Windows XP End of Life: Should you wait?

Microsoft recently announced that they will be extending End of Life support for Windows XP to 2015.  Please note this extension is limited in nature and does not affect the end-of-support date of Windows XP.  Microsoft will not be providing additional security updates and Service packs for Microsoft Windows XP after the April 18th, 2014 date.

Support is extended to the following aspects of Windows XP according to their website

• System Center Endpoint Protection
• Forefront Client Security
• Forefront Endpoint Protection
• Windows Intune
• Microsoft Security Essentials

We are urging our Clients to upgrade XP machines to Windows 7 prior to End of life date of April 18th, 2014.

What is our risk if we decide to stay with some computers that have Windows XP running after the April 18th, 2014 date?

No Security updates or patches will be available for the operating system

Since Microsoft will not be any security updates and or service packs  networks running Windows XP computers are more likely to be compromised

PCs running Windows XP will be out of Compliance (HIPAA, PCI, among others)

We believe that the extension that Microsoft is giving is confusing and also may give a false snese of security to users who are still running Windows XP.

Reference:  http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2014/01/15/microsoft-antimalware-support-for-windows-xp.aspx