For many organizations, Ericom PowerTerm has been a reliable part of the IT estate for decades. In some environments it has been running for 20, or even 25, years with little or no need for vendor support. That long-term stability can create a sense of confidence, even complacency. If the software has worked for years without issue, it is easy to assume it will continue to do so indefinitely.
However, once a product reaches end of life, the risk profile changes dramatically. Even if your organization has never needed to raise a support ticket, running unsupported terminal emulation software to access business-critical systems introduces operational, security, and strategic risks that cannot be ignored.
When the software in question is the gateway to core applications, such as mainframe, IBM i, or UNIX systems, the impact of a failure or compromise is magnified. For most organizations, terminal emulation is not just another desktop tool. It is the primary interface to critical business processes, financial transactions, and operational data. Running this access layer on end-of-life software creates a single point of failure with no vendor safety net.
No ability to purchase additional licences for growth
One of the first practical issues organizations encounter after a product reaches end of life is the inability to purchase new licences. This creates an immediate constraint on business growth and operational flexibility.
If your organization expands, hires new staff, or introduces new systems that require host-system access, you may find that you cannot legally or technically add new users. This forces IT teams into difficult decisions, such as reusing licences, delaying projects, or maintaining multiple, inconsistent access solutions.
Over time, this creates fragmentation across the IT estate. Different departments may end up using different terminal emulators, creating support complexity, inconsistent security controls, and increased administrative overhead. What begins as a licensing issue can quickly evolve into a broader operational challenge.
Inability to upgrade operating systems or devices
Another major risk is compatibility. End-of-life software will not be tested, or certified against new operating systems, device types, or enterprise platforms. We have had a number of Ericom customers reach out to us after struggling with Windows upgrades, making their installations fragile.
As organizations modernise their infrastructure, they typically move to newer versions of Windows, macOS, or virtual desktop environments. They may also introduce thin clients, cloud workspaces, or mobile devices. If the terminal emulator does not support these platforms, IT teams face a difficult choice:
- Delay or block operating system upgrades
- Rush a migration to a new emulator (a well-planned and thorough migration typically takes a minimum of 90 days to ensure all dependencies, features and usage scenarios are viable)
- Maintain outdated hardware or virtual environments
- Deploy unsupported configurations
- Introduce multiple terminal emulation products
The above options increase operational risk. They also create technical debt that becomes harder and more expensive to resolve over time. What starts as a decision to “leave things as they are” can end up constraining the entire endpoint and infrastructure strategy.
Growing security risks with no patching or vendor response
Security is the most significant concern with end-of-life software. Once a product is no longer supported, the vendor stops releasing security updates, patches, and vulnerability fixes.
Over time, this creates an expanding attack surface. As new vulnerabilities are discovered in operating systems, network protocols, and encryption libraries, unsupported software becomes an increasingly attractive target. Attackers are well aware that end-of-life products are unlikely to be patched.
Terminal emulators are particularly sensitive from a security perspective because they often:
- Handle authentication to core systems
- Transmit sensitive business data
- Provide direct access to financial and operational applications
- Run on large numbers of endpoints
If a vulnerability is discovered in an end-of-life terminal emulator, there will be no official fix, no vendor advisory, and no escalation path. The organization is left to implement workarounds or accept the risk.
For regulated industries, this situation can also create compliance issues. Many security frameworks and audit standards require supported, maintained software. Running end-of-life access software to core systems may fail internal audits, external assessments, or cyber-insurance requirements.
Operational and strategic dead end
Even if your current Ericom PowerTerm environment is stable, end-of-life status means there is no long-term roadmap, no future development, and no vendor commitment. The software becomes a static component in a constantly evolving IT landscape. AI integration is already available in emulators like Jubilant Terminal emulator, this gulf of functionality starts to erode competitive advantage in organizations using EOL software like PowerTerm.
Over time, this creates a strategic dead end. You cannot modernize around it, extend it, or rely on it for future projects. Any initiative involving cloud, virtual desktops, new operating systems, AI, or enhanced security controls will eventually be constrained by the unsupported emulator.
This is why many organizations are choosing to move away from end-of-life terminal emulation platforms, even when they appear to be functioning normally.
A supported, secure path forward
Jubilant Terminal Emulator provides a modern, fully supported alternative with a clear, long-term roadmap. It is designed to meet the security, compliance, and operational requirements of enterprise and regulated environments.
By moving to Jubilant, organizations gain:
- A fully supported, actively maintained platform
- Compatibility with modern operating systems and devices
- A defined product roadmap
- Enterprise-grade security controls
- A solution designed for long-term strategic use
Many Ericom PowerTerm customers are already making this transition. With a knowledgeable migration team, the process is structured, predictable, and supported at every stage. Existing configurations and workflows can be assessed, replicated, and modernised without unnecessary disruption.
Conclusion
Long-term stability does not eliminate risk when software reaches end of life. Even if your organization has run Ericom PowerTerm for 25 years without needing support, the moment it becomes unsupported, the operational and security landscape changes.
You cannot buy new licences, you cannot confidently upgrade operating systems, and you are exposed to security vulnerabilities with no vendor patches. For software that provides access to business-critical systems, these risks are too significant to ignore.
End-of-life terminal emulation cannot form part of a sustainable, long-term IT strategy. Moving to a supported platform such as Jubilant Terminal Emulator provides the security, roadmap, and vendor backing needed to protect critical systems and support future growth.