Computerworld

Ministries, DHBs spend more than $2 million on XP extended support

A document obtained from Labour MP Claire Curran's office show that some government departments and DHBs are paying for extended XP support, even as others cease using the OS.

When Microsoft stopped supporting the XP operating system on April 8 after years of forewarning, many government agencies took the option of paying for extended security support.

Computerworld NZ obtained a document from Labour MP Claire Curran's office, sought under the Official Information Act, from government ministries and from district health boards, that summarises figures about continuing XP usage.

Most of the 29 government chief executives gave information on the number of computer terminals within their department that were currently operating on XP and the amount paid or scheduled to be paid to IT service vendors, providers and/or directly to Microsoft for extended support.

Internal Affairs and the Accident Compensation Corporation chose to withhold some information as did GCSB, likely due to their security roles.

As of April 8 there were more than 19,422 XP terminals (‘more than’ because of the withheld information) still in use at ministries. Indicative amounts to be paid to Microsoft for extended support totalled more than $851,160.

The number of district health board terminals on XP as of April 8 totalled 18,964 (six DHBs had no XP terminals). Indicative amounts paid to Microsoft for extended support totalled $1,108,130.

Several government departments had ceased using XP.

At the other extreme, the Ministry of Justice topped the list with 5,584 terminals. It was paying $396,060 for extended support.

The Ministry of Primary Industries had 1,793 terminals using XP but had not paid for extended support.

While ACC withheld information on what it had paid for extended support, it notified usage of XP on 2,000 terminals.

OIA extensions had been sought by Police, which has an indicative 9,400 terminals and has paid $455,100; DIA; MPI and MoJ.

The combined Auckland, Northland and Waitemata district health board topped the DHB list with 12,000 terminals and $472,414 paid.