If you are still using Windows XP then you now have less than a year before Microsoft will end all support for this operating system. Windows XP was available for general release in December 2001 so it’s been around for a long time now. Support will cease on 8th April 2014. Support for Office 2003 will also cease on this date.

What does this mean to you?

Users will no longer receive any new security updates, hotfixes and support (free or paid) from Microsoft.

Microsoft has already ended mainstream support of Windows XP as of April 2009.

After April 2014, Microsoft writes, using XP is an “at your own risk” situation for “any customers choosing not to migrate,” and migrating will likely become costlier the longer a business stays on XP.

Further information about Windows product lifecycles can be found at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/products/lifecycle