The end of extended support for Windows 7 is right around the corner. Users of the operating system will no longer get patches after January, and Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for businesses willing to pay up. But while the Redmond firm previously said it will only be available to Volume Licensing customers and some Microsoft 365 users on Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise, it
announced today that small- and mid-size businesses (SMBs) will have the same options. The deal is the same, although Microsoft wasn't specific about pricing. ESUs will be provided for up to three years, and the price of the ESUs will increase on a yearly basis. Obviously, the goal is to get everyone on Windows 10 at some point, and it would seem that businesses aren't transitioning quite as fast as Microsoft would like.
SMBs choosing this option will be able to use the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, and they'll be able to sign up beginning on December 1. ESUs are sold on a per-device basis, and while Microsoft didn't specify pricing, there was a leak earlier this year that said that Windows 7 Enterprise ESUs start at $25 while Windows 7 Professional ESUs start at $50, and it doubles each year.
