Keeping systems up-to-date is a critical piece in the computer security puzzle. More than making sense from a security perspective keeping systems to update is a good practice because it is more of a roll-out of new features and functions. With the latest versions of Windows, Office iOS, etc. obsolescence is not built in as it once was.
Keeping systems up-to-date is critical:
Official Microsoft Dates –
| Client operating systems | Latest update or service pack | End of mainstream support | End of extended support |
| Windows XP | Service Pack 3 | April 14, 2009 | April 8, 2014 |
| Windows Vista | Service Pack 2 | April 10, 2012 | April 11, 2017 |
| Windows 7* | Service Pack 1 | January 13, 2015 | January 14, 2020 |
| Windows 8 | Windows 8.1 | January 9, 2018 | January 10, 2023 |
| Windows 10, released in July 2015** | N/A | October 13, 2020 | October 14, 2025 |
Support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) ended on July 12, 2011. To continue receiving security updates for Windows Vista, make sure that you’re running Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2). For more information, refer to this Microsoft webpage: Support is ending for some versions of Windows.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet
The systems that support our work and entertainment are being updated with features and functions because the manufactures are devising the best tools possible to keep users satisfied but excited about the products lifelong evangelists for their particular offering. A part of the complex that develops in our minds is the primal instinct safety. Keeping systems up-to-date is critical to that part of the human psyche. If you don’t feel safe you certainly are not going to call any technology your home. We are much less likely to preach the virtues of a device that leaves us exposed.