Quick question: how many copies of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 are you running across your organization?
If you’re in a large enterprise, the answer is likely to be I have no idea – or worse, perhaps you have a number in mind that in reality is woefully inaccurate.
I’m singling out Windows Server 2003 because that venerable workhorse of enterprise tech is going out of support this July – in spite of the fact that there are still untold thousands of running copies out there, frequently off the radar of IT management.
However, this aging server is but one of hundreds of applications and other software (as well as obsolete hardware) that is nearing or past its end of life in back offices and data centers around the world.
You may wonder what the big deal is. After all, if said tech gear is still working, then what’s the problem? The answer: end-of-life software is an enormous security risk, as the vendor is no longer patching any security vulnerabilities that may arise.
And arise they do, with persistent and frightening regularity. You might as well lock your windows but leave your front door wide open.
Read the entire article at http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbloomberg/2015/04/17/the-cybersecurity-risk-that-dwarfs-all-others/.
Intellyx advises companies on their digital transformation initiatives and helps vendors communicate their agility stories. Troux Technologies compensated Jason Bloomberg to present a keynote at the Troux Worldwide Conference and covered his travel expenses, but as of the time of writing, there is no other business relationship between Intellyx and Troux. None of the other organizations mentioned in this article are Intellyx customers. Image credit: Kevin Dooley.
