Managing critical systems

Managing critical sytsems is a huge concern for big business and governments. Despite the media frenzy over the NSA data release about potential Microsoft exploits, this data is widely known among hackers and IT professionals. Many owners and managers in small and medium sized companies are also aware. Some savvy home internet users too are cybersecurity aware. The big deal is that in the US the groups that are aware make up a small percentage of users that know. The rest of that pie chart of internet users are putting the everyone else at risk by not managing critical infrastructure carefully.

The best thing about the chart* is that there are Windows Vista that went out of support on April 11, 2017 is a very low percentage.  The Huge number of Win 7 users are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. The fact is that most win 7 computers should be scrapped in exchange for an up to date system that is well protected. If the balance sheet can’t include an upgrade right now there is monthly pricing that can get you want is needed to protect yourself and everyone else. The problem with updates is that they are part of an older computing model called break / fix. Which mean that the break is there and you are vulnerable until the fix is released.

XP, Vista and other windows system users need to upgrade now, because there are new breaks but no one is fixing them. This is a huge problem because no one can be managing critical infrastructure that is connected to the internet. Since that piece is compromised the is literally a window into everyone else’s system.

The answer to managing critical infrastructure is update or upgrade. My preference is upgrade for two reasons: Better performance and greater safety for all.

*