any of the points mentioned above, I am more then happy to discuss this over a coffee (if you are in Perth), Video, Phone or email. I promise I won’t sell you our services unless you ask. My main priority is to give you enough information to make an informed decision on what’s best for you and your business going forward.

Matt Seeds
[email protected]
08 6142 8221