Microsoft to End Service for Windows 7: HIPAA Compliance Requirements

Published: February 20, 2019•Last Updated: July 15, 2024•Read Time: 3 min

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Summary

By January 14, 2020, organizations still on Windows 7 faced unpatched vulnerabilities and heightened breach risk. Migrate to Windows 10 promptly, back up data, test updated devices, and coordinate with your IT provider or MSP to validate compatibility and maintain HIPAA security controls. Proper configuration and testing before full rollout are essential to protect sensitive healthcare data and avoid compliance violations.

Microsoft has announced that it will end service for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. That means that healthcare organizations that rely on Windows 7 to run their business will need to migrate to Windows 10 to maintain the security of the sensitive healthcare data they handle. Windows 10 HIPAA compliance will become more important than ever before now that Microsoft has announced this major shift.

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The days of configuring Windows 7 to be HIPAA compliant will no longer serve businesses working in healthcare. Once the end-of-service date hits, Microsoft will no longer be releasing security updates to Windows 7–meaning that any potential security vulnerabilities can and will be exploited by hackers to access sensitive healthcare data.

By failing to update your computer systems once Windows 7 goes out of service, healthcare professionals run the risk of creating major compatibility issues, delays in scheduling software, data loss, and costly data breaches resulting from security vulnerabilities.

In addition to these serious security risks, there are some technical issues that should also be taken into account. If you are a healthcare professional already working with an IT service or MSP, then the first step should be to contact them to work on a plan to update your systems to Windows 10. HIPAA compliance security requirements can be handled by your IT provider or MSP, and doing this kind of update should be well within their scope.

The first thing you want to do is ensure that you make this update with minimal disruption to your business. That means that all data should be backed up. Your IT provider should then test some of the devices that have been updated using that backed-up data. This is to ensure compatibility and test if a full migration of your computer systems is ready for roll-out. Once all of the tests have proven effective, work with your IT provider or MSP to perform the migration over to Windows 10.

Is Windows 10 HIPAA Compliant?

Now that you’re making this shift away from Windows 7, it’s important that you configure your new Windows 10 rollout such that the privacy and security of your data is maintained in accordance with HIPAA regulation. Windows 10 HIPAA compliance is an important part of running any healthcare organization.

To find out more about how to make Windows 10 HIPAA compliant, click here to view our complimentary white paper! Get immediate access to our step-by-step guide to start making Windows 10 HIPAA compliant for your business.

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About the Author

Monica McCormack

Director of Content Strategy

Monica McCormack has 5 years of experience as a compliance copywriter and editor. She is well-versed in a diverse range of compliance topics including HIPAA, OSHA, and state privacy laws. She specializes in simplifying regulatory compliance, making it easy to understand for a general audience.

Monica has a background in marketing and is responsible for creating all forms of written content, including articles, resources, press releases, and case studies. She also works with Compliancy Group's association partners to deliver educational content for members.