Air Force forced to ditch older PCs due to urgent Windows 10 upgrade mandate

With a strict deadline looming, the US Air Force has decided to sacrifice some older PCs to enable them to meet their mandate to upgrade all their PCs to Windows 10 by the 31st March 2018.

In a bulletin, the Air Force writes:

Windows 10 is not compatible with many systems currently in the Air Force inventory, resulting in the need to replace a significant number of computer hardware.

Windows 10’s security features would allow software patches to install faster, making it less obtrusive to Airmen while making networks safer. This will have a positive security impact on the protection of DoD and special access programs, mission systems, as well as strategic, tactical, and research, development, testing and evaluation systems.

“The Windows 10 migration is critical to Air Force readiness,” said Lt. Col. Brian Snyder, Windows 10 lead action officer, cyberspace strategy and policy. “It introduces a number of new security features; making it the most secure Windows version to date. Additionally, base and organizational leadership must ensure communication/cyber squadrons are provided all the support and availability necessary to guarantee success.”

Any PCs not upgraded by the deadline will be quarantined and denied access to the network.

“The long-term benefit is not just about defending the Air Force against the cyber threat, but having a reliable and capable computer to accomplish the mission,” said Bill Marion, deputy chief, information dominance and deputy chief information officer.