Microsoft XP end-of-life will boost Cloud Migration predicts Auriga

LONDON - April 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Auriga Consulting Ltd (Auriga), the expert data, ICT and security consultancy, today suggested the dependency created by software licensing models such as Windows XP could spur migration to the Cloud. Windows XP reached end-of-life on 8 April, with support for the platform due to be fully withdrawn by July 2015. Many organisations have yet to make the transition, with the UK government recently devoting another £5.5 million to pay for continued support. The security threat posed by the withdrawal of support could endanger the viability of the software licensing model, particularly if organisations choose to migrate software services en masse to the Cloud.

The ICO and Gartner have both warned of the security dangers in the continued use of Windows XP. The software platform is expected to become a prime target for malware when support terminates and hackers begin to exploit unpatched or newly discovered vulnerabilities. Microsoft will continue to offer antivirus signatures and security scanning from Security Essentials until at least July 2015 but antivirus typically only stops a small percentage of new malware. Every new vulnerability found in Windows 7 or 8 which is not patched in XP could potentially pose a threat and become a zero day attack.

Cloud-based software services could rise to become a contender to the software licensing model. As services transition to the cloud and the client device transitions from a fully operational personal computer to a dumb terminal, users will no doubt begin to ask why they should continue to expose themselves to security vulnerabilities, maintenance licensing costs, and the additional software costs that constitute the majority cost of a client operating system. By jettisoning the client device, the enterprise can massively reduce the requirement for processing power and stands to benefit from a hugely increased client hardware life-cycle or desktop extension program.

“The end-of-life of Windows XP isn’t just the death throes of a software service; it’s potentially the death knell for the software licensing model. There is an over-reliance upon the software service provider to ensure sustained support which creates an unhealthy dependency. But I wonder how much of these client licenses are dedicated to the provision of a web browser? Will the user need such client licenses anymore if they are purely using the Cloud? The Cloud is no longer a nascent market, and advances in how data is handled and secured now mean this is a viable alternative to established software services housed on the end device. Potentially, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see a mass migration to the Cloud and this could render the licensing model obsolete,” said Louise T. Dunne, Managing Director, Auriga.

About Auriga

Auriga Consulting Ltd (Auriga) is an expert consultancy specialising in Data Management, Information Assurance, Corporate Governance, Business Process Modelling, Analysis, ICT and Security. We advocate data as the most valuable part of your business and combine superior security and assurance knowledge with a wealth of business management consultancy and efficiency skills. Using a unique set of methodologies we embed security by overlaying it onto business process and analysing data.

Auriga reported a turnover of more than £1million in its first full year of trading, cementing its reputation as one of the most dynamic and versatile solutions providers in the marketplace today. We have worked on some of the most demanding projects in the UK for customers from the public and private sectors, advising upon the architectures and business processes adopted for the G-Cloud project, NHS and social services databases, and leading the BSi’s largest audited UK organisation successfully through ISO 27001. To find out more, please go to www.aurigaconsulting.com or follow us on Twitter @AurigaConsult.