10 Steps to Windows 10 Migration for ATMs

The year 2020 will bring us many monumental events including the Summer Olympics, the next census, and a Presidential election. But no event will have more impact on financial institutions than the Jan. 14, 2020 deadline for ATMs to be migrated to Windows 10.

After that date, ATMs that have not been upgraded to Windows 10 will become vulnerable to jackpotting and cyberattacks, and will risk PCI compliance. To help financial institutions navigate this change, FTSI has broken down the migration process into 10 important steps:

1. Meet with your ATM provider and servicer immediately: An experienced partner such as FTSI can help your financial institution understand the migration options and timeline. They can also assist with project planning and management.

2. Determine your migration strategy: ATMs will need to be upgraded with a new core and software, or replaced completely. Financial institutions must determine if making a significant investment in older ATMs is a better use of resources than upgrading to cutting edge technology such as the NCR 80 series ATMs.

3. Gather pricing and run an ROI: NCR 80 series ATMs offer check truncation and greater storage capacity for checks and cash. These benefits reduce the frequency of cash replenishments and deposit collections. New hardware also requires less servicing. So though upgrading ATM cores will initially cost less than a full replacement, an investment in new ATMs can provide a significant ROI that narrows the difference in cost.

4. Decide which ATMs to replace or upgrade: An ATM that has been in service for 5 or more years is a likely candidate for replacement. Given the pace with which technology changes today, it is unlikely that ATMs will be relevant for 7-10 years like they have been in the past. Also, consider replacing high volume ATMs that will likely require more repairs and might experience more downtime.

5. Place hardware orders ASAP: With over 3 million ATMs needing to be upgraded or replaced worldwide, expect manufacturer lead-times to be greater than 4 months. Also, the best pricing will be provided to those who place orders before demand increases significantly.

6. Finalize the installation schedule: There will also be increased demand on ATM servicers to complete the upgrades and replacements. Expect the installation queue to be greater than 4 months.

7. Perform a lab/pilot test: Before installing the new software on an entire fleet, FTSI recommends a 4-6 week lab/pilot test in order to ensure no hiccups occur when bringing the ATMs live and running transactions.

8. Begin full fleet installations: Given the increased installation queue, FTSI recommends installations begin no later than June of 2019.

9. Complete all upgrades and replacements by Q3 2019: Manufacturers and service providers will be stretched to capacity, and there will certainly be a “sprint to the finish” as they try to deliver hardware and complete installations. Financial institutions will be well-served to beat the rush.

10. Relax...knowing your new 80 series ATMs are providing a superior member experience and a great ROI.

Most migrations typically take between 12-18 months to deploy. We are not far away from the Windows 10 deadline, so the time is now. Watch the Windows 10 webinar on demand to learn more about:

• Migration Timeline
• ATM& ITM Software Updates
• Windows 7 Extended Support
• Network Certifications
• Field Implementation Process

Get access here - Windows 10 Migration: The time is now to keep your ATMs compliant and secure