Why using Old Software is Damaging Your Business

There are 3 main ways that old or out of date software is doing damage to your business:

Poor Security - old versions usually have more 'holes' that hackers can and usually have exploited
Lost Productivity - newer versions of software almost always offer better features and workflows
Lost Enthusiasm - helping staff to operate better makes them happier, more stable employees

In this article I will focus mostly on Web Browsers. There are many browsers you can choose to use to use the Web. The most popular is still just Microsoft's Internet Explorer but that figure is not as clear as you think.

When you look at this chart from W3Schools you will see that there are 2 entries for IE yet only one entry each for Firefox, Safari and Chrome. IE6 is around 8 years old and IE7 has been fully released for over 2 years so why is this?

It is an interesting phenomenon. Microsoft users seem far more likely to be using old versions of software than are those of a competitor. This is unwise as later versions of software are almost always more stable, safer and better featured.

Microsoft updates for browsers are free and automatic so I have really started to wonder why people are still using IE6 in such numbers when IE7 is not only a mandated security update but also so much better to use.

With this in mind I have started asking people what browser they use and which version. Admittedly I haven't been asking for long or collating the results in a formal scientific manner but here is what I am hearing with a lot of regularity:

What is a browser?
I don't know what browser I have on my computer
How do I know what version I am using?
What are Tabs?
Is there a newer version?
How much does it cost, or how do I, upgrade?
My I.T. guy controls that
I just use what I am given

Let me give my impressions:

What is a browser? - how can these people have jobs where they have to use the internet?

I don't know what browser I have on my computer - that is a bit like not knowing what kind of car you drive and expecting the police to be able to find it once you lose it in a car park.

How do I know what version I am using? - ok so there isn't a thing on the front of your computer to tell you how to find versions but it should be taught in computers 101. Here's how: go to the Help Menu (usually far right) and choose About... and then on the window that comes up you will see Program Name and Version numbers e.g. Internet Explorer 7, Version 7.010.256.58

What are Tabs? - ok so if you haven't used a tabbed browser I can forgive you but tabs are a pretty basic concept in user interfaces that date back to the first book that had more than one bookmark.

Is there a newer version? - there is always a newer version now or coming (unless the company went bust and even then the software may have gone open source under a new name). Newer versions are always safer and better as I said so why would you not want the better system?

How much does it cost, or how do I, upgrade? - the thing that disturbs me here is that Microsoft, and many other companies, offer software updates free of charge and automatically so I don't understand why people don't automatically have updates happening. To turn Microsoft Update back on check your settings in Control Panel / Automatic Updates.

My I.T. guy controls that - get a newer, less lazy, I.T. guy I think as he/she should always ensure that your software is the latest, safest, bestest for you. That is the I.T. person's job.

I just use what I am given - maybe you are relying too much on waiting for things to happen for you. Where is the enthusiasm for newer and better ways of working?

Now to be fair, I know that Microsoft is not always the best at letting people know all of what they do have to offer but make sure that you are at least getting what you paid for in free security updates (all you have to do is not turn off the automatic updates). Also have a look around at the options available and you may be amazed how trying some new software dramatically improves your work/life. And if the I.T. guy won't let you I still think get a new one who isn't such a fraidy cat.