When Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 in January 2020, the company will no longer provide security updates for the operating system through Windows Update. However, large companies have the ability to pay for Windows 7 Extended Security Updates. Microsoft recently briefed some of its partners, after which prices leaked on the internet.
Extended Security Updates for Windows 7 will only be available for the Pro and Enterprise versions with volume licensing. Non-volume licensing versions will no longer receive security updates from January 2020, and for these versions there is no Extended Support possibility.
Enterprise customers with active Volume Licenses can extend support till 2023, which means those companies have a maximum of three years before they really have to switch to another operating system. Microsoft hopes those customers will decide to move to Windows 10.
ZDNet reports that for the first year of Extended Support, Windows 7 Pro will cost $50 per device, while Windows 7 Enterprise will cost $25 in the first year. Enterprise customers that want to continue to receive security updates will pay $100 for Windows 7 Pro systems for the second year, while Windows 7 Enterprise systems will cost $50 in the same year.
To receive security updates in the last, third year, the prices double again. Enterprise customers will pay $200 per Windows 7 Pro device, while security updates for Windows 7 Enterprise will cost $100. It's possible that prices are negotiable depending on the amount of systems that need Extended Support.
In case companies decide to enter Extended Support in the second or third year, they will also need to pay for the elapsed years retroactively. This is likely because the systems that enter Extended Support in later years, will also still get the updates from previous years.
Enterprises also have an alternative for paying annually for Extended Support. With Azure Virtual Desktop, which is currently in preview mode, Microsoft offers complimentary Extended Support for Windows 7.
