News

The Washington Network Helps Small to Mid-Sized Businesses Prepare for the End of Windows XP and Office 2003 Support


 Leading Unified Communications Provider Delivers a Migration Path to New Technology


ALEXANDRIA, VA - September 13, 2013– The Washington Network, Inc., a leader in unified communications, announced today that the company is launching an initiative to help prepare small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) migrate from Windows XP and the Office 2003 suite of programs to more sustainable solutions. Many SMBs have relied heavily on both these solutions to run their businesses, but after ten years of support these programs will no longer be supported.  According to Microsoft, Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 will completely go out of support on April 8, 2014. 

            This change has dramatic implications for the business world. It means that many businesses that were merely running outdated software will now be powering their businesses with obsolete technology. Aside from the inability to access support and solve software issues as they arise, this change means that businesses who continue to utilize these tools will be exposed to unecessary security risks. For example, unsupported and unpatched environments are extremely vulnerable to outside threats and if a company is unable to assure that it’s customers’ data is properly protected, it may result in public notification of the organization’s inability to maintain its systems and data integrity. SMBs need customers more than ever and the absolute last thing an SMB would want to do, would be to publicly inform their customers that they cannot promise that their data is secure.

            Vendor support options will dwindle as well. Independent vendors, software and hardware, will become fewer and further between, leaving end users with more problems to deal with than capable service providers to choose from. With an ever-diminishing number of service providers, SMBs must chart a new course and pursue a new direction in order to maintain their competitive advantage.

            More than anything, this change is a call to action. Businesses need to understand where they are, where they need to be and how to get there. The best way to make this transition is with the assistance of a Microsoft Certified Partner. These organizations have met rigorous standards and possess the technical capacity to bring an SMB from 2003 to 2013. Whether the solution is as simple as purchasing Windows 7 Professional and upgrading to a modern laptop, or as complex as deploying an enterprise solution to larger organizations with in-depth technical resources, tools and expert guidance, SMBs need to consult with Certified Microsoft Partners.

            “We saw this transition coming and as a Microsoft Certified Partner we are proactively helping our customers make the transition," stated Rick Endres, President of The Washington Network. “It’s inevitable for all technology to eventually deteriorate or become obsolete, which is exactly why we came up with C-TAP. Our Current Technology Assurance Plan (C-TAP) protects our customers from the risk of obsolescence and provides them with a unique comptetitive advantage in their industry. Essentially, we fix the cost of technology and establish a partnership relationship, so rather than ‘nickel and diming’ our customers when their technology expires, we continually work to keep them up to date with the latest software and hardware applications for a fixed, predictable cost. By partnering with our customers and adopting a more relationship-based approach, we’ve been able to maintain long term relationships and everyone is happier, not to mention more profitable.”

           

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON NETWORK, INC.

Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.


Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.


The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.