https://www.xperience-group.com/news-item/end-of-support-for-sage-200-2011/
In accordance with the software lifecycle policy, support for Sage 200 2011 will end on 31st October 2017. If businesses continue to use the software beyond this date, they will be prone to security and compliance vulnerabilities that could harm business operations.
On 31st October 2017 Sage will axe hot fixes, updates and service packs for version 2011 which could leave businesses prone to harmful viruses, spyware and other malicious software. This means any vulnerabilities found by hackers will not be patched, exposing businesses to security threats.
While Sage will withdraw technical support, Business Partners, such as DMC Software, will continue to provide support for its customers. It is noteworthy Partners may not be able to resolve all bugs and software defects, which can increase the cost of maintaining the software.
Added to this, businesses using Sage 200 2011 beyond its operational life may notice functionality gaps when working with the latest Office applications, browsers and operating systems. This can disrupt day-to-day operations, jeopardising business growth.
After Sage 200 2011 reaches end of life, regulated industries which deal with lots of sensitive customer data won’t be able to maintain their legal and fiscal compliance. This may have a significant impact with the introduction of Making Tax Digital in 2018 and result in fines.
For businesses to operate risk-free it is essential to move to a supported version of Sage. The recently released Sage 200 2016 offers flexible payment and deployment options to suit different needs. Those include on premise, cloud and subscription. Due for release by the end of September, Sage 200 2017 will offer a plethora of new features, allowing businesses to speed up invoices, hide inactive accounts and correct errors and reverse transactions – more details can be found here.
With the many options available, customers are advised to start making upgrade plans as soon as possible to ensure smooth operation and consistent customer service. In addition to software upgrade, many businesses may need to review their hardware compatibility with the newest versions.