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You have likely heard about the upcoming end-of-support date for Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 on October 10, 2023. You may have also heard of the end-of-support date for SQL Server 2012, which occurred on July 12, 2022.
At ITRM, we know software deadlines like this can be overwhelming for businesses, and that's why we're here to help you to navigate the impact of the Windows Server 2012 end-of-support and set your business up for success.
Understanding the potential risks and impacts associated with unsupported infrastructure is essential before we move on to the route we recommend for your business. First of all, let’s begin with the basics.
What is end-of-life software?
End-of-life (sometimes abbreviated to ‘EOL’) software occurs when a manufacturer decides to stop producing or supporting a certain type of software.
When a type of software is nearing the ‘end of its life’, we can assume that the manufacturer will stop supporting it soon, and there will cease to be updates or upgrades.
Some businesses are reluctant to upgrade their software when it nears or exceeds its ‘expiry date’, with some companies choosing to ignore the end-of-life status altogether, running on legacy software to ‘save costs’.
However, there are a number of reasons why keeping legacy software running is a bad idea — for one, it is not a cyber security best practice and leaves your systems open to cyber threats.
What happens when you don’t upgrade your software?
1) Increased cyber security risk
Microsoft will no longer deploy critical security updates for Microsoft 2012 servers. Should you find a bug or security vulnerability, you'll not be entitled to getting that bug/vulnerability patched, so the door is left open to cyber criminals.
2) You risk becoming a compliance concern
As software support ends, your organisation may fail to meet compliance standards, and industry regulation and regulatory scrutiny are always rising. Compliance risks on end-of-life systems are similar to cybersecurity risks.
Failure to comply with compliance requirements associated with legacy systems or software can lead to hefty fines, particularly in the event of data breaches.
3) You'll be hit with higher maintenance costs
When end-of-life technologies are kept past their supported life cycle, their maintenance costs increase. In addition, businesses lose the ability to support legacy technology as fewer people become familiar with it.
End-of-life software plan
Operating end-of-life systems and software may be tempting, but the financial, security, and compliance risks far exceed the benefits. As your technology partner, we're here to help make it simpler for you. You can find a bespoke business plan for your business below:
1. Modernise and migrate
You may find that you no longer need to host servers or have a large IT footprint at all. ITRM can assist you with technology modernisation, utilising Microsoft 365 to enable a modern and dynamic workforce.
2. Upgrade and replace
If you are an organisation that has a requirement to host a line of Business applications or has other requirements for a server footprint, ITRM can assist in upgrading or replacing these into the Public Cloud, new Physical hardware, or a hybrid deployment if required.
3. Implement mitigation
If you have a reason to keep Windows Server 2012 for system compatibility reasons, you can migrate servers into Azure to receive free Extended Security Support (ESU) from Microsoft and maintain compliance and security.
Protect your software with IT support
Whether you currently work in the Cloud, on-premise or have a hybrid solution, as a Microsoft Gold Partner, our team have the expertise to ensure that you have a replacement solution that is right for you.
Our team is confident businesses will save more than just money by adhering to these announcements and moving off legacy technologies. Additionally, they can protect their reputations and keep their customers loyal. Remaining or relying on end-of-life technology is just not worth the risk.
Starting your update is as easy as contacting your dedicated account manager if you already work with us, or getting in touch with our team.
For more strategic software update information, keep up with our blog.
