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In 2020, Microsoft is ending all support for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5. This gives businesses relying on devices running most Windows Mobile operating systems less than 2 years to respond with a migration strategy.
As Microsoft® winds down its support of Windows embedded CE and Windows Mobile, a decision deadline is looming for most enterprises. They must choose a new operating system for their mobile handheld tracking devices or be exposed to major security risks and no ability to add new applications.
In Q4 of 2017, nearly 5 of every 6 smart devices purchased are running an Android Operating System (OS). Apple iOS came in a distant second with 14% of the market share. Windows Mobile devices didn’t fair nearly so. Less than 1 of every 1,000 smart devices purchased coming equipped with a Windows OS. Source: IDC, May 2017.
Migrating to a new OS involves transferring large quantities of critical data, retooling and upgrading applications to run on the new OS and upgrading to hardware that takes full advantage of the new operating system. Unless your company has an in-house IT team specialized in mobile computer hardware refreshes & operating system upgrades, this effort an be an extremely expensive & time consuming endeavor with no guaranteed results that everything is configured properly. That’s because of the nuances and unique requirements of mobile computers such as designating a user and/or a device profile, enrolling an Android device on a network, and “hardening” the devices to have the highest level of security.
Most importantly, the primary way your company will be affected by this mobile computer revolution is the very real security risks that result from running unsupported legacy operating systems.
One of the most widespread cyber attacks that hit at least 150 countries and infected 300,000 devices. WannaCry is a ransomware that encrypts computers and demands payment.
Works by masquerading as a Bluetooth device and exploiting specific protocol weaknesses.
A serious weaknesses in WPA2, an attacker within range of a victim can exploit these weaknesses using key re-installation attacks (krack).
Meltdown and Spectre could allow hackers to steal sensitive data without users knowing, exploiting processor security flaw that could allow hackers to bypass the hardware barrier between applications run by users and the computer’s core memory.
Long story short… YES. In 2020/21, when Microsoft ends extended support for Windows Mobile and/or Windows CE, you will no longer receive any security patches or updates.
Yes, you read that correctly the first time — NO MORE SECURITY PATCHES OR UPDATES.
This means that any company running legacy Windows OS are at significant risk of very serious cyber attacks and security breaches. The best defense against malicious cyber attacks is to install operating system updates as soon as they’re available. Since security patches and OS updates will no longer be available to install, if the unthinkable were to happen and hackers infiltrated your corporate network by exploiting a known weakness in the legacy system (that would otherwise have been patched in a supported OS), you’re on your own.
In 2017 the Department of Homeland Security wrote a paper titled “Study on Mobile Device Security.” This paper defines a cyber security threat model in addition to current mitigations and defenses methods to help protect mobile computer devices, networks, and intellectual property.
Three of the most effective ways to ensure your systems are secure it to always install security updates when available, seek a clear security commitment from device vendors and/or mobile carriers, and decommission legacy devices that are no longer supported with security updates. To read the full paper click the button below.
“The most important defense against mobile device security threats is to ensure devices are patched against the publicly known security vulnerabilities”
Read Full Paper
“When making procurement decisions, enterprises should seek clear commitment from device vendors or mobile carriers that security updates will be provided in a timely manner”
Read Full Paper
“When a device model is no longer supported with updates, enterprises should decommission those devices”
Read Full Paper
Lowry Solutions is committed to helping enterprises find the right path for their business. We offer the strongest portfolio of enterprise-ready Android devices on the market—available today for those that have already selected Android as their future mobile strategy.
As a Premier Partner with years of experience in mobility solutions, Lowry’s team of experts brings a tested, validated approach to OS migrations to help you take full advantage of the next generation of mobile solutions.
Android OS Migration with Lowry means accelerated modernization of your mobile computers fleet using proprietary solutions for Terminal and Compact applications. We start the engagement with a Modernization Assessment. During the assessment we take the legacy application code and determine the best course of action for that specific application.
Don’t get caught off guard. Take the first step in your OS migration journey by speaking to a Lowry Solutions expert today.
Tired of punching keys into the green screen? Now is the time to upgrade to a newer, cleaner, easier, interface and user experience with terminal emulation.
Android operating systems are designed to optimize essential processes and reduce unnecessary background tasks allowing for battery life that exceed legacy Windows mobile devices.
Cutting-edge new operating systems, devices and purpose-built software applications that speed up workflows.
Lowry Solutions Android Enterprise migration experts get your devices up and running in no time. Our 4 phase process guarantees a smooth transition from the initial assessment to deployment & support.
Android is constantly releasing new and more secure updates & OS versions at a rate of about one new OS version every year. Over-the-air updates make it easy to apply the latest security updates. You can also use Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) services such as MobiControl to manage your updates.
New hardware means new advanced scanning engines which include state of the art first-time, every-time capture of 1D and 2D barcodes.
Lowry's Migration Services Give You a Clear Path to Android
Very few people have ever had to migrate their business devices from Windows to Android before. Microsoft Windows has dominated the business world for decades so therefore it’s not immediately obvious to know the what, who, when, where, why, and hows of a Android deployment/migration. In fact, the sudden announcement from Microsoft of the End of Life/End of Support dates doesn’t give as much time to learn how to perform the migration.
For projects of this size and scope learning on the job can get very costly, very quickly. This is precisely where Lowry can help as a trusted partner to advise which devices are best for your company, making sure all your applications re-purposed to work in Android and installed on the new devices, securely enrolling the new devices on your network, testing the devices with real use cases upon completion and everything else in between.
Lowry Solutions help is your trusted partner to advise which devices are best for your company, making sure all your applications re-purposed to work in Android and installed on the new devices, securely enrolling the new devices on your network, testing the devices with real use cases upon completion and everything else in between. Our process helps streamline the migration process:
1. Scoping and Planning | 2. Design and Implementation | 3. Testing & Validation | 4. Pilot, Training and Support
Accelerate productivity through modernization with our proprietary solutions for Terminal and Compact applications. We start the engagement with a Modernization Assessment. During the assessment we take the legacy application code and determine the best course of action for that specific application.
Lowry Solutions has exclusive capabilities to improve user experience for businesses, leading to increased adoption and efficiency.
Accelerate productivity through modernization with our proprietary solutions for Terminal and Compact applications. We start the engagement with a Modernization Assessment. During the assessment we take the legacy application code and determine the best course of action for that specific application.
from the use of advanced operating systems, devices and purpose-built software applications that speed up workflows.
implementing processes that eliminate waste or complexity.
with advanced data collection capabilities that reduce the soft and hard costs associated with errors.
as strong as Windows and Zebra devices are fortified with Mobility Extensions (Mx) for true enterprise-class security and manageability.
A detailed understanding of how and where you use mobile devices will help you frame up the size, scope, and complexity of a technology refresh. This also sets the framework for determining which areas of your business are impacted and how you will want to prioritize from a timing perspective.
Enterprise handheld mobile computers shipped since 2016 are no longer supported
Mobile computers sold since 2010 with 99% running legacy operating systems
Microsoft ends support of virtually all Windows Mobile and CE-embedded operating systems
Lowry Solutions is your best-in-class partner with the experience and knowledge required to help businesses find the right OS migration path and bring that plan to life. From the initial assessment to training users on the newly deployed devices, Lowry is here to assist your company in every step of the journey.
