Question: The computers in our organization are running a certain operating system (OS), but our IT team has informed us that we need to upgrade to the next OS. The computers were upgraded to the current OS within the last two or three years, so why do we already have to upgrade them?
Washington Subscriber
Answer: Upgrading your healthcare organization’s computers to the latest OS is crucial to ensuring the machines have up-to-date security and patches to protect your business and patient data.
For example, Microsoft is ending support for the Windows 10 OS on Oct. 14, 2025, which is less than seven months away. At that point, Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates, patches, or troubleshooting assistance. This is a major security risk since cyberthreat actors will be able to locate exploits in the operating system without worrying about additional updates to plug those vulnerabilities.
A typical migration from Windows 10 to Windows 11 can last more than a year. This means that starting the transition soon is more critical. The new OS comes with a wide variety of features that need to be customized for your organization and each user’s specific role. Plus, not every device has the technical equipment needed to run Windows 11, which means some Windows 10 devices will need to be replaced entirely.
Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC
