{"id":7186,"date":"2026-10-18T11:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T09:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mu.it-cyberwall.com\/obsolete-systems\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T20:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T18:08:11","slug":"systemes-obsoletes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mu.it-cyberwall.com\/en\/systemes-obsoletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Obsolete systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Obsolete systems: keep them without exposing everything else<\/h1>\r\n\r\n

Business software that only runs on an old version of Windows, a machine controlled by a PC from another era, archives that still need to be consulted for years\u2026 We virtualise and isolate these systems, and their backup is entrusted to WeDoBack, so that you can keep them as long as necessary without putting the rest of your IT at risk.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n \r\n Describe my needs <\/a> \r\n \r\n See our method <\/a> <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n
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\r\n \"image\"\/\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\r\n Why they are kept<\/span>\r\n \r\n

When you cannot do without them (yet)<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Keeping a system that no longer receives updates is rarely a choice: it is often the only solution, for a while.<\/p> <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Business software with no equivalent<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

The publisher has disappeared, the new version does not exist or costs too much, and the software will not install on a recent system.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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A machine that depends on it<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

A machine tool, a measuring device or a controller is driven by a PC whose software only exists for an old version of Windows.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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Data that must remain accessible<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Old accounts, a customer database or technical files that must still be opened with the original software.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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A migration that is not ready yet<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

A replacement is planned, but not for several months: in the meantime, the old system must keep running.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\r\n The real risk<\/span>\r\n \r\n

A system without updates remains an open door<\/h2>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When the vendor ends support, it no longer releases security patches. Windows 7 has received none since January 2020, Windows Server 2012 since October 2023 (paid extended security updates ended on 13 October 2026), Windows 10 since October 2025, and CentOS 7 since June 2024. Every vulnerability discovered since then remains open.<\/p>

Then there is the hardware: an old PC eventually breaks down, and its parts become impossible to find. The day it stops, the software it runs stops with it.<\/p>

ANSSI recommends isolating components that are no longer supported by their manufacturer from the rest of the system. That is exactly what we put in place. Dates and sources are detailed in our guide to obsolete systems and software<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\r\n Our method<\/span>\r\n \r\n

From an old machine to a protected system<\/h2>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1. Capture<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

We convert the physical machine into an identical virtual machine: no reinstallation, the software and its settings are kept. We check the licences with you, as some are tied to the original hardware.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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2. Isolate<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

The virtual machine is placed in a segregated network: only strictly necessary traffic is allowed, no web browsing or e-mail, and its own accounts and passwords.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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3. Protect<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

A snapshot before every intervention, and a backup operated by WeDoBack: if the machine is damaged, it can be restored.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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4. Monitor<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

The machine is monitored like your other servers: disk space, availability, backups. An alert warns us before you are held up.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The virtual machine runs on the hypervisor that suits you, for example (non-exhaustive list): Proxmox, VMware, Virtuozzo or Hyper-V, on your premises or in a data centre.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\r\n Preparing what comes next<\/span>\r\n \r\n

Test an upgrade without any risk<\/h2>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Once the system is virtualised, a copy can be made at any time. This copy serves as a test bed: we can test a system upgrade, a new version of the software or a data migration to another tool, while the original keeps running normally.<\/p>