Microsoft to sell Windows 7 updates to all SMBs until 2023

Microsoft revealed it will offer paid Windows 7 updates to all businesses that wish to use this service. As you may know, extended support for Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system will end on January 14, 2020. After that date, the now more than ten years old operating system will no longer receive security updates. That's a big problem for a lot of users as there's a bit of a repeat of what happened when Windows XP got cut off from support.

According to the latest operating system marketshare statistics from NetMarketShare, 28.17 percent of web users are still running Windows 7. This makes it the second-most widely used operating system, only Windows 10 has more users with its 52.38 percent marketshare.

Consumers and businesses are recommended to upgrade as soon as possible to a more modern operating system. However, businesses that wish to delay updating will be able to remain secure by using the paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) service from Microsoft. The software giant is now opening this program to businesses of all sizes. ESU is only available for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise, and will be offered until 2023.

Starting on December 1, 2019, businesses of any size with Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Enterprise will be able to purchase ESU through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. The Windows 7 ESU will be sold on a per-device basis and the price will increase each year. Solidify your role as a trusted advisor as you work with your customers to ensure they get the security they need while they make their way to Windows 10.?

The price is on a per-device basis and is definitely not a cheap solution. For Windows 7 Professional licenses, pricing starts at $50 per device for the first year and climbs to $200 per device for year three. Windows 7 Enterprise licenses get a 50 percent discount.