Microsoft to end support for Windows XP in 28 days

To drive adoption of its newer operating systems, Microsoft has announced the end of support for the popular Windows XP from April 8, 2014. The US-based technology giant said continued usage of the OS -- one of the most successful software from the company -- will not only make Indian firms vulnerable to security threats but also triple their annual maintenance cost per PC to USD 300.

The company on Tuesday said the installed ‘Windows XP’ PC base for large enterprises is about 4 million units in India, of which around 84 per cent have migrated from the operating system.

“We want every PC in India to move away from Windows XP before support ends on April 8, 2014. Our customers use Windows OS to run critical processes, which help them at work and in their lives. It is important for them to move from XP. At present about 84 per cent have stopped using this," Microsoft India Managing Director Karan Bajwa told reporters here.

Windows XP, which was launched in 2001, is three generations behind the latest operating system, Windows 8, that was launched in 2012. The Indian businesses have ‘28 working day’ to secure their IT environment and migrate from Windows XP to a higher version, the company said.

Of the 16 per cent still using Windows XP, share of BFSI segment and state-owned enterprises stands at 35 per cent each approximately, followed by manufacturing (17 per cent), communication sector (16 per cent) and IT-ITeS (6 per cent).

Mr. Bajwa said according to research firm IDC the cost of maintaining a PC that runs on Windows XP OS after April 8, could run up to USD 300 per PC per year as against the present cost of USD 75-100.

Moreover, with end of support, Windows XP computers will be a lot more vulnerable to security threats.

“This is a genuine threat to Indian businesses and it is worrying to see that many organizations in critical industries, for example banking, aren’t moving quickly enough,” Mr. Bajwa added.

As per the bi-annual Security Intelligence Report published by Microsoft, Windows XP installations are six times more likely to be infected by malware than Windows 8 machines.