There have been a few instances lately of media reports regarding the end of life for certain pieces of software, and other news items about software that is being advised against due to security flaws. A couple examples of this are recent comments by the German government for its citizens to stop using Internet Explorer, and then Firefox. Other news items are from Google and Amazon, saying that they will stop or limit support for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 6 web browser.

It can all be very confusing. Between the browser wars, advertising, and sometimes dozens of applications needing patches, it’s hard to know what should be updated, or how to stay on top of it all. What’s a business manager to do in these situations?

There are a few keys to keeping your head above water in these situations. The first, and most important, is to have a good relationship with your IT service provider. This may seem like a bit of a no-brainer, but think about it… how well do you and your IT folks really communicate to one another? I’ve come across a lot of instances lately where people have said “I wonder what the IT folks are really doing…”. Having that clear, open and honest communication is important. If you don’t trust your computer support people, it’s time to seriously consider making some changes.

The next point is… don’t get locked in to end-of life software. I have a client who uses a particular piece of software, and they rely on it very heavily. They love it. But it’s end of life! Which means that the software is NOT being further developed by the company that makes it. So what do they do? They’re stuck using an old piece of software, on an old operating system that soon won’t be supported either. Old, upon old, and with no support is just asking for trouble. When you’re looking at acquiring new software, ask about the upgrade path, and maybe even ask for a development roadmap. Most software companies will know what’s in the works for years to come. If the application you want isn’t on their radar, it shouldn’t be on yours.

Which leads to my final point… don’t be afraid of change. Now I’m not saying that you should live on the leading edge for every piece of software or hardware you use, but be prepared to make changes and modifications. A lot of people stayed away from Vista because of the bad press, but the reality is that it wasn’t all bad if you knew what you were doing (and most technical support people knew how to make it stable). As a consequence, many folks are staying with Windows Xp even though Windows 7 is now out, and is a much better operating system. Companies are afraid to make the change because of their fear of change itself, or because they’re worried something will go wrong.

But change is inevitable, and we’re not far off the time that even Windows XP will be end of life, and no longer supported. So what will you do then? This is where we come full circle, and back to the first point of open communication with your local tech support people. They should be able to help you develop your own roadmap of where you’re going with your technology, and how you’re going to get there.

So start the conversation. Look ahead. And be willing to move forward. You’ll find it’s much easier to keep your technology in check.