Come July, Windows 10 will finally make its way to users. Since it's a free upgrade for those using Windows 7 and Windows 8, many may look to make the jump - including automated teller machines (ATMs).
In a position paper, the trade group ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) recommends that its members and vendors take the leap of faith and upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as the OS is made available.
A large number of ATMs in Europe and the U.S. are still on Windows 7 or Windows XP (which is already unsupported). In March 2014, when Microsoft pulled the support plug for Windows XP, nearly 95 percent of ATMs were estimated to run on the OS in the U.S.
The ATMIA recommends that machines running on Windows 7 should wait for Windows 10 and jumps straight to the OS, skipping Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 in the process.
The ATMIA paper also highlights the benefits of migrating from Windows 7, Windows CE, or Windows XP to Windows 10. The primary benefit is increased protection against cyberattacks, including malware ones. Users will also be able to overcome the disadvantages of Windows 8. Upgrading to Windows 10 will mean access to service packs that are intermittent and aid in a longer life for the system.
Moreover, while several ATMs upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7 when the support for the former ended, it should be kept in mind that Microsoft will also stop supporting Windows 7 in 2020. Therefore, ATMIA's CEO Mike Lee is of the opinion that people should not wait till the support ends for Windows 7 to upgrade to Windows 10.
"ATM deployers should start their 2020 migration without delay," said CEO Mike Lee. "[A]s ATM hardware purchased now will still be in use when support for Windows 7 OS ends in that year. This means terminals would need to be upgradeable and compatible with the next big operating system. It's important to know which ATM configurations are going to be Windows 10 compatible."
Those members who want an alternative to Windows 10 can explore Linux- or Android-powered ATM options per the ATMIA.
