What Does "End of Support" Mean?

An OS is generally licensed by a company for use on a computer or server. When that OS has reached EOS, its company will stop providing support to their customers for it. This means that they will no longer provide technical assistance, fix bugs or—most critically—release security updates.

Hackers are always looking for security flaws in software, including operating systems. When one is found in an EOS OS, those running that OS become vulnerable to attack and are more easily compromised by malicious actors.

How to determine if your Operating System is End of Support?

Check Your Operating System Version

For Windows:

1. Navigate to Start Menu > Settings > System > About. 
2. Look under Windows Specifications for your edition and version.

For macOS:

1. Navigate to the Apple Menu > About This Mac. 
2. Note the macOS name and version number.

Verify Your Operating System is Under Support 

According to IT10.5.1, “Operating systems that have not had a patch issued in the previous 12 months are considered no longer supported by the developer, vendor or manufacturer.” An OS may be EOS through a lack of updates or through direct messaging by the company. 

For Windows, see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/supported-versions-windows-client. Note the “End of servicing” date for your version and edition. 

For macOS, Apple typically does not announce EOS. They generally stop releasing updates around three years after release. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_version_history for the release date of your version of macOS. If it is more than four years old, the university considers it EOS.

If you have determined your operating system has reached End of Support

Please contact your local IT and discuss options for upgrading your operating system to a supported version.

If you are local IT see: Endpoint Security, End of Support Operating Systems, Guidance for Continued Operations