Before we know it, September is finally here. October will be around the corner, which means 2022 is almost over. This sparked my desire to list out software that will be heading towards the end life of support by the end of 2022.
Here is the list of software that I know of (last updated: September 10th, 2022):
Microsoft SQL Server 2012: July 14, 2022, no plan for Microsoft to extend any security updates on this product
Windows 2012 R2: October 10, 2023. Update: Microsoft has now made extended security updates for 3 additional years up to 2026 for additional cost per server
Office 2013: April 11, 2023 (planning needs to happen now)
PCLaw 14.1 and 14.2: December 31, 2022 (recently extended to March 31, 2023)
ESILaw: 2015.1.4 is still supported, but not for long. ESILaw is encouraging their clients to switch to ESILaw 360.
iPro Eclipse SE: January 31, 2023 (planning needs to happen now)
Why is End of Life Software a bad thing?
Security Compliance: The Law Society of BC advises its members to take reasonable action to ensure they are running IT software that minimizes any security risks. Cybersecurity insurance providers often aske whether your software is reaching the end of life, otherwise, your firm may have to pay the additional insurance premium, and in the worth case, deny coverage.
Software Compatibility: Out of date operating systems may not be able to run newer software that your firm is currently using, in some cases you can’t even find drivers that are compatible with your printers or scanning devices, which affects the productivity of your firm.
Performance and reliability: Older technology, especially software, runs slowly and stops working entirely after numerous security updates are released by the operating system, leading to loss of productivity in your firm.
Costs: IT teams will spend more money and time trying to fix, secure, and maintain End of Life technology over time than a new version would cost.
This sounds like a no-brainer but it’s not. In addition to security risk factors, running end-of-life software poses more threats to firms, long term.
Why is it so hard to change old software?
Law firms rely on current software to run their practice. When it comes to changing software your firm has relied on for many years, there are a few factors that can influence your desire to change to a new one.
Fear of breaking the system: If the system is working, owner’s will not want to “rock the boat’. They continue to rely on the old system until it eventually fails which may lead to productivity loss. Also they believe it is time-consuming and expensive to make a change and bring on new technologies.
Costs: Updating and making changes to legal accounting software can have serious consequences, but most importantly the additional cost of designing, planning, implementing, and training may be the most cumbersome to your firm. There are also software, hardware, and labor costs involved.
Training: Each time the firm introduces a technology change, it will be required train staff appropriately in order to learn the new system. Most law firms have a budget for training, but for the most part, there isn’t enough time to train their staff fully on using the new system due to various different constraints.
The BMC Approach
Despite the difficulties to replace end-of-life products and services, BMC recommends the following:
- Evaluate whether the existing software is doing what the firm wants to achieve
- Evaluate the alternatives and options that provide the maximum amount of benefit over the “one-time cost” of implementation
- Align the business goals with the change, and also provide adequate training to your staff
There are many different products in the marketplace, our vCIOs are designed to specifically assist you to craft a roadmap for these upcoming changes.
Reach out to BMC Networks and see how end-of-life products can impact your organization.