Internet-users rejoice all over the world, for just last week, Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10, will no longer be supported by Microsoft. That’s right; no more patches or security updates for good old IE. This makes continuing to use older versions of Windows a cause for concern. Perhaps this is for the best, but in light of this news, users of IE will want to either update to IE 11, or switch to a new browser.

Users who continue to use Internet Explorer 8 through 10 past January 12th 2016 will be issued a warning, declaring that Microsoft will no longer be issuing patches and security updates for the browser, forcing users to switch to IE 11 or a competing browser. If users are still working with these versions of Internet Explorer, they’re likely still using an antiquated operating system, or are at the very least eligible to upgrade to Windows 10. Doing so would give them access to more recent versions of IE, as well as Microsoft’s latest web browser, Edge. While the end of support doesn’t mean that Internet Explorer will completely disappear from user PCs, it does mean that these versions of IE could become more vulnerable to threats.

But why would you want to use a different browser when Internet Explorer is such a quality piece of software? The answer is simple. IE had a great run, but it’s simply lost its spark in recent years. As reported by CNet:

IE's worldwide browser market share on desktops dropped from 58.2 percent at the start of 2014 to 48.6 percent in December, according to tracking company NetMarketShare. During the same period, Google-owned Chrome's share rose from 16.4 percent to 32.3 percent.

Again, we want to emphasize just how important it is that you use supported software and operating systems with your workstations. Failing to do so can leave your business’s sensitive information vulnerable to hackers of all varieties. Hackers love to take advantage of any weak points they can find in your network, and they’ll gladly leap at the opportunity to do so without a second thought. This is why it’s so important to stay up to date with your infrastructure’s maintenance.

Keep in mind, there are rare cases of mission-critical software that depend on certain parts of outdated versions of Internet Explorer. If a piece of software has prevented your business from upgrading a workstation in the past, there’s a chance it might be related. It’s important that you compare the risks and costs of updating your operating system versus not.

Unfortunately for many businesses, keeping technology up to date is challenging and borderline impossible due to heavy workloads and lack of technical expertise. This is why SMBs benefit greatly from outsourcing this responsibility to professional technicians. Argentum IT can help your business fully leverage its technology by applying crucial patches and updates remotely, without expensive on-site visits and tying up your staff with the process.

For more information about our remote monitoring and maintenance solution, give Argentum IT a call at (502) 473-6407.