How Much Will Your XP Migration Cost?

by Jonathan Clark

Organizations worldwide are struggling to control the costs associated with parting ways with Microsoft XP. Some costs are fairly predictable; for example, software licenses, hardware needs, and training. Others, however, are more troublesome to estimate. There are the costs associated with lost productivity, security risks, compliance violations, and the loss of value in existing assets—just to name a few. With so many variables, you need a path that can help protect your exposure.

Here’s where good planning can really pay off. Employing the best migration strategy is crucial to not only ensure operations are maintained, but to protect current investments as well. For some organizations, this may be a straightforward migration to Windows 8, others to Windows 7. In many instances, a more hybrid approach will make the most sense. To begin, evaluate your user profiles, current/future hardware needs (on-site and in the field), anticipated deployment challenges, and ongoing maintenance plans. Results of these assessments should be the starting line to determine the right path.

It’s a daunting task that we hear about every day from our customers. And there’s a lot at stake. No one wants their name attached to a project that causes more problems than it solves. To ease the challenge, our Microsoft team offers up some easy to follow guidance. It’s a great starting place to choose the best strategy and navigate the maze of devices (and let’s not forget the plethora of promotional hype).