Running the latest versions of your servers’ operating systems is a vital role in maintaining your security posture. Windows Server 2008 R2 extended support ends on January 14, 2020.
What Does End of Support Mean?
Windows Server EOL (End Of Life) or End Of Support means that Microsoft will no longer offer bug fixes or security updates, leaving your environment and data open for attacks. Without new security, hackers have ample opportunity to find new penetration points and exploit them.
On top of the security risks you're exposed to, once Windows Server 2008 reaches end of support it will stop receiving software updates. Meaning your business may not be able to take advantage of applications that require the most recent operating systems.
When Windows Server 2008 reaches end of life:
- No longer receive security updates and patches
- Risk not meeting compliance requirements
- No new features or bug fixes
Start Planning Now
If you are still running Windows Server 2008 in your environment, you will need to do this upgrade in 2019. Experts say that you need to make the switch at least 6 months prior to the January 2020 date to ensure your data is safe.
With every new operating system there are features that your organization can take advantage of. Planning ahead of time will help you determine which of those may apply.
Where to Migrate
Moving your organization to Server 2016 can offer significant increases in memory and processing capacity for both physical and virtual servers. Considering the security events occurring every day, implementing the controls and encryption features of Server 2016 will also improve the organization’s security posture.
Microsoft is offering a free extension of security updates for 3 years if you migrate and rehost your workloads in Azure. Or, if you have an EA you can pay to receive updates for an additional 3 years. View more information.
The upcoming end of support milestone is a great opportunity to transform your applications and infrastructure by taking advantage of the cloud or the latest versions of Windows Server.
Other Products Reaching EOL in 2020
Windows Server 2008 isn’t the only product that’s approaching end of life. These two other popular products are also reaching their EOL in January 2020:
Whether you’re looking to stay on-premise or make the move to the cloud, iV4 is Microsoft Partner with extensive experience upgrading, migrating and virtualizing servers.
