Windows XP SP2
Windows XP Service Pack 2 is the most anticipated and significant service pack Microsoft has released in years.
Ever since Microsoft patched a ton of security bugs with an interim rollup patch last fall, we've known SP2 was going to be a big one. And ever since word came down that Microsoft was doing a lot of work on the firewall in SP2, we've also known that this upgrade would break applications.
It's time to stop putting off the testing. Microsoft's development process seems to keep stretching out, but the latest reprieves should be short. We are in the release candidate stages after all.
Yes, it's expensive to dedicate systems to testing. Yes, it takes time away from other high priority projects. But there are good reasons to be ready for SP2 before it ships. For one thing, new systems will have SP2 loaded on them. So SP2 is coming to your environment whether you upgrade your existing Windows XP boxes or not.
But the main reason is simple. All indications are that this service pack will greatly improve the security of the desktops and laptops in your organization. What better reason is there than that?