How to Deal with Managing End-of-Life Software

24 Apr 2023

Do you know which of your IT assets have reached end of life (EOL) or end of support (EOS)?

Because at some point, all software will reach the end of its life. As manufacturers will no longer develop or importantly service the product which then sees a discontinuation in all technical support, upgrades, bug fixes and security updates and any end-of-life (EOL) software will have known vulnerabilities that cyber-criminals can easily look to exploit.

The most significant steps you can take to remain compliant during software EOL are to prepare as early as possible and follow best practices so you can implement and help to mitigate these concerns.

The Risks of EOL Software

Already known but unmitigated vulnerabilities are amongst the highest cyber-security risks. Recent surveys by  the NCSC and a leading cyber security solutions software company found that 1 in 3 European organisations  have experienced security breaches due to unpatched vulnerabilities and that 63% of UK businesses lack any robust vulnerability management policies.

Being this exposed to threats and despite these findings, organisations typically may be hesitant to transition away from EOL software for several reasons, including:

• Lack of necessary features in new software
• Limited resources
• Migration challenges
• A lack of accountability for replacing software

Plus, organisations could be feeling apprehensive of leaving EOL software behind if such systems are still functioning. But continuing to use EOL software also comes with a myriad of risks, such as:

• Heightened cyber-security risks
• Incompatibilities in software
• Compliance concerns
• Increased operating costs
• Poor performance and reliability issues

So don’t expect a vendor patch if a serious security flaw is found in an end-of-life operating system. Instead, the vendor expects that, by now, users like you have moved on to a supported version of the operating system. 

Considering these main risk areas, it is imperative that proactive EOL software management is needed for organisations to prevent unwelcome surprises and importantly keep their operations secure.

Managing EOL Software

Although many organisations are prepared for basic and initial steps that come with introducing new software, sadly few businesses are prepared for what will happen when it inevitably comes time for these systems to be phased out.

Organisations should consider the following EOL software management tips:

• Create a lifecycle management plan
  o Effective planning for EOL software can reduce cyber-security vulnerabilities plus lessen the risk of downtime and help companies remain compliant with applicable regulations
• Take a network inventory of your assets
  o Understanding device history and using device management software that will automatically capture important information about devices when they connect to a network (e.g., model number, IP address, certificate status) 
• Evaluate the impact
  o Before making any decisions, evaluate the impact of the end-of-life software on your organization. This includes assessing the software's criticality, the level of use, and any dependencies it has on other systems.
• Monitor EOL status and timelines
  o Stay current on EOL notifications for all critical workplace systems. Best practices suggest reviewing the EOL dates of new software before selecting it for current use. Make sure that the software upgrade and/or transition to new applications would be as smooth and efficient as possible for minimal disruption.
  o If replacing the software is not an option, consider alternative options such as extending the software's life through custom support agreements, virtualization, or containerization.
• Communicate early and clearly
  o Inform customers of all upcoming EOL issues and outline plans for addressing these concerns. Being communicative and transparent can help organisations improve customer loyalty and trust during EOL transitions.
• Maintain consistent cyber-security practices
  o In the absence of an inhouse tech team, the upgrade process could get overwhelming for many organisations. This is where effective cyber-security practices can also help organisations ensure proper EOL software management.
  o Even if you continue to use the end-of-life software, it's important to implement additional security measures to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. This could include using firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and limiting network access.
• Retire the EOL Software
  o Finally, retire the EOL software once you have completed the upgrade or migration to a new 
  software solution. 
  o Ensure that all data is securely backed up and migrated to the new software.

Successful transition through any software end-of-life requires strategic, well-informed planning and lifecycle management. Strategic end-of-life and end-of-support management is the only way of guaranteeing that your business runs smoothly and without any interruptions, allowing organisations to make better business decisions, to gain critical insights into total cost of ownership, to plan more effectively and importantly minimize and reduce risks.

Source: SecurityWise