Windows Support Extended for Consumers

Microsoft has changed its support policy for consumer editions of Windows. The new policy adds five years of Extended support, including access to security updates, and brings the policy in line with support for enterprise editions. Consumer editions of Windows XP will now be supported until Apr. 2014, Windows Vista until Apr. 2017 and Windows 7 until July 2020. The change could help “bring your own device programs” and improve the overall threat environment for computers, depending on what Microsoft delivers during the Extended support phase.

Consumer Support Now Matches Enterprise

Microsoft divides a product’s support life cycle into three phases: Mainstream, Extended, and Online Self-Help. During the Mainstream phase, which generally lasts for five years after product release, Microsoft offers the broadest set of product support options and distribution channels, as well as the most extensive software update policy (for patches and updates, update rollups, and service packs). In subsequent phases—Extended (which typically lasts for five years beyond the end of the Mainstream phase) and Online Self-Help (which lasts for at least one year beyond the end of Extended support)—distribution channels, product support options, and software update policy become more restrictive. Notably, in the Extended phase most support is available only to paying customers, although Microsoft says it will continue to make any critical security fixes available free.