Possible action required - Windows 7

Summary

• Windows 7 has been unsupported since January 14, 2020.
• Devices running Windows 7 no longer meet Yale Minimum Security Standards (MSS), and require an approved policy exception from the Information Security Office.
• On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Windows 7 devices inactive for 365 days will be disabled in our Active Directory, preventing login from this device.
• If you no longer require Windows 7 after February 22, 2022, no further action is required.

Details

Operating systems that have reached their end-of-life present a significant potential threat to the University. As of January 14, 2020, Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 7.

On February 22, 2022, all Windows 7 devices that have not been used for 1 year will be disabled in Yale’s Active Directory, preventing logins from these devices after this date.

Possible Action Required

• If you need to continue using a machine running Windows 7, an approved policy exception request form must be submitted and approved.
• If you no longer require Windows 7 after February 22, 2022, no further action is required.
• If you need to use a Windows 7 device and are no longer able to successfully login, please contact the ITS Help Desk. They will work with you to complete the exception request process or upgrade/replace the device. If a policy exception is approved, ITS will re-enable the device in Active Directory allowing you to successfully login on this device again.