A Plan-Net survey reveals that 76% of organisations still run on Windows XP 10 years after its release, and 44% are not planning to change. Also, 87% use Exchange 2003 or previous versions, which do not support virtualisation or 64-bit systems. An upgrade would allow organisations to achieve cost-efficiencies, Plan-Net advises.
Reasons behind the lack of modernisation are reduced budgets due to the recession; wariness towards later versions deemed defective; other projects being given priority; and failure to recognise sufficient reasons for change. However, using an obsolete system can prevent organisations from cost savings and efficiencies made possible by new technologies such as virtualisation, continuous replication and unified communication tools.
Adrian Polley, Technical Services Director at Plan-Net comments: “The unstable economy and reduced finances have made organisations wary of investments deemed inessential. But the challenging climate has also brought people to focus on cost-efficiencies and ‘doing more with less’.”
“Investing in good management of the IT Service Desk can reduce losses caused by inefficiencies and free up resources that can be invested in technical projects such as upgrading to Exchange 2010 and Windows 7. This can allow access to technologies and achieve benefits in a way which is not possible with earlier systems, and which in turn, will help the Service Desk run more smoothly and create other cost savings, thus engaging in a cycle of reciprocal benefits.”
The survey was carried out on 100 IT decision makers working in City-based businesses of over 250 users. For both Windows XP and Exchange 2003, standard support expired last year. Plan-Net experts say upgrades to Windows 7 and Exchange 2010 are advisable.
Keith Smith, Senior Consultant says: “Windows 7 has had positive feedback from early adopters and expert analysts such as Gartner. It is more secure, faster and makes it easier to share resources. As for Exchange 2010, it simplifies high availability, making continuity and resilience much easier, and, also, virtualisation with all the benefits that entails.”
For more information:
Samantha Selvini Press Assistant, Plan-Net plc Tel: 020 7632 7990 Email: samantha.selvini@plan-net.co.uk
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