Technology is an essential part of your daily work whether you're teaching, conducting research, or supporting university operations, having a reliable and secure computer is critical. However, just like any other piece of equipment, computers have a limited lifespan.

At Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services (LAITS), we want to ensure that faculty and staff have the technology they need to work effectively while maintaining the security of university systems and data.

A computer reaches End of Life (EOL) when it is no longer eligible for support under LAITS computer standards. This doesn't necessarily mean the computer has stopped working. In fact, many computers continue functioning well beyond their supported lifespan.

However, as computers age, they become increasingly difficult to maintain, may experience performance issues, and can lose compatibility with modern operating systems and security updates.

Computers are supported by LAITS for eight years from the model's release year. Support ends on August 31 of the eighth year (the end of the fiscal year) or when the manufacturer discontinues support for the device, whichever comes first.

For example:

• A computer model released in 2018 reaches End of Life on August 31, 2026.

• A computer model released in 2019 reaches End of Life on August 31, 2027.

It's important to understand that this timeline is based on the model's release year, not the date the computer was purchased.

Maintaining supported computers helps protect both individual users and the university as a whole.

Security: Older computers may no longer support current operating systems or receive essential security updates, potentially exposing university systems and sensitive information to cybersecurity threats.

Reliability: Aging hardware is more susceptible to failures, potentially resulting in unexpected downtime and interruptions to teaching, research, and administrative work.

Compatibility: New software and university technology services increasingly require modern hardware and operating systems that older computers may not support.

Support Efficiency: Standardizing supported computer models allows LAITS to provide more consistent, effective, and timely technical assistance while managing support costs.

Once a computer reaches its End of Life date, it is no longer eligible for standard LAITS support.

Departments and faculty members are responsible for replacing unsupported computers with approved models. Computers that remain in service beyond their supported lifespan may also be subject to network quarantine, restricting their ability to connect to university resources.

To help departments plan ahead, LAITS provides twice-yearly notifications to departmental administrative staff identifying computers approaching or reaching the end of their supported lifespan.

The best way to avoid disruptions is to plan for computer replacement before your device reaches End of Life.

We encourage faculty and staff to:

1. Know your computer's age. Check with LAITS if you're unsure when your computer model was released or when its support will end.

2. Plan for replacement. Work with your department's administrative staff to incorporate computer replacements into annual technology budgets.

3. Purchase supported models. LAITS maintains an approved list of computer models to ensure compatibility, security, and reliable support.

4. Contact LAITS early. If your computer is approaching End of Life, our team can help guide you through the replacement process.

LAITS understands that replacing computers requires planning and financial resources. Our goal is to work collaboratively with departments to make these transitions as smooth as possible while maintaining a secure and dependable computing environment.

In certain circumstances, exceptions to the End of Life policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Have questions about your computer's End of Life status, replacement options, or possible exceptions?

Contact LAITS Computer Support on the web at Computer Support – LAITS.

For additional information, visit our Supported Computer Models and Standards page.

Plan ahead. Stay supported. Stay secure.