However, as BornCity points out, companies that have many Windows 7 machines can continue protecting their devices with a Microsoft solution, namely System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP). “MSE is unique to Windows 7 and follows the same lifecycle dates for support,” Microsoft says. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus program that is designed for Windows 7 - newer versions of the operating system run Windows Defender - and it’s not covered by ESU. However, Microsoft clarified on an FAQ page for ESU that Security Essentials will no longer provide protection to devices after January 14. Organizations that cannot update their systems from Windows 7 to Windows 10 until January 14 can continue receiving patches for critical and important vulnerabilities for up to another three years if they purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) will stop protecting Windows 7 PCs on January 14, 2020, when support for Windows 7 is set to end.
