Microsoft?s support for personal computers using Windows XP ended on Tuesday even as research firm Gartner said about 20-25% of enterprising systems still run the software. While the continued use of XP entails risk, the research firm added one-third of enterprises currently have more than 10% of their systems remaining on Seattle-based software giant’s XP operating system.
?XP can be used with the risk managed to a tolerable level, without requiring the enterprises to pay Microsoft for expensive custom support while migrations are completed,? said Neil MacDonald, the vice-president and Gartner Fellow.
He added while doing nothing is an option, it does not believe that most organisations (or their auditors) will find this level of risk acceptable.
Microsoft Vista was unpopular and many users chose not to upgrade. The users could still run XP systems and install past updates but that carries many security risks.