Hi everyone,
I’m facing a challenging situation at work and could use some advice. I work as an IT support specialist at a family-owned health business, and my boss has repeatedly refused to upgrade an outdated Windows 7 system despite significant security risks and operational issues. The system is no longer supported by Microsoft, is vulnerable to serious exploits, frequently crashes, and has outdated BIOS firmware.
I’ve asked my boss multiple times over the past two months to upgrade the system, but he has consistently refused, insisting that we have enough security measures in place. However, I’m not confident in these security measures, as the system is connected to the internet and it can literally be hacked by a exploit within the operating system, potentially bypassing all of our firewalls. (e.g. EternalBlue, BlueKeep)
I’ve prepared a new desktop with Windows 10 as a backup, ready to be deployed if the current system fails. I’ve also laid out a plan that would cause minimal disruption, allowing the employee who uses this system to temporarily use the software on his laptop while we make the switch. Despite this, my boss still refuses and has become visibly frustrated with my repeated requests. I’m worried about getting fired for taking the initiative to address this critical issue. The employee has been asking for a new system for the last 2 months.
The Windows 7 system connects to our main server to access a specific piece of software via the web browser. We host it locally, the software basically tracks all the equipment/infrastructure around the warehouse. It would be a straightforward replacement, but my boss’s resistance and erratic behavior make it difficult to move forward.
I’m considering talking directly to the owners about this issue, as my boss’s refusal puts our operations at risk, but I’m concerned about potential repercussions. I want to ensure I handle this professionally and protect myself from any blame if a security breach occurs.
Most of my requests have been verbal, and an email I sent to my boss about upgrading was never responded to. I’m looking for advice on whether I should discuss this with the owners directly, the potential risks and benefits of taking this step, and how I can best document my efforts to protect myself. I definitely feel like I’m going to be used as a scapegoat. I’m also planning on seeking employment elsewhere after I get my Network+. This is my first IT job, I’ve only been working here 3 months and I already want to leave.
I appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thank you!
A couple additional thoughts:
You sent your boss an email using your company email server. You do not control this server. You cannot rely on this email as a paper trail, any email you send could be deleted by someone else with administrative access. In Outlook it’s possible to delete any email that was sent internally and the logs that it was sent.
You should write down the date(s) and time(s) that you sent emails about this to your boss, on paper. Keep it with your other work notes.
You should not include any specific technical information about your company’s systems in this paper record as this might expose you to liability in the future. Just record when you sent the emails and a general description of the subject (e.g. “email to boss about upgrading out-of-date operating system”), and a short description of any response (verbal or written).
You have offered to upgrade this system. Your boss said no. It’s not your responsibility anymore.
If I were in your position I would tell my boss explicitly that I won’t be responsible for the security of this system or anything connected to it, at least not without a signed risk acceptance statement. You might not feel comfortable doing that, it is potentially confrontational.
If you’ve been told that you’re responsible for this system (your employment is dependent on it) in spite of your objections, please take a look at this article about security hardening for Windows 7 and try to implement as much as you can. If you’re not responsible for it, don’t mess with it.