Microsoft to end support for Windows XP, Office 2003 in 2014

United States technology company, Microsoft has announced the official end of support for Windows XP, Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems and Office 2003 by April 8, 2014 and therefore urged its customers and partners to migrate to Windows 8 and Office 2013 platform.
Businesses in particular are feeling the most pressure to stay up-to-date with an increasing need to protect their data and manage all their devices while ensuring security and compliance. Windows 8 is Microsoft’s latest operating system for modern businesses, building on Windows 7 fundamentals such as speed, reliability and security while creating a modern platform designed for new generation of hardware experiences from tablets and innovative touch devices to traditional desktops and laptops.
With the Official End of support for Windows XP, Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems and Office 2003, partners and customers will no longer receive security updates and technical support from Microsoft, which will result in vulnerability to security threats. Awawu Olumide-Sojinrin, acting country manager, Microsoft Nigeria while speaking at a media briefing to announce end of support for the Windows XP and Office 2003 in Lagos, explained that Microsoft is proactive in communicating changes that are critical and important to our customers. As a result, she said Microsoft is taking its time to notify its customers and partners ahead of the April 8 2014 deadline.
“Migration is taken for granted until it is experienced. It is therefore wise for customers and partners to move with the changing technology trend by migrating to the Windows 8 and Office 2013 platform within the 8-month period.” She said. In recent times, it has been observed that PC desktops are now commonly found side by side with laptops, and newer form factors like Ultra books, All in Ones, and tablets. Writeable CDs are today replaced by cloud-based storage solutions like SkyDrive.  Connectivity and accessibility once limited to offices is now possible at home, in the car or even on a beach.
Businesses can now achieve greater productivity and mobility through Direct Access in Windows 8 by enabling remote users to seamlessly access corporate resources over a secure VPN tunnel through the Internet.