Operating Systems Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status

An operating system is the low-level software installed on a device that manages the hardware as well as the software resources. It is the software that communicates between the installed software, and the system kernel. Every modern device that has an interface will likely have an operating system installed.

Most device manufacturers also deliver their own operating systems that are compatible with their hardware. For example, Apple’s iPad, iPhone, and Watch have their dedicated operating systems, known as iPadOS, iOS, and WatchOS, respectively.

That said, some operating systems are not hardware-specific, like the many flavors of Linux.

While supported, operating systems receive both security and non-security updates, which may include new functions, bug fixes, and more. However, once it reaches the end of life, new updates are no longer received.

It is then that the operating system might be considered vulnerable, as new threats are always emerging, and without proper security patches, your devices become vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, it is recommended that you stay on the latest available operating system and kee them updated.