The great thing about the rapid development of technology is that the next big breakthrough could happen any day. However, as the saying goes: out with the old and in with the new. As technology advances, developers are retiring old versions of their software and devices to make room for more secure, more efficient, and more advanced technology. As you look ahead to the rest of 2023, here’s what you can expect will lose support.

Microsoft is discontinuing a lot of its older services in 2023. One of the biggest changes happened on January 10: both Windows 7 and 8 lost support. This includes security support and updates, which may leave your operating system vulnerable to hackers. Anyone with a more recent operating system such as Windows 10 has not been affected by this change.

Microsoft is also dropping support for several of its popular productivity tools. Starting April 11, the following Microsoft services will no longer be supported in 2023:

• Microsoft Office 2013
• SharePoint Server 2013
• SharePoint Foundation 2013
• SharePoint Business 2013
• Skype for Business 2015
• Word 2013

These changes will continue into the fall, giving users time to upgrade their software. By October, Microsoft will also have dropped support for:

• Microsoft Office 2019 (exclusively for Mac computers)
• Microsoft Excel 2019 (exclusively for Mac computers)
• Microsoft Word 2019 (exclusively for Mac computers)
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2019 (exclusive for Mac computers)
• Internet Explorer 7
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Storage Server 2012

Apple is making only minor changes this year and will continue to support most of its products. However, users with older model iPhones should take note: any iPhone from 2016 or older (meaning the iPhone 6s, SE, and 7) will no longer receive software updates. Additionally, the company will be straying away from their classic Lightning cable ports for USB-C ports. The major benefit to this is that iPhones will charge significantly faster than with their traditional Lightning cables. Customers will have to buy their own USB-C blocks if they wish to charge their phone. Apple stopped providing blocks for their new iPhones in 2020 due to environmental concerns.

Google is tentatively releasing its updated internet browser Chrome 110 in February of 2023. This new version of Chrome will require users to update their operating systems to Windows 10 or later. Support for Windows 7 and 8 will be discontinued in January. While older versions of Chrome will continue to work on Windows 7 and 8, users will not have access to the latest Chrome security features, putting their internet data at risk.

At KDG we always like to remind people to update their software and upgrade their hardware any time a new version is released. Doing so won’t only enhance your efficiency and give you access to the latest benefits these new tools and technology offer, but it will also protect you from hackers, malware, and other serious cybersecurity threats.

Need help updating the software and devices across your organization? Contact our IT team today. We’ll help you stay supported into 2023 and beyond!