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The end of support for Windows XP has passed, and financial institutions may need to consider ATM migration. When industries are forced to upgrade their Microsoft operating systems, it often provokes frustration. However, the banking industry's move to Windows 7 is expected to create a better customer experience compared to XP.

Compared to previous updates, Microsoft is guaranteed to support Windows 7 until at least 2020, which prevents banks and credit unions from needing to upgrade again in a few years, according to Retail Banking Research London.

Windows released the final security patches for XP ahead of the deadline. This means that if a new security vulnerability is detected, the company will not issue a fix, which could make things complicated for financial institutions. In addition, banks and credit unions need to update to comply with Payment Card Industry Security Standards, or they could face serious fines, Biz Tech stated.

Major change for the ATM industry
Compared to XP, Windows 7 is thought to be easier and quicker to deploy, RBR London pointed out. This allows financial institutions to avoid some of the pains of implementation and can lead to cost savings in ATM maintenance. Many organizations reach a point where it is more costly to maintain the security of an outdated system rather than upgrade to a new one. 

Additionally, the financial industry is facing another major shift: the move to Europay, Mastercard and Visa chips. While the deadline for compliance with EMV cards is still ahead, upgrading to Windows 7 can make it easier to make this shift as well.

The industry-wide move to Windows 7 is expected to create better security, according to a separate article from Biz Tech. Microsoft will be making strong investments in its software security, which may help prevent issues with malware attacks. The new security features include kernel patch protection, service hardening and data execution prevention, which are all important for the financial industry. The software may be able to help banks and credit unions better maintain compliance. Additionally, updating to a new system shows customers and members that the organization is prioritizing their experience.

The financial industry is facing a number of major transitions, and banks and credit unions need to make sure they are up to date with Windows 7 for ATMs to make it easier to implement EMV cards.