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Financial institutions and ATM deployers are no strangers to large-scale operating system migrations. Within the past decade, organizations have had to migrate from OS/2 to Windows CE/XP, and then on to Windows 7. Now, in a few months’ time, on Jan. 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide regular technical support, security upgrades, or patches for devices running Windows 7 if they are not on extended support. Needless to say, this ATM software update can leave your fleet vulnerable to cyberattacks, as well as fees associated with PCI noncompliance.
So with only months to go until January 2020, how has the industry responded and what can those who have yet to establish a plan do to be ready?
Industry Response
With an estimated 3.5 million ATMs running Windows 7, the decision by Microsoft to sunset the current operating system to make way for Windows 10 is going to have plenty of ripple effects across the industry. Although some financial institutions are using this opportunity to replace their units with new machines that are already running Windows 10 complete with new hardware and additional customer features, others are evaluating the total direct and indirect costs of upgrading their ATM hardware and software to be prepared for both Windows 10’s performance requirements and the time that will be required to actually make the upgrade.
Ultimately, this will involve working with third-party software and hardware providers to evaluate compatibility with the new operating system to make sure your systems continue to run at their peak. At the same time, Windows 10 will be sure to usher in new security and customer-focused features that need to be communicated across your business and with your customers.
To some, the move to Windows 10 is a driving factor behind discussions about how to future-proof not only your fleet, but also your business model for a world in which customers expect seamless, customized, and secure interactions across all of their financial products. At the end of the day, customers that begin to interact with their fleet and network post-migration should recognize and experience the benefits of Windows 10 and not just see the same transactions handled the same way as money not well spent.
In other words, now is the time to communicate with your ATM suppliers, third-party software providers, customers, and internal business lines to ensure that your Windows 10 transition timeline is not fraught with disruptions and surprises.
Playing Catch-Up?
If your organization has yet to start planning for the ATM software update, don’t worry; you are not alone. However, given the ATM Industry Association and Burroughs estimate that a full fleet migration to Windows 10 can take about 18 months, there is no better time to start than today.
It is recommended that organizations begin with a full-scale assessment of its fleet’s readiness for and compatibility with Windows 10. With this information, your organization will need to decide which implementation approach best fits your needs, which includes the overall timeline, software and hardware updates, and associated marketing and training that need to be arranged. Finally, when it is time for implementation to begin, technicians will have to move from site to site, testing hardware and performing the upgrade.
Next Steps
There is no better time than now to begin this migration. Fortunately, your organization will not have to take this journey toward Windows 10 alone. With a call to the experienced team at Burroughs, your organization will benefit from having a dedicated account manager and a team of technicians who are able to guide you through every phase of the migration, including overall fleet consulting, from start to finish. No matter the age, make, model, or current operating systems running across your fleet, Burroughs has the staff and tools ready to design a roadmap to the finish line successfully.
