How to Get Started on XP Migrations Segment Targeting
By Harry Brelsford, Founder and Chairman, SMB Nation
Capitalizing on the WindoWs XP migration opportunity demands that you prioritize the segments you service first. Why? Different industries have different behaviors. And there are flight to quality considerations. Let’s get started on your vertical targeting.
Accounting
Just to level-set, the deadline for extended support for Windows XP is April 8, 2014. In the U.S., the tax filing deadline is April 15, 2014. This duration gap of one week theoretically creates a dangerous condition where the accountant has potentially exposed financial information to intruders. How? Wise hackers might well be developing an April 9th zombie that specially targets accounting applications and data, seeking to exploit this duration hole. Accountants typically go “heads down” right after the holi day season. So from Thursday, January 2, 2014 to Wednesday, April 16, 2014, accountants are focused on tax season, and no system conversions are allowed. Because of that, and as of this writing in early 4Q, it’s essential you target the accounting vertical first. All I can say is get ready for a busy holiday season as you migrate accountants away from Windows XP.
Read the rest of Harry's article in the Q3 2013 Issue of the SMBNation Magazine!
