For most companies – upwards of 90% by one estimate – it is old news that Microsoft is phasing out support of its Windows Mobile/CE operating systems for rugged devices. As each mobile Windows OS reaches its end of life, there will be no additional software updates. Not even security patches.

Without updated operating systems, hundreds of thousands of rugged mobile devices will increasingly fall short of mission-critical requirements. Shipping and production processes will slow or even fail. Clever hackers will find easier ways to penetrate system security.

With so much at stake, it is startling to learn that one-quarter of companies responding to a VDC Research study have no plans in place for migrating to a new operating system. Others have migration plans but may lack the confidence that they have the right plans in place. In either case, the question now is, “Where do we go from here?”

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