Pub 7 2018 Issue 5

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 14 H ow will you replace every PC, laptop and computer in your bank that runs Windows 7? More importantly, how long will it take, and how much will it cost? Microsoft announced that effective January of 2020, they are ending support for Windows 7, meaning your bank will need to upgrade every Windows 7 device to a machine that runs Windows 10. With new security threats occurring daily and regulatory agencies requiring banks to only use supported systems, this upgrade is not optional. Do you have a plan? Here are some things to consider: Start TODAY – Ever drive in rush hour traffic in a big city? No one gets anywhere fast. Availability of PCs and technical talent will be in short supply the closer you get to January 2020. Your bank should already have a plan in place to replace Windows 7 devices, and if not, you need to start today. BankOnIT started creating project plans in 2017 for client banks, allowing clients to be prepared and ready for the Windows 10 upgrade. Planning – How many machines do you have running Windows 7 and at how many branches? If you are relying on internal IT staff to get the job done, remember they still have to do all the usual work to keep your bank operating and secure and find time to install new Windows 10 machines. If you are using an outside firm it’s best to schedule early and check availability. Better yet, use BankOnIT. BankOnIT proactively notified and created a path forward for each client bank to have the new machines delivered on time and within budget. Compatibility – Do you know which vendor applications you’re running that are compatible with Windows 10 and which ones are not? BankOnIT knows. You’ll want to know as well, prior to moving your employees to the new Windows 10 machines and finding out your employees can’t help your customers because of incompatibilities. Budgeting – How much will the hourly support and project management fees cost you to accomplish this move? At BankOnIT, client banks receive project management help and support as part of our service, without any added costs. Whether you have 12 Windows 7 machines or 500, BankOnIT will provide the project management, setup and installation of the machines included as part of our service at no added charge. With BankOnIT’s Bankers Private Cloud ® , projects, such as the move to Windows 10, come with expert project managers – for no additional fees. Because BankOnIT works with hundreds of different vendors and software applications every day, we also know what will and won’t be compatible with your bank’s systems. Your own, dedicated project manager will design an implementation timeline and be proactive in communicating your next steps. If you want to take the guesswork and uncertainty out of your technology projects, hire BankOnIT. You’ll make IT easier and get better results. Contact BankOnIT at 800-498-8877, option 2 , or solutions@bankonitusa.com . About the Author: Robert Mendez is executive vice president of BankOnIT. Mendez has nearly 25 years of banking experience and joined BankOnIT in 2006. He holds a BBA in finance, an MBA and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Mendez previously co-founded a bank regulatory software company. As a former banker, Mendez has a unique perspective on a bank’s need to meet security, efficiency, reliability and regulatory requirements, while maximizing earnings. HOW MUCH WILL THE MICROSOFT CHANGE COST YOUR BANK? Robert Mendez, Executive Vice President, BankOnITUSA Could This Happen to Your Bank? A growing bank chose to open a new office in another city. The bank was utilizing a division of their core vendor for networking support and called on them to setup the new branch location. Because this was considered a new project, the bank was billed for the work in addition to what they were already paying for network support. The bank had to pay charges such as travel time, setup fees, installation of the new Windows 10 workstations and other project related fees. Just prior to the new branch opening, the bank discovered they could not utilize certain applications and called their core vendor. The vendor explained that their software was not yet ready to support Windows 10. When asked by the bank why incompatible machines were installed in the first place, the response was that the core and the networking teams were different divisions. The bank then had to have workstations setup that were compatible with the applications they were running, costing the bank more time and more money.