Here are 6 Technology Tools You Must Stop Using Now

Things that were once staples of our lives continue to change.

For example, take food.

Melbourne is the foodie capital of Australia. 

And you have to look no further than the MCG to see how Melbourians have changed their food habits. Even at the footy. 

Once, you would sit in the Ponsford Stand eating a Four’N Twenty pie with tomato sauce, watching the Dees take on the Hawks (Go Hawks!).

Now, your hunger competes with Korean fried chicken, samosas or Thai pumpkin soup. 

With endless changing choices, a Four’N Twenty for many won’t cut it anymore. 

But, look at how technology has changed, getting into the ‘G. No longer can you turn up at Gate 5 and buy a ticket on gameday.

Today you need to buy a ticket online.

Similarly, the technology Melbourne businesses have come to rely on continues to change.

Believe it or not, Microsoft Internet Explorer was once the number one global web browser. That was after it crushed its competition (remember Netscape?) in the late 1990s. 

Discontinued or outdated technology leaves your computers and networks vulnerable to attacks – no longer receiving critical security updates.

A data breach is one of the biggest threats of relying on outdated technology. Instead, updates often patch new and exploited system vulnerabilities. 

While older technology may still operate on your systems, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to use. 

Approximately 33% of data breaches occur due to unpatched system vulnerabilities.

Imagine if the MCG hadn’t started catering to Melbournians’ changing appetite. The ‘G would be seen as out of touch with modern Australia. 

Your business can end up looking the same to your customers. Using discontinued tech leaves you behind, costing you faith and trust.

There are important reasons to keep your technology updated to a supported version are:

● Reduce the risk of a data breach or malware infection

● Meet data privacy compliance requirements

● Maintain a good reputation and promote customer trust

● Stay competitive in your market

● Mitigate hardware and software compatibility issues

● Assist employee productivity

Melbourne continues to be in the grip of a tight job market post-pandemic. Recent studies showed that 49% of employees would resign due to poor technology. So investing in updated technology can reduce employee turnover and improve engagement.

Here are six outdated tech tools you should consider replacing:

1. Microsoft Internet Explorer

MS Internet Explorer (IE) hasn’t been the global leader in web browsing in over a decade. 

Microsoft itself has replaced it. 

Phasing out IE started in 2015, and Microsoft ended all support in June 2022.

So, if you want to stick with Microsoft, upgrade to Microsoft Edge. The most popular alternatives include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave and Apple Safari.

2. Adobe Flash

In the past, to experience animations, sound and videos on the web, you needed to have Adobe Flash. Likewise, YouTube needed to use Adobe Flash so you could watch videos. 

Unable to address potential security issues, Adobe stopped development in 2017.

But the tool is now obsolete, and all support by Adobe ended on 31 December 2020.

I hope this is not the case, but if you still have Flash on your computer, uninstall the browser plugin and any related software.

3. Windows 7 and earlier

In 2009, MasterChef Australian transformed home cooks into chefs in its first season. That same year, Microsoft released the wildly popular Windows 7. 

In the years following, buoyed by its popularity amongst users, Windows 7 flourished. Like Gary, George and Matt riding the MasterChef wave with viewers, Microsoft had a hit on its hand. 

But over time, like MasterChef, Windows 7 needed a refresh. Microsoft announced it would end all support on 14 January 2020. Whilst Windows 7 may still run, it’s very vulnerable to hacks. 

Hackers often consider Microsoft Windows OS a high-value target.

Now Windows 10 and 11 have widespread use across Melbourne businesses. But if you have any computers using Windows 7, you should update to Windows 10 or above.

4. macOS 10.14 Mojave and earlier

Dining at one of Melbourne’s exclusive restaurants, people expect value from the experience. 

It’s the same for Apple’s iMacs and Macbooks due to the price. 

Due to high upfront costs, most people hold onto them as long as possible.

At a certain point, Apple stops providing updates to your Mac. 

Apple no longer supports your OS if you run macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier. You will need to upgrade.

Using older hardware with non-supported macOS leaves you vulnerable. And your Mac not being compatible with the latest iPhone or iPad.

5. Oracle 18c Database

You are vulnerable to data breaches if you run the Oracle 18c database. 

Oracle ended support in June 2021.

But Oracle has also announced that the end-of-support date for Oracle is 19c and 21c in April 2024.

6. Microsoft SQL Server 2014

Microsoft has already ended mainstream support for SQL Server 2014.

In July 2024, all support, including security updates, will stop.

So you have time to upgrade without losing any security patches. But it would be best if you act soon, ensuring you have time to complete testing and verification of the upgrade.

Let us upgrade your Melbourne office’s technology and reduce the risk.

It’s no secret that technology upgrades can terrify business owners – especially if everything is ticking along before the migration or upgrade.

So get in touch with us to help you effortlessly upgrade your technology.