This is What Happens When You Refuse to Upgrade From XP

Way too many of the customers I interact with are still stuck using Windows XP, an operating system that came out when the Twin Towers were still standing in New York. And even though they purchase 64 bit computers with large amounts of ram, they don’t utilize that power, and stick with the 32Bit image they have standardized on for over a decade. They spend a huge fortune on defense in depth to protect what they know to be an inferior operating system, and much of that defensive procurement would be rendered unnecessary if they went with a hardened endpoint operating system.

Sticking with WinXP and IE7 is a powder keg of a disaster waiting to happen. Just take a look at an Atlanta Hospital that just risk-managed their way into having to do without their computer network which is maggoty with malware, botnets and virii. From the AJC here with thanks to RSA:

Ambulances turned away as computer virus infects Gwinnett Medical Center computers

Gwinnett Medical Center on Friday confirmed it has instructed ambulances to take patients to other area hospitals when possible after discovering a system-wide computer virus that slowed patient registration and other operations at its campuses in Lawrenceville and Duluth.

The health system has been forced to switch back to paperwork.

Patients were waiting longer at registration on Friday, and the virus also was affecting departments such as the pharmacy, radiology and labs. A system of runners are dealing with a variety of tasks, such as running orders down to the pharmacy or delivering X-rays to doctors.

A hospital taken down by malware and an overcautious risk management team.